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LEADERSHIP & STAFF

We have a passionate and loving team at Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church and Preschool. From blossoming our youth to spreading His word, God is using our leadership and staff to do amazing things. Meet some of our key members, below.

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REVEREND DR. LISA FARRELL

Rev. Dr. Lisa C. Farrell was born and raised on the Main Line. She attended Franklin and Marshall College and won an Andrew Mutch Scholarship to attend the University of Edinburgh for her junior year. Lisa felt called to the ministry as a freshman in college but kept this to herself. Having grown up Presbyterian, she rebelled and became an atheist as a teenager, and coming to faith in her freshman year the thought of ministry was still quite alien. It was a male dominated field and Lisa had never met any women ministers. While at Edinburgh University she decided to take a class in New Testament to test her sense of call. She was permitted to do so only because she was an “Andrew Mutch Scholar.” The providence of God not only provided the means to study in Scotland, but it opened doors that would otherwise have been closed. By the end of the year she had transferred from Franklin and Marshall to the University of Edinburgh to do a joint B.A. B.D. degree. A B.D. (Bachelor of Divinity) is the Scottish equivalent of an M.Div.

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Lisa met and later married a fellow seminary student she met at the University of Edinburgh. They had three children, Anna, Mark, and Paul. For a number of years she was a highly qualified full-time minister’s wife. The marriage unfortunately ended in 1990, and Lisa returned to her family home in Wynnewood. At this low point in her life it was time to seek God’s guidance once more, and once more God said “Ministry.” Having already graduated from seminary in Scotland she came under care of the Philadelphia Presbytery, completed additional requirements for the PCUSA, and worked part-time at a church in Northeast Philadelphia. She was installed as the pastor of Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church in 1995. In 2013 she completed a further course of study at the Lutheran Seminary of Philadelphia earning a Masters in Sacred Theology and a Doctor of Ministry.

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Lisa is passionate about the need to approach scripture in its historical context. Without a correct understanding of context many scriptures are misunderstood. Translation is also a challenge, and human bias can affect the outcome. Her Master’s Thesis completed in 2013 is on “Translation Bias in the Texts Relating to Homosexuality.” Lisa believes that the Word of God in scripture is inspired, but it is the living Word of God, Jesus, who we worship. The bible points to God. It should never be placed above God.

On November 25, 2017 Lisa married the love of her life, Vicki Darring, with the blessing and support of the Session of the Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church. Rev. Kevin Porter, the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Philadelphia presided. They currently live in Drexel Hill with their three dogs Blue, Emily and Sweet Pea.

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REV. LOISANNE FURGESS-OLER

Parish Associate

Pastor LoisAnn is a graduate of Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Nursing and holds a BSN and MS. from the University of Maryland and an M.Div from Wesley Theological Seminary. She was ordained as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament by the Baltimore Presbytery.

 

LoisAnn describes herself as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament with nursing roots. Following her ordination as Associate Pastor at First and Franklin Street Presbyterian, LoisAnn served a few years as Chaplain of an Adult community in Towson, Maryland and more than a decade as Interim Pastor for the United Church of Christ. After relocating to Narberth, she found a spiritual home at Penn Wynne Presbyterian and is our Parish Associate. She is available for spiritual counsel and support, and fills in for Pastor Lisa as needed.

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HEATHER CRONAN

Church Administrator

As the Church Administrator Heather oversees all aspects of the church office including bookkeeping, managing vendors and contractors, scheduling and community communications as well as providing general support to the Pastor. Along with Rob Berley, Clerk of Session, Heather is also the genius behind our front lawn signs. In addition to church operations Heather is heavily involved in pastoral care as well as occasional preaching. Heather is a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary’s Urban Theological Institute with a certification in Christian Ministry. 

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FRANK COATES

Music Director

Based in Philadelphia, Frank is a pianist and composer that has composed music for film, ballet, and theater. Frank specializes in contemporary classical and orchestral jazz and has served as music director for several artists and churches in Washington DC and Philadelphia.

Frank has over 15 years of experience in education. He is the founder of Music Play Patrol, a music enrichment program for children, and he recently launched Mr. Boom Boom's Music Room, an interactive music education series. He received his B.A. in Music Composition and Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. 

Frank recently founded the Penn Wynne Presbyterian Children's Choir. Please contact Frank here with interest in joining.

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LESLIE BOWMAN

Clerk of Session

Leslie grew up on the west coast and started moving east after graduating from college. After several years in the Midwest, she came to Pennsylvania expecting to stay only two or three years. The community she found at Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church is one of the reasons she's still here decades later. When she isn't watching over the church's financial records, Leslie is a librarian at a local university.

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KYRA McCLELLAND 

Sunday School Director

Kyra oversees the development and implementation of our school curriculum. Kyra attended Rosemont College and Aspen University in pursuit of her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education (infant-grade 2). Kyra began working at Penn Wynne Presbyterian’s School when she was 19 years old as an assistant teacher, and was quickly promoted to teacher of the preschool classroom. She now works at St. David’s Episcopal Day School in Wayne, and runs a successful preschool summer program from her home. 

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LIESE CLODFELTER

PWPC School Director

Liese has a Master of Education from Cabrini College and an B.S. from Southeast Missouri State University. She has Special Education K-12 and K-6 Elementary Education Certifications. Liese was a teacher for 6 years and the Assistant Director of the Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church School for 3 years before becoming the director in 2017.

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