I want to thank you all for welcoming me as your new Designated Pastor.
I was born in Washington County, PA. My family already lived in the county at the time of the 1790 census. My parents still live on a farm now owned by my youngest brother, who is the eighth generation to farm there. I have a sister who is a township tax collector, and another brother who runs a training program for Columbia Gas.
I have a BA, with a double major in Economics and English, from Washington & Jefferson College. After graduation, I had a number of jobs in banking and finance. I was a loan officer and a branch manager for the Farm Credit System, the managing officer of a savings and loan, and started a computer software company that sold software to banks. I received a Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and later studied at United Theological College, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
I have been an elder in three congregations and part of
the staff of six. I have been a temporary supply pastor, director of
special ministries, solo pastor, interim co-pastor, and twice as
interim head of staff. This is my first service as a Designated Pastor.
In 2000, I was a commissioner to General Assembly. I
have also served as a commissioner to Synod. I have chaired several
Presbytery committees. Currently, I am the President of the Trustees of Eastminster Presbytery.
I have a real passion for mission trips.
One of my favorites was a fifteen-day trip to Thailand, where we built
two houses for Habitat for Humanity and saw the amazing work that has
been done by Presbyterian Missionaries over the past 150 years. Another favorite was a trip I led to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with
ninety people from fifteen congregations. We ran two VBS sites for
about 150 kids, roofed a church and a house, painted and did plumbing
work around the Reservation.
Over the years I have been active
in Scouting, being a former national chaplain for the National
Association of Presbyterian Scouters, a five-time chaplain at Philmont
Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM, and the current president of the
board of directors of P.R.A.Y., the organization which provides
religious awards to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls and
American Heritage Girls.
I am married to the Rev. Carolyn
Griffeth, currently the Interim Pastor at Heritage Presbyterian Church.
We have four boys between us, each counting two sons and two stepsons.
They are aged 28, 27, 26, and 23. Three live in the Philadelphia area and one is Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Carolyn and I live
in Poland, Ohio.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARREN 256 Mahoning Ave., NW | Warren, OH 44483 | (phone) 330-393-1524 | (fax) 330-393-1526 | (e-mail) fpcwarren@hotmail.com
