Leadership

Session

Our Session is the governing body of Palisades Presbyterian Church. Many people believe that the pastor runs everything, but that is simply not the case. At PPC, like for all churches in the PC(USA), we believe that the church is a community and should be led by that community. As such, the Ruling Elders who serve on Session are nominated and elected by the church body to serve three-year terms. Session is divided up into the following committees: Christian Education (CE), Finance (F), Membership (M), Outreach (O), and Worship (W). These groups work together, alongside our pastor, to keep PPC running and to help move us forward.

The following church members are currently Ruling Elders on our Session:

  • Lauren Schaefer (CE - Chair)

  • Barbara Welsh-Osga (CE)

  • Steve Parker (F - Chair)

  • Jennifer White (F)

  • Wells Lyman (O - Chair)

  • Grace Young (O)

  • Rev. Cassie Carroll (Moderator)

  • Ruth Sweet (M - Chair)

  • Carolyn Erlanson (M)

  • Lori Leiser (W - Chair)

  • Sarah Dawson (W)

  • Deanna Atherton (Clerk)

Deacons

The Board of Deacons at Palisades Presbyterian Church exists as the hands and heart of the Lord, to serve the congregation and community. As instruments of God’s grace and healing, they minister to spiritual, physical, and emotional needs through presence, praying, listening, acting, and rejoicing. As is true for Ruling Elders, Deacons are nominated and elected by the church body to serve three-year terms. The Deacons strive to fulfill their calling by caring for one another as Jesus Christ cares for us.

The Deacons fulfill this mandate with practical ministries of Communion preparation, serving for weddings and memorials, sending cards for special occasions and tender outreach, supporting the PPC prayer chain and prayer quilt ministries, organizing the flowers for Sunday worship, encouraging homebound members through hands-on care and a bulletin mailing ministry, and approving generous year-end giving to major church needs, such as new sanctuary doors and local Christian ministry organizations.

The following church members are currently part of our Deacon Board:

  • Nancy Grano

  • Jeannine Joergensen

  • John Lee

  • Terry McDaniel

  • Brent Neff

  • Gaetana Patton

  • Mike Patton

  • Laqueta Strawn (Moderator)

  • Darlene Talbott

  • Lee Talbott

  • Norma Whiting