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Pittsburgh Seminary Welcomes New Board Members

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary welcomes four new members to the Board: the Rev. Kelsy N. Brown ’10, T. J. Lucas ’19, the Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Peters, and the Rev. John T. Shaver ’98.

Brown serves as associate pastor for membership and mission at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, in Scottsdale, Ariz. She joined Pinnacle as interim associate pastor for membership and mission in 2013 and became an installed pastor in 2016. Previously she served as solo pastor at Altavista Presbyterian Church, in Altavista, Va. She received a bachelor’s in theology and history from Whitworth University and a master of divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Brown will serve as the alumna representative to the Board.

Lucas is a licensed minister in the United Church of Christ and serves as pastor of First and South United Church of Christ, in Ebensburg, Pa. She earned a bachelor of education in speech-language pathology and felt a call to ministry while working as a director of Christian education. While in seminary, Lucas served churches, raised two young children, and took classes opposite her spouse, who graduated from PTS last year. Additionally, she served on a number of hiring committees and participated in an intercultural learning trip. Outside the Seminary she started two non-profit organizations—Residents Against Illicit Drugs and Food 4 Kids, in Apollo, Pa.—and serves on the board of the Ethics Institute of St. Francis University.

Peters currently serves as interim executive director of Schenley Heights for Youth in Pittsburgh. Previously he was theologian in residence at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, president of Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Henry L. Hillman Professor of Urban Ministry and founding director of the Metro-Urban Institute at PTS, and pastor of two churches. Peters received a bachelor’s from Southern University, master of divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and doctor of education from the University of Massachusetts. His board service includes Pittsburgh Presbytery, Foundation of HOPE, and Association of Theological Schools. He has written the books Urban Ministry Reconsidered, with Stephanie Boddie and R. Drew Smith (WJK, 2018); Urban Ministry: An Introduction (Abingdon, 2007); and Africentric Approaches to Christian Ministry, with Marsha Snulligan Haney (University Press of America, 2006).

Shaver previously served the PTS Board as the alumnus representative. He is senior pastor at San Dieguito United Methodist Church, in Encinitas, Calif. Originally from the Pittsburgh area, he is a third-generation UMC pastor and previously served Valencia UMC, in Valencia, Calif., and Bethel Park UMC, in Bethel Park, Pa. Shaver received a bachelor’s from North Carolina State University and master of divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He completed a post-graduate fellowship in leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary.

Pittsburgh Seminary Welcomes New Board Members

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary welcomes four new members to the Board: the Rev. Kelsy N. Brown ’10, T. J. Lucas ’19, the Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Peters, and the Rev. John T. Shaver ’98.

Brown serves as associate pastor for membership and mission at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, in Scottsdale, Ariz. She joined Pinnacle as interim associate pastor for membership and mission in 2013 and became an installed pastor in 2016. Previously she served as solo pastor at Altavista Presbyterian Church, in Altavista, Va. She received a bachelor’s in theology and history from Whitworth University and a master of divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Brown will serve as the alumna representative to the Board.

Lucas is a licensed minister in the United Church of Christ and serves as pastor of First and South United Church of Christ, in Ebensburg, Pa. She earned a bachelor of education in speech-language pathology and felt a call to ministry while working as a director of Christian education. While in seminary, Lucas served churches, raised two young children, and took classes opposite her spouse, who graduated from PTS last year. Additionally, she served on a number of hiring committees and participated in an intercultural learning trip. Outside the Seminary she started two non-profit organizations—Residents Against Illicit Drugs and Food 4 Kids, in Apollo, Pa.—and serves on the board of the Ethics Institute of St. Francis University.

Peters currently serves as interim executive director of Schenley Heights for Youth in Pittsburgh. Previously he was theologian in residence at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, president of Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Henry L. Hillman Professor of Urban Ministry and founding director of the Metro-Urban Institute at PTS, and pastor of two churches. Peters received a bachelor’s from Southern University, master of divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and doctor of education from the University of Massachusetts. His board service includes Pittsburgh Presbytery, Foundation of HOPE, and Association of Theological Schools. He has written the books Urban Ministry Reconsidered, with Stephanie Boddie and R. Drew Smith (WJK, 2018); Urban Ministry: An Introduction (Abingdon, 2007); and Africentric Approaches to Christian Ministry, with Marsha Snulligan Haney (University Press of America, 2006).

Shaver previously served the PTS Board as the alumnus representative. He is senior pastor at San Dieguito United Methodist Church, in Encinitas, Calif. Originally from the Pittsburgh area, he is a third-generation UMC pastor and previously served Valencia UMC, in Valencia, Calif., and Bethel Park UMC, in Bethel Park, Pa. Shaver received a bachelor’s from North Carolina State University and master of divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He completed a post-graduate fellowship in leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary.