Bethany Board Welcomes Six New Trustees

The Bethany Theological Seminary Board of Trustees held its Fall 2023 meeting September 15-17 on the Richmond, Indiana campus. Six new members have joined the board this year,

Susan Boyer joined the board in 2023 as an at-large member. She is a retired Church of the Brethren pastor who served congregations in Indiana and California for 37 years. She received a BA in religion from the University of La Verne and an MDiv from Bethany Theological Seminary. She currently serves on the Nurturing and Credentialing Committee of the Pacific Southwest District of the Church of the Brethren. Susan is a member of the La Verne Church of the Brethren. She has two grown sons and one grandchild. 

Mark Gingrich joined the Board in July 2023 representing laity. He received his B.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech and his MS in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Pennsylvania. Mark has been in the healthcare industry since 1989 working for United Healthcare, McKesson, and started two companies, the most recent one being Surescripts, which is now the nation’s largest health information network. Mark has served on several non-profit and for-profit boards and has played leadership roles in several healthcare standards organizations. Within the denomination he has served on the Northern Plains District board and leads the financial ministry for Open Circle Church of the Brethren in Burnsville, MN. 

Jennifer Hosler joined the Board in 2023 representing clergy. Jenn is bi-vocational, both a community psychologist and an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. She works alongside communities, congregations, and organizations, using research and action to promote community well-being, social justice, and peace. Jenn’s recent research and writing has focused on interfaith engagement. In addition to being a community psychologist, she serves as a bi-vocational pastor (plural non salaried) at Washington City Church of the Brethren in Washington, DC. Jenn also works as the Program and Organization Development Lead for the Washington City congregation. A primary piece of this work has involved community organizing to support asylum seekers bused from Texas and Arizona. Jenn earned degrees from Moody Bible Institute (BA), Pennsylvania State University (MA), and University of Maryland, Baltimore County (PhD). She lives in Washington, DC with her spouse Nathan and child Ayuba. 

Kent Miller joined the board in March 2023 fulfilling an unexpired at-large term created by the resignation of Phil Stover. A native of Northern Indiana, Kent attended Manchester College for one year, but finished his education at Goshen College where he completed the Organizational Leadership Program. He is a former pastor in two Mennonite Church USA congregations and has worked in denominational leadership. He currently serves on the Leadership Enhancement Team of his regional conference. Kent joined Everence Financial Consultants to help others integrate their faith with their financial decisions. He is dedicated to assisting individuals, organizations, and congregations along their stewardship journeys by helping with retirement or individual investments, charitable giving, and insurances. Kent, and his wife, Jill, have two adult daughters, three grandchildren and are members of College Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana. 

Patrick Starkey joined the board as an at-large member in July 2023. He is pastor of Cloverdale Church of the Brethren in Virginia, where he has served since September of 2011. Patrick earned degrees from the University of Virginia (BA), the University of Virginia School of Law (JD), and Bethany Theological Seminary (MDiv), and practiced law for three-and-a-half years in Virginia before being called into ministry. He is a past member of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board, which he chaired from 2019-2021. Patrick and his wife, Susan, joined Brethren Volunteer Service as a married couple in 2010 and placed with Casa de Esperanza in Houston, Texas, where they served as foster parents for one year. They now live in Cloverdale, Virginia, and are the parents of three children, Azyra, Micah, and Joanna. 

Julia (Julie) Wheeler joined the Board in 2023 representing an unexpired alumni term. She is retired from her 22 years in philanthropy at the University of La Verne, although she continues in an adjunct position there. Before her university work, Julie served in the public school system in elementary and middle school. She earned a B.S. and M. Ed from the University of La Verne and her MDiv from Bethany Theological Seminary in 2022. Julie is a La Verne Church of the Brethren member while assisting the preaching team at Pomona Fellowship CoB. She convenes several grassroots organizations in Pomona, supporting restorative justice, visioning, and compassion. She and her husband, Dennis, live in Pomona and have five adult children. 

“We are fortunate to welcome trustees with such varied experience and perspectives,” notes President Jeff Carter. “We are grateful to all of our trustees for their committed service to the Seminary.”