CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Central Presbyterian Church has a rich tradition of leadership. Our congregation is focused on creating a family atmosphere which is reflected in the leadership style of volunteers and staff. We uphold the spiritual life and governance of the church by elders and deacons, and trustees who are elected by the congregation.
Session
An important part of Presbyterian tradition is to provide persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God's Spirit and governance of God's people. The session is comprised of those called into this ministry and elected as elders. Together with the pastors, the session governs the church, providing leadership, spiritual discernment and guidance.
DEACONS
The ministry of the Board of Deacons is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, or anyone in distress. Our deacons, who serve a three year term, work with the staff to provide pastoral care and outreach to members who are homebound or have other needs that call for special attention.
Trustees
The trustees are an essential ministry of the church. These elected members manage the properties of the congregation and ensure that our properties are best meeting the needs of our congregation and community.
CENTRAL STAFF
Our team is made up of dedicated pastors and ministry leaders who are committed to serving our congregation and the community. They are passionate about sharing the love of Christ and helping others grow in their faith.
Scott Bowerman
Pastor
Scott was born and raised in northern New Jersey. While a freshman at Ursinus College, he awakened to faith in Christ, and also met his future wife Susan. After working as a software engineer, Scott was called to ministry and was educated at Princeton Theological Seminary. Scott has served churches in South Carolina and Virginia, and was the founding pastor of New Kirk Presbyterian in Blythewood, S.C. His articles and sermons have been published in Pulpit Digest, Preaching, Net Results and other periodicals. Scott and Susan have three children and though he looks far too young, Scott is the proud grandfather of five. Susan is a foreign language teacher who has taught both French and Spanish at the high school and middle school levels. Scott is an avid cyclist, a mediocre golfer and obsessed with making great pizza. He is active in the community, serving on the boards of the United Way and Racial Reconciliation of Franklin County. After 26 years of ministry in the South, Scott is glad to be back on the northern side of the Mason-Dixon line, even if just barely.
Bree Rauhut
Kids' Ministry Director
Bree Rauhut was born in Waynesboro and grew up in Chambersburg. She is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a degree in English and Secondary Education. For the last eighteen years, she has been teaching full time at Shalom Christian Academy. Bree has been active in children's ministry at Central for the past ten years. She loves teaching children about the Bible and helping them to know Jesus as their personal savior. Bree's husband Marcus is on the praise team at Central. She has two daughters whom she loves to spend time with. Bree also loves knitting, reading, and putting together jigsaw puzzles.
Ross Winegardner
Youth Ministry Director
Ross was born and raised in McConnellsburg, PA. After high school, he attended Susquehanna University, where he graduated with a B.A. in English/Secondary Education. From there, Ross started his career teaching middle school at Fannett-Metal School District. Eventually, he moved to Central Fulton School District, teaching both middle and high school. In 2017, Ross had the opportunity to move to Greencastle-Antrim School District and teach a course called Human Rights Literature. Since then, Ross has found a passion discussing issues affecting human rights and the well-being of people across the world. He has created learning/volunteering opportunities for teens and adults on a range of topics, such as, poverty, disability awareness, hunger, and homelessness.
Outside work, Ross lives with his wife Melissa, and their two young sons Atticus and Aslan.
Helen Wingert
Organist
Helen was born and raised in the Chambersburg/Marion area. While still in college she began her “church organ career” when she was called to her first church organ job at Fayetteville Lutheran Church, fulfilling a dream to serve Christ and His Church through music. She continued this pursuit as Church Organist at Greencastle Evangelical Lutheran Church until she met and married her husband, John Wingert, also a Church Organist at the Church of the Brethren in Chambersburg where they both shared that position for many years before Helen became Organist at Central Presbyterian in Chambersburg. Fifty some years later, Helen is still actively involved in Church organ music and John's legacy of fine-organ-worship lives on. Helen was a graduate from Shippensburg University and taught elementary school for many years in the Greencastle Antrim School District. John was a Medical Technologist having graduated from Juniata College. Helen is now retired from her "other job" and is living in Marion with her “family of eight cats”, all with unique stories of their own. Helen enjoys photography and gardening.
Brooklyn Shearer
Church Receptionist
Brooklyn was born and raised in Chambersburg by her parents, Carla and Ric Christian with her two younger brothers, Carlin and Cole. She has a beautiful baby girl named Caliana. She was a graduate of Chambersburg High School. Following high school she attended Appalachian State University University in Boone, NC on a field hockey scholarship. Brooklyn partakes in a number of activities including disc golf, pickleball and golf. She loves spending time with her family around the fire pit with good food, has a passion for nature and also enjoys the challenge of a 1000 piece puzzle. She was assistant store manager at Grocery Outlet and decided it was time to make a more rewarding career change. Through adversity she became zealous for the Lord and is thrilled to work at Central.
Judy Young
Volunteer Coordinator
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Judy came to Chambersburg in 1959 to attend Wilson College, where she met her husband-to-be, Richard. At the invitation
of then-Pastor Rev. Donald May, she joined Central as an affiliate member her Freshman Year. Following graduation in 1963, Dick and Judy were married – at Central, by Rev. May – and she began her teaching career at Grandview Elementary School in Greenvillage PA. She received her M.Ed. degree from Shippensburg University in 1967 and retired from a most rewarding 45-year teaching/school librarian career in 2008. Judy and Dick lived away from Chambersburg 1972-2012, returning “Home” to Central Presbyterian, Wilson, their family and friends after 40 years. Now happy residents of Penn National, Judy declares that yes, you can go back home again – and even sit in the same pew! Judy is an ordained Elder, past church Trustee, Grove Family
Library member, and Director on the Totem Pole Playhouse Board. A proud Wilson College Alumna, she serves on the Board of Trustees, is a member of the college’s Magazine Advisory Board, lending supports to current students, the College Community choir and other campus activities. And saving the best for last, they are the parents of 2 sons and grandparents of three great kids!
Erin Adams
Worship & Communications Director
Erin was raised in Newark, DE alongside a family of music lovers! As a child, she spent most of her time singing, dancing, playing piano, making silly videos with her siblings and friends, playing with her dogs, and spending summer days in the neighborhood pool! Erin graduated Summa Cum Laude from Shenandoah Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theatre in Spring 2009. Beginning a month after graduation, she performed for a living in numerous regional theatres throughout the United States. In late winter 2011, Erin received God's call into ministry; after fighting it for a while, she finally accepted His intervention and began applying for church jobs. Central has been the answer to the prayer Erin never knew she had! She loves working with the community here, studying God's word, watching Him work in beautiful ways, and worshipping with such a wonderful church family. In Erin's free time, she continues to perform, write music, travel, instruct worship cardio, volunteer, and spend time with her wonderful husband, sons, family, friends, and dogs.
Shelly Marangoni
Director of PlaySchool Central
Shelley grew up outside of Pittsburgh. As a child, she always made her friends play school on her front porch so she could be the teacher! She pursued that dream at the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and a Masters of Arts in Teaching. She started her formal teaching career in Winchester, VA teaching first grade. Since then, she has held various positions all with the focus of being an advocate for children. For the last thirteen years she has worked at PlaySchool Central as the Preschool teacher and Lead Teacher for the program. The program is unique in that it believes that all children learn best through play-based education. Shelley joins the Staff of Central as PlaySchool Central’s Director where she will continue to advocate for all children to have the best early childhood experience possible. Shelley has been a member of Central for the last twenty-two years and loves to combine her love of Jesus with her professional career of teaching. Shelley and her husband Don have been married twenty-six years and have been blessed with two children Alydia and Dominic. Shelley enjoys spending her time with family, camping, and scrapbooking.
Alexis Helman
Church Administrator
Alexis and her husband have a beautiful, 4 acre home in New Franklin. She has a great fondness for animals and worked for a local animal hospital for 20 years. Since then, she had the pleasure to work with Dr. Paul Klink at Summit Weight Management. She feels truly blessed to have the opportunity to work with Pastor Scott Bowerman and will enjoy getting to know the church members as well.
Scott Shearer
Custodian
Scott is married to Susan, who he met at Millsaps College while majoring in sociology. He has two teenage daughters, Becca and Gail and some pets too. Scott enjoys cooking, camping, and canoeing in his free time.