All first term except as noted and all Nominees listed in alphabetical order.
2024 Nominees for The Standing Committee:
Each Year Elect: 2 Clergypersons & 2 Laypeople – Can run 2 successive terms of 3 years each.
Clergy: The Rev. Allison Carnahan
Rector: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Bloomsburg
I have years of leadership and offices held in civic organizations as well as serving as a lay leader for many years in our churches. We moved often because until 2005 I was a military wife and Mom. I received a special award from the Chief of Staff of the Air Force for Meritorious Volunteer Service to the U. S. Air Force community. I continued this level of volunteerism. Because we have been members of churches across the country and Europe, I have seen many styles of ministry and leadership and bring those ideas to the position should I be elected.
Clergy: The Rev. Jennifer Mattson
Rector: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Lancaster
I am privileged to serve as the rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, a dynamic and growing congregation in Lancaster where I bring a deep commitment to social justice and creation care. I hope to serve a second term on the Standing Committee. I presently serve as the Co-Chair for the Diocesan Committee “Saving Lives by Ending Gun Violence” and serve as a member of the Diocesan Evangelism Committee where I bring my passion for sharing the good news of God’s love. I am the coordinator of the Lancaster Episcopal Prison worship team, and enjoy bringing my love for music and scripture. I am deeply committed to dismantling systemic racism and have served on the board of POWER Interfaith where I worked to speak out against the rising threat of White Christian Nationalism. I will be spending a summer sabbatical in 2025 focused on creation care with an emphasis on trees, spirituality and the cultivation of outdoor community spaces that invite the healing presence of God’s love through nature. I am married to the Rev. Bradley Mattson, rector of Hope Episcopal Church, and am the proud mother of four beautiful children. During a season of life that is joyfully busy, I center myself with daily walks in the woods and the quiet beauty of prayer.
Layperson: Ms. Sarah Reid,
Trinity Episcopal Church, Williamsport
I am very interested and actively engaged in the work of the Episcopal Church, specifically in the areas of racial reconciliation, creationism care, and evangelism. I currently service on several committees and commissions doing this work. I enjoy listening, storytelling and working with others. I was privileged to serve our diocese as a lay alternate deputy to the general convention in 2021. I am looking forward to serving as a seated deputy in 2024. In my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling, reading and cooking. I understand the nature of this position and its requirements of time, travel, and energy. I am willing to be considered for nomination, and if nominated, I will run, and if elected, I will faithfully serve.
Layperson: Mr. David Wirick
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Hollidaysburg
I have been an active member of the Episcopal Church since 1996. Prior to that I was a lay preacher then an ordained deacon and elder in the United Methodist Church (Western PA Annual Conference) from 1974 to 1990. I hold a M.Div. degree from Fuller Theological Seminary (1978) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Seminary (now Palmer Seminary, 1989). I was previously married and am the father of 2 children. I utilized my D.Min. to focus on clinical counseling work for several years with New Day, Inc. I am a professed member of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans since 1990. In 1990 I began the process of becoming honest about my sexual orientation and found TEC to provide the safe place to learn and rethink my theology. The congregation of Holy Trinity Church welcomed me. They loved my first husband when he came into my life and supported us as Ric succumbed to AIDS related issues and went on to his eternal rest in 1997. I served on the Board of Christian Outdoor Education and the Board of Managers of Olmsted Manor retreat center in the Western PA Conference. I was a case manager and HIV Prevention educator across central PA with the AIDS Intervention Project in Altoona from 1995 to 2000, then with Pyramid Healthcare of PA as a Drug and Alcohol Rehab counselor and clinical supervisor before retiring in 2016.
I have been engaged in a variety of capacities to preach the gospel, encouraging God’s children at HTC and St Luke’s. My unique background and training would provide both knowledge and wisdom to address the sorts of issues that come before the Standing Committee. I am excited for the future of the denomination. As the diocese moves toward reunification with the Diocese of Bethlehem there is a new potential for new ministries across the board as congregations recognize their role in spreading the news of God’s love.
2024 Nominees for The Council of Trustees:
Each Year Elect: 1 Clergyperson & 2 Laypersons – can run successive 3-year terms.
We are currently seeking one clergyperson and two lay persons.
Clergy: The Rev. Lisa Amspacher Work
Rector: Christ Church, Danville, PA
I offer leadership, collaborative approach, an innovative solutions to community building, drawn from my education, consulting, and ministry experiences. I am passionate about empowering others and dedicated to advancing the mission of the church.
Layperson: Mrs. Elaine Austin
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA
I am a member of St. Thomas, Lancaster where I have been involved in most activities except anything that requires musical talent. I have several terms on vestry and have been Senior Warden twice. Serving as assistant convenor and convenor of the Lancaster Convocation has allowed me to serve on the Council of Trustees. I would be honored to continue in that role.
Layperson: Ms. Tracey L. Knerr
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Shippensburg, PA
Meeting our neighbors where they are with love and compassion. It is with this focus that I aspire to approach all my work and interactions at church as well as in my community. I believe that it is important to live a life that models what I hope to see in the world. This is how I approached my job as a school district administrator and now as a retired educator and full-time caregiver, I work to do the same. As an educator, I learned to use questions to discover the perspective and beliefs of students, parents, peers and other constituents so that I could tailor a conversation to move them forward in their understanding. I have experience writing curriculum, supervising others who were writing curriculum, providing professional development on the local, state and national stage. I co-write a program to help parents help their children at home. All these skills and experiences, I will bring to the diocese of Central Pennsylvania. As a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Shippensburg, I serve on the Vestry, schedule the worship leaders for our services each week and serve on one of our community meals teams. I am currently working in collaboration with Grace Place and Communities Cares shelter to offer The Think Tank. This is the introduction to the parish: Grace Place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in collaboration with Community CARES Family Shelter and Shippensburg Community Resource Coalition (SCRC) launched its latest ministry on Tuesday and is excited to introduce The Think Tank. The Think Tank will offer a calm, interactive, educational space where all family members can choose to engage in any of a variety of thinking activities that might include completing homework assignments, playing thinking games, solving puzzles, finding solutions to problems, looking for patterns, creating art in any form, and making progress toward goals and learning goals. Adults will hone chosen skills to support their children through the educational process. Prior to moving back to Shippensburg in 2021, I served two Vestry terms at the flagship parish in the Diocese of New Jersey. I was also a member of the finance committee, chair of the personnel committee, planned giving committee and the stewardship committee. All these experiences and lessons learned I will bring to the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.
2024 Nominees for Disciplinary Board
In Year 2024 Elect: 2 Clergypersons & 1 Layperson - Can run successive 3 yr. terms. The Disciplinary Board consists of 9 members, five clergy, four laypersons - each year elect three persons to serve for a term of three years. Persons elected shall be from each order as required to maintain the required complement of the board. All Clergy members of the Board must be canonically resident in this Diocese. Meet on an as needed basis and attend training offered on an occasional basis for our Province III.
Clergy 2nd Term: The Rev. Jeffrey A. Packard
Rector: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, State College
I have been a priest for 29 years and have served in this diocese and the Diocese of Virginia. I currently serve on the disciplinary board in this diocese, and previously served on the disciplinary board in Virginia. My experience working in the mental health field prior to ordination and having served two parishes that experienced clergy induced trauma immediately before my tenure have prepared me to confront misconduct with justice and compassion. If reelected, I would do my best to bring the love of Christ into the process of disciplinary action.
Clergy Term: The Rev. Anjel Scarborough
Rector: All Saints Episcopal Church, Hershey
I came to the diocese in 2021 from the Diocese of Maryland where I served as a member of the Congregational Vitality Team, the Alcohol Task Force, and the Commission on Ministry. I have served Central PA on the Shaped by Faith Grant Review Team, as an Alternate Deputy to the 81st General Convention, and as your Diocesan Liturgist. In these roles, I have exercised listening and prayerful discernment and used my knowledge of the Book of Common Prayer, constitution and canons to address complex issues facing parishes and clergy in a clear and pastoral manner.
Layperson: Elizabeth (Beth) Watkins
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Shippensburg
Growing up in a military family and moving frequently has given me a great understanding of the varying cultural differences among Christians across the United States and Europe. I’ve been a dedicated
member of the Episcopal Church for more than 40 years. For the last 23 years living in Pennsylvania, I have faithfully attended St. John’s Carlisle and St. Andrew’s Shippensburg. From leading Youth Group,
leading Altar Guild, and serving multiple terms on Vestry, active leadership and service have
characterized my service to my faith community. Insightful experience gained as an office manager with hiring and interviewing staff has given me valuable skills that will benefit serving on the Disciplinary Board.
Diocesan Leadership Roles
Behind the scenes in our diocese are people who generously offer their time and talents to serve the Church. These lay and ordained volunteers do a major portion of important work for the Standing Committee, The Council of Trustees, and The Disciplinary Board for the Diocese of Central PA. They willingly offer their time in acknowledgment that their ordination vows and Baptismal Covenant call them to serve God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind.
Will you join this committed corps of diocesan ministry volunteers? Please prayerfully consider putting your name forward for one of these elected positions or nominate a colleague whom you know and respect. The deadline for nominations is June 18, 2024. This is not just a chance to serve, but also an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth.
A Diocesan Committee Leadership Brochure explains various positions for election each year at Convention. To view the brochure, click here. To view the detailed information on Diocesan Leadership Roles found on our website, click here.
Additional Non-Elected Committee opportunities are available on the Resolutions Committee and Nominating Committee by appointment of the Bishop. If you would like to let the Bishop know you are interested in either of these Leadership opportunities, click here.
We look forward to your response and are grateful for your support.
Blessings,
Amy Swiernik
Safe Church, Safe Communities Assistant & Diocesan Nominations Committee Chair
The Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania
101 Pine St.
Harrisburg, PA 17108
cell: (717) 682-1827
aswiernik@diocesecpa.org
To download the Nominations form, click here.
