Meet Our Commissioned Pastors

At our April Assembly, Commissioned Pastors CJ Biewenga, Beth Hewlett, Lyn Hull, Teddie McConnell, Cindy Moorman, and Sandy Safford were commissioned for service to the Presbytery of Denver. They are available for puplit supply, sacraments, moderating session and more.

Commissioned Pastor Beth Hewlett

BETH HEWLETT
Hi: My name is Beth Hewlett and I have been a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church since 1980. After finishing my Commissioned Pastor Program I was the Pastor at Bethel Presbyterian Church for 3 and ½ years.

I believe in the God of the everyday, the one that walks with me during the ordinary time and can be seen in ordinary tasks.

Click here for Beth’s Statement of Faith. Click here to connect with Beth via email.

Commissioned Pastor Teddie McConnell

TEDDIE McCONNELL
Meet Teddie McConnell. Teddie shares, she would be interested in serving a small congregation on a part-time basis with an emphasis on leading worship and forging relationships with the membership.

Click here to connect with Teddie. Click here to read Teddie’s Statement of Faith.

Commssioned Pastor Sandy Safford

SANDY SAFFORD
Commissioned Pastor Sandy Safford has served in the PCUSA as a Christian Educator for close to 30 years and has served on staff or as consultant to several congregations in Denver Presbytery over the years.  Most recently Sandy served as Commissioned Pastor at Byers Community Church for 10 years. 

Currently Sandy is a Consultant, Trained Coach and Faith Formation Leader available for short or long term pulpit supply or moderating session.  Click here to connect with Sandy via email.

CINDY MOORMAN
My name is Cindy Moorman, I have been a Christian Educator for 30 years, and love working with children, youth and their families. I live in Thornton with my family, my husband Kent and together we have two adult children, Amanda and Chase, and our granddaughter Jaidyn who is in middle school, we also have three fur babies that we love very much. I work full time at an elementary school in Commerce City during the week. I enjoy crocheting, watching a good movie, reading and spending time with my family. I would look forward to coming to your church to preaching, serve the sacraments, and moderate session meetings. 

Click here to connect with Cindy via email.


More information coming soon!

Clobber Text with Rev. Bethany

As a way to expand our awareness of LGBTQIA+ experiences and how they intersect with Christianity, we are offering a series of videos from our own incubator new worshiping community leader Rev. Bethany. These videos will address two of the “clobber passages” which were named that because they are the verses commonly used to condemn homosexuality. The video series will also present scripture that affirms the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as translation history that helps map out how Christianity got wrapped up in cultural heterosexism.

VIDEO 1

Check out this 1st video in our clobber text series with Rev. Bethany Peerbolte, Minister Member, Incubator Leader, Tik Tok Pastor and Leader of New Worshiping Community--Our Tapestry, as she shares "What Leviticus 18 actually says."

April Assembly Highlights are here!

A Place at The Table 

Moderator Pat Queen welcomed folx* to this Assembly, after opening the Assembly in Worship. 

Worship Leaders for the Assembly. Paul Bretz, Ann Butcher, Dee Cooper, Samantha Paige Davis, Bill Davis, Sheri Fry, Ruth McCollum Huff, Lorraine Leist, Linda Marshall, Bethany Peerbolte, Pat Queen, gretchen N. Sausville, Alex Sergio, David Van Deren. 


Special Guests

René Myers, is Denver Presbytery’s Ministry Engagement Advisor for PC(USA). Her role is to build relationships with mid-councils, congregations, and presbyterians, which sustain and increase financial support for God’s mission throughout the world. Rene spoke our ministry together in the Assembly. 

Samantha Paige Davis, serves as the Associate of Gender and Racial Justice with the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Samantha is a Black Feminist, organizer, policy wonk, and storyteller working through an anti-oppressive framework. Samantha preached on Acts of God’s Love from  James 1:19-27. Samantha also led a workshop for the Denver Presbytery on April 18, 2024 that can be found here. (Click on link to right)

CONNECTIONAL

Samantha and Dee led our Generative Time which took place in groups around the Sanctuary with bowls of rainbow skittles candy. Folx were invited to choose skittles and then answer a question or share information based on the theme of the color. 

Lead Presbyter Report

Dee shared about the ShadeTrees Assembly in March that was filled with inspiration and hope. The journey of Matthew 25 and anti racism work, inclusion, and intersectionality is real, necessary,  and can be messy. This journey invites us to get real, go deep, and stand together. 

Examination for Ordination

Danielle “Dani” Hillyer was successfully examined for ordination for the assembly. She has been called as the Associate Pastor for Cultivation and Innovation, a shared ministry position between Grace Presbyterian and Covenant DTC. 

Justin Sprulock shared about the shared ministry Model between Grace and Covenant. 

Congratulations Dani!

Overtures for Concurrence

Eleven Overtures to the 226th General Assembly were presented to the Assembly for concurrence. They were all approved. See the link here for those concurrences. Click here to learn more about the overtures.

Commissioning Commissioned Pastors to the Presbytery

Commissioned Pastors CJ Biewenga, Beth Hewlett, Lyn Hull, Teddie McConnell, Cindy Moorman, Sandy Safford were commissioned for service to the Presbytery of Denver. Congratulations and thank you for your ministry among us.

Necrology

The Assembly gave thanks for the Ministers of Word and Sacrament who joined the church triumphant in 2023. We give thanks for Burton Kugler, Paul T. Bock, Brent Owen Johnston, and Dusty Taylor who fought the good fight, finished their race, and kept the faith, and who are at rest within glory with God.  

Election of Folx to Committees and Commissions

Jemimah Ngatia, Ministry of Word and Sacrament, and leader of  Neema African Fellowship, was elected to the Ministry Preparation Committee, Class of 2026 Congratulations!  We are excited for your leadership and service!


Communion

Communion was officiated by Paul Bretz, Lorraine Leist, Bethany Peerbolte and Samantha Paige Davis. Communion reflected the theme of gender and identity: between, beyond and beside inclusion and A Place at the Table.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Rev. Justin Spurlock and Covenant Presbyterian DTC for your space, hospitality, and making room for all of us. Many thanks to the staff, many volunteers, and the folx at Covenant Presbyterian DTC for hosting the Assembly in their space. 

*folx is inclusive language for including everyone and is used throughout

Meet Your Commissioners to the 226th General Assembly

The General Assembly consists of commissioners elected by presbyteries. Half of the commissioners will be ruling elders, half will be teaching elders. Few will ever have been commissioners to the General Assembly before, but most will have served in one of the other governing bodies of our church: the session, which provides care and oversight of a local congregation; the presbytery, which provides care and oversight of a group of congregations; or the synod which provides care and oversight of several presbyteries.

It reviews the work of synods, resolves controversies in the church, is responsible for matters of common concern for the whole church, and serves as a symbol of unity for the church.

The General Assembly has several specific responsibilities outlined in Chapter 3 of the Book of Order. The assembly seeks to protect our church from errors in faith and practice, is responsible for assuring that the expression of our theology remains true to the biblical standards in our historic confessions. The General Assembly presents a witness for truth and justice in our community and in the world community. It sets priorities for the church and establishes relationships with other churches or ecumenical bodies. LEARN MORE→

Representing Denver Presbytery at the 226th GA

Jeff Snedden

I am in my third year as an Elder at Church of the Eternal Hills in Tabernash, Colorado. It has been my pleasure to serve the church and I have found it personally rewarding. I have not previously done any specific service for the Denver Presbytery, Synod, or General Assembly but I look forward to representing Denver Presbytery as a General Assembly Commissioner year.
 
My wife Lynda and I are originally from Indiana. We moved to Colorado in 1983 when I began my career as a Contracting Officer with the Federal Government. We lived in Wyoming for many years until I retired from Yellowstone National Park and Lynda retired as a teacher. Upon retirement we moved to Granby, Colorado.
 
I find many of  the General Assembly Overtures interesting, particularly DOE-03 “An Overture Calling for Action so that Children May Live Free from Gun Violence” and POL-01 “On Amending the Book of Order to Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Among the Categories Against Which This Church Does Not Discriminate”. I feel strongly that we must take action on gun safety and remain devoted to the principles which allow us to be open to all people, to serve all people, and to care for all people, regardless of race, gender, wealth, or sexual preference.

Bill Sanders (he/him/his)

I grew up a cradle Presbyterian in Denver Presbytery and ordained at the Arvada Presbyterian Church in 1987. After serving churches and community ministries in Kentucky, I was privileged to return to Denver Presbytery to serve as Interim Pastor in two congregations and am now honorably retired and enjoying serving congregations and engaging folx all over the Presbytery. I am also serving on the Ministry Relations Committee.

I am honored to be elected as Den Pres’ Commissioner this year and am looking forward to working attentively to represent you as I serve on the Domestic Engagement Committee at GA. One of the delights of my life is being able to spend time with my 4 grandchildren – ages 4 through 11 and am currently being trained by my new dog, Alix – a sweet but rather neurotic Border Collie.

ALTERNATIVE COMMISSIONERS

Diane Ritzdorf

Alternate commissioner Diane Ritzdorf is a long-time member and elder of Calvary Presbyterian Church and has served Denver Presbytery on several committees, including the Committee on Ministry and as vice moderator and moderator of the Presbytery. As a newly elected member of the Ministry Preparation Committee, she is most interested in Overture ORD-06 On Appointing a Committee to Review the Preparation for Ministry Process. You are always welcome to ask to see a picture of her granddaughter Bethany!


Bethany Peerbolte

As a leader of a new worshiping community it it important to me to participate in the decisions our denomination is making. I’m also hopelessly outgoing so any gathering to see friends and make new ones is my happy place.  Bethany is serving as an alternate commissioner.

Bethany will also be reporting for Outlook Magazine during GA to keep everyone updated with all the news and fun happening in Salt Lake City. 

June 25-27, 2024

All assembly committees will meet online.  Commissioners, advisory delegates, resource persons, etc. will participate using PC-Biz and Zoom. Committee sessions will be live-streamed for others who are interested.

June 29 – July 4, 2024

GA226 plenary meetings will convene at the Salt Palace Convention Center (SPCC) in Salt Lake City, Utah for action on recommendations from the assembly committees. Commissioners and advisory delegates will be present in-person in Salt Lake City; most other official participants (corresponding members, resource persons, etc.) may participate remotely or in-person. Observers are welcome, though there will be limited seating in the plenary hall. These sessions will be livestreamed.  


What does God have to do with Inclusion?

Samantha Paige Davis, Associate for Race and Gender Justice with the Presbyterian Mission Agency presentsed our Pre-Assembly Workshop: What does God have to do with Inclusion?

Matthew 25 charges us to dismantle structural racism, build congregational vitality and eradicate systemic poverty. This work cannot truly be done without embracing inclusion. Deepen your knowledge on how and why we must build the loving and inclusive kin-dom of God. Deepen understanding around issues impacting LGBTQIA+ people. Leave with a (re)commitment to welcome, safety and love.

RESOURCES

LGBTQIA+ Deepening Our Understanding: A Resource In Transgender Identity

LGBTQIA+ Frequently Asked Questions

Well Chosen Words

Questions for Discussion

How have we seen gender used to suggest superiority or inferiority?

How has the church/theology perpetuated homophobia/sexism?

How do we acknowledge the harm AND object to the harmful teachings?