Presbytery Structure

The Board of Trustees shall serve as the Directors of PEVA, Inc. and as delegated by the Presbytery shall have such limited power, authority, and responsibilities of and shall perform the functions provided by a board of directors under the Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act (hereinafter the "Act." Except as otherwise provided by the Act, the Articles, the Bylaws, the Constitution or this Manual of Operations, the authority to carry out the business affairs of PEVA shall be exercised by the Board of Trustees. The Board shall fulfill the functions required by civil law and those that the Presbytery assigns to it. It shall be responsible for implementing the policies of the Members related to investments, financial guidance, and property; and shall arrange for an annual financial review.

The Board of Trustees shall be comprised of at least six and no more than eleven individuals including its moderator and be elected by the Presbytery. The Trustee Moderator shall be recommended by the Trustees for PEVA election. Trustees shall include both ministers and ruling elders and normally be divided into three approximately equal classes. They shall normally serve a three-year term and may be elected for one additional three-year term. No trustee shall serve on the Board of Trustees for more than six consecutive years. The General Presbyter and Stated Clerk shall be ex officio members of the Board of Trustees without vote. 

To learn more about the Board of Trustees, please see pages 8-9 of the PEVA Manual of Administrative Operations.

Board of Trustees Members

Elder Marc Steiner (Green Acres Presbyterian Church), Class of 2025, Moderator Board of Trustees & President of Corporation

Elder Sandra Poole (Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church), Class of 2026, Treasurer of the Corporation

The Reverend Dr. Jeff Bell (Transitions), Ex Officio

Elder Michael Broadhurst (First Presbyterian Church, Portsmouth), Class of 2027

Elder Larry Hull - Council Liaison (Second Presbyterian Church Norfolk)

Elder John Keifer (Royster Memorial Presbyterian Church), Class of 2025

Ms. Regan Knutson (PEVA Business Admin.), Ex Officio

Elder Jim Pressly (Jamestown Presbyterian Church), Class of 2027

Elder Lorri Richardson (Community Presbyterian Church, Portsmouth) Class of 2025

Elder  Q. John Tamm (Stated Clerk), Ex Officio

The Reverend Dr. Helen Louise “Lou” Ventura, Class of 2027

The Commission on Ministry (COM) is governed by the Book of Order (G-3.0307) and shall serve as pastor and counselor to ministers, ruling elders commissioned to pastoral service, and to certified Christian educators of the Presbytery; to facilitate the relations between the Presbytery and its congregations; and to settle difficulties on behalf of the Presbytery where possible and expedient; to ensure the annual certification of the Sexual Misconduct Policy; and to annually develop the Compensation Guidelines; with specific authority:

To dissolve pastoral relationships and dismiss ministers to other Presbyteries when both ministers and congregation agree

To examine and receive ministers into Presbytery without further examination on the floor of Presbytery unless an examinee declares a scruple concerning a tenet, and if COM concludes that the examinee is otherwise ordainable, commissionable, or transferable. COM shall then refer the issue of ordination, commissioning, or transfer to the next convened PEVA meeting without recommendation

To validate the work of its ministers

To approve calls and covenants of ministers

To approve temporary relationship agreements

To approve ruling elders for commissioning to pastoral service

To grant permission to labor within and outside Presbytery bounds

To approve moderators for congregations in transition

To approve persons requesting to be added to the pulpit supply list

To learn more about the COM, please see page 12 of the PEVA Manual of Administrative Operations.

COM Members

The Reverend Charles Tucker, Class of 2026, Moderator

The Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Bell (Temp. Head of Staff), Ex Officio

Elder Leslie Brooks (Hidenwood), Class of 2026

The Reverend Dr. Michael Condrey, Class of 2027

Elder Robin Cowherd (First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk) Vice-Moderator (Commissioned Pastors), Class of 2027

The Reverend Clark DeSarro-Raynal – Vice-Moderator (Transitions), Class of 2026

The Reverend Dr. Wilbur “Doug” Douglass, Class of 2025

The Reverend L. Monica Gould - Vice-Moderator (Examinations), Class of 2025

The Reverend Elizabeth Hilkerbaumer "Beth", Class of 2026

Elder Charity Houghton (Wythe Presbyterian Church) Vice-Moderator (Liaisons), Class of 2025

The Reverend Pamela Hrncir, Class of 2025

Elder Shirlene Imperial (Lynnhaven Presbyterian Church), Class of 2025

Elder Alyce Jones (Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church of Princess Anne), Class of 2025

Elder Bruce Knight (KirkWood Presbyterian Church), Class of 2027

The Reverend Catherine Hart Monroe, Class of 2025

The Reverend Lyndsey McCall-Gilliam, Class of 2025

Elder Yvette Young Myrick (New Horizons  Presbyterian Church), Class of 2027

Elder York Poole (Green Acres Presbyterian Church), Class of 2025

The Reverend Jaechul “Jay” Pi, Class of 2027

Elder Gail Pittman (First Presbyterian Church, Portsmouth), Class of 2027

Elder Chip Shefelton (Hilton Presbyterian Church), Class of 2025

Elder Q. John Tamm (Stated Clerk), Ex Officio

The Reverend Veronica Thomas - Vice-Moderator (Wellness), Class of 2026

The Reverend Dr. Gillian Weighton, Class of 2025

Elder Ken Wheeler (Providence), Class of 2026

Elder Marcy Wright (Carver Memorial), Class of 2026

The Commission on Preparation for Ministry (CPM) is governed by the Book of Order(G-3.0307) and guides, nurtures, and oversees the process of preparing one to become a minister. The Commission has oversight of all inquirers and candidates, receives inquirers, and makes recommendations to the Presbytery on those to become candidates, holds annual consultations, and certifies candidates ready for ordination as a minister with the authority to:

Accept applicants for the office of minister as inquirers

Transfer the Covenant Relationship of Candidates for the office of minister to another Presbytery when requested by the other Presbytery, when such transfer is deemed to be in the best interest of the Candidate and the Church.

To learn more about the CPM, please see pages 12-13 of the PEVA Manual of Administrative Operations.

CPM Members

The Reverend Michelle Burcher "Mike", Class of 2027 - MODERATOR

Elder Karen Harris (First Presbyterian Church, Virginia Beach), Class of 2026

The Reverend Dr. Jeff Bell (Transitions), Ex Officio

Elder Charlie Reece (KirkWood Presbyterian Church), Class of 2025

Elder Gary Reese (Providence Presbyterian Church), Class of 2027

Elder Q. John Tamm (Stated Clerk), Ex Officio

The Reverend Andrew Whitehead, Class of 2025

The Committee on Representation (COR) advises the Council regarding the implementation of principles of unity and diversity, advocates for diversity in leadership, consults with the Council on the employment of personnel, in accordance with the principles of unity and diversity and completes an annual report in accordance with Synod of the Mid-Atlantic guidelines. 

To learn more about the COR, please see page 13 of the PEVA Manual of Administrative Operations.

COR Members

Rev. Addie Peterson - COR Moderator 

Rev. Jeff Bell (Transitions), Ex Officio

The Congregational Vitality Ministry Team (CVT) is a ministry team of the Presbytery organized to provide better support to congregations.

The CVT seeks to equip, nurture and support Presbytery member congregations to renew, recover and live evermore faithfully in our common calling as disciples of Jesus Christ. We do this by developing tools to assess, discern and implement practices that help the congregations deepen their discipleship, so that they may be transformed, and the mission 15 of God spread throughout our community and the world. The CVT may use funds allocated through the budget process or available from the Church Legacies Fund to develop and provide tools, resources, and training for congregations.

To learn more about the CVT, please see pages 14-15 of the PEVA Manual of Administrative Operations.

CVT Members

The Reverend Eric Peltz, Chair

The Reverend Dr. Garrett Bugg

The Reverend Dr. Chris Carrasco

The Reverend Joel Phillips

The Reverend Christian Shearer

The Reverend Dr. Gillian Weighton

The Nominations Committee nominates persons to serve in positions requiring election by the Presbytery ensuring that nominations are made by an entity broadly representative of the constituency of the council and in conformity with the church’s commitment to unity in diversity (F-1.0403).

To learn more about the Nominations Committee, please see page 13 of the PEVA Manual of Administrative Operations.

Nominations Members

The Reverend Elnoria Harrison, Class of 2025, Moderator

Elder Mike Fore (KirkWood Presbyterian Church), Class of 2027

The Reverend Dr. Jeff Bell (Transitions), Ex Officio

The Reverend Dr. Michael Condrey, Class of 2026

Elder Linda Marley Smith (Simonsdale Presbyterian Church), Class of 2026

Elder Q. John Tamm (Stated Clerk), Ex Officio

The purpose of the PEVA Compassion Peace and Justice Ministry Teams (CPJ) is to inspire, equip, and mobilize congregations to respond in faith to contemporary human and environmental realities. The Ministry engages with Presbyterians and partners across the Presbytery to:

• End poverty and hunger
• Promote peace and transform cultures of violence
• Promote solidarity with all people
• Promote solidarity with Creation

To learn more about the Compassion, Peace, and Justice Ministry Teams, please see page 14 of the PEVA Manual of Administrative Operations.

The Hunger Committee of PEVA, believing that hunger is unacceptable, leads and challenges the churches of PEVA and its entities in Christ’s name to alleviate chronic hunger and its immediate causes at home and abroad through information dissemination, education, advocacy, and the provisions of resources. The Hunger Ministry Team allocates funds allocated through the PEVA budget and special offerings to support hunger ministries and advocacy.

Elder Kelvin Jackson (First United Presbyterian Church - Co-chair

Elder Gail Schwartzer (Wycliffe Presbyterian Church) - Co-chair

The Peacemaking Ministry inspires, equips, and mobilizes PEVA congregations and members to work for peace and social justice. The Peacemaking Ministry allocates funds wisely through the PEVA budget and special offerings to support peacemaking efforts, programs, events, advocacy, resources and may host a PCUSA international peacemaker.

Elder Gerry Ellis (Denbigh United Presbyterian Church) - Chair

The Racial Justice Team of PEVA educates, inspires, equips, and mobilizes congregations and members to work for racial justice and healing. 

Elder Claudette Gravely (New Horizon Presbyterian Church) - Co-chair

Elder  Lisa Schlickenmeyer (Hilton Presbyterian Church -  Co-chair

The Personnel Committee provides counsel, support, and accountability to foster a healthy, thriving Presbytery staff. Their responsibilities include making recommendations to Council for: policies and procedures that define expectations and obligations, equitable and fair compensation and benefits, and up to date position descriptions. The committee ensures fair, regular, and consistent evaluation support for professional growth, and recognition of staff achievements.

To learn more about the Personnel Committee, please see page 13 of the PEVA Manual of Administrative Operations.

Personnel Members

The Reverend Dr. Garrett Bugg, Chair

Elder Joyce Melvin-Jones (Carver Memorial)

Elder Gail Pittman (First Presbyterian Church, Portsmouth)