Staff
PASTOR: Jill Laufenberg
Jill came to Chester County over 26 years ago after taking a position as the Youth & Young Adult Pastor at West Chester United Methodist Church. She also served on the pastoral staff at Paoli Presbyterian Church while starting a faith-based startup for urban youth in metro Philadelphia. She has held executive positions at two national non-profits, and was the Executive Director of the local nonprofit Wings for Success (now known as The Wardrobe). Jill is a member of the West Chester Sunrise Rotary, serves on the PFAC Board at Chester County Hospital, is a featured speaker at Chester County’s annual Women’s March, was on the BluePrint Committee for The Fund for Women & Girls, and led the social media campaign for Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste. In addition to her local involvement, she is a contributing author to the best-selling Bible curriculum for students, The Complete New Testament Resource for Youth Workers, Volumes 1 and 2. Creating comprehensive, practical, and relevant lessons for teenagers also helped shape Jill’s unique approach to teaching/preaching.
While studying studio art in New York City, Jill wanted to make a difference in students' lives and decided to enter ministry. She was the first female to go through Pastoral Studies/Youth Ministry at Philadelphia College of the Bible (now known as Cairn University), was ordained in 2005, was a presenter for Real World Parent Seminars, a graduate of the first cohort of The Executive Leadership Forum for Youth for Christ USA, received her certificate in Organizational Development from the Wharton School of Business, and served on the Philadelphia School Board’s Executive Council for Social Change for eleven years. She is passionate about the more significant fight for marginalized individuals and providing opportunities for them to be empowered.
This broad background of experience is possible because of a strong support system of family, friends, and mentors. Jill and her husband live in West Chester. They have a 21-year-old son adopted from Ethiopia at ten years old and is currently studying at San Diego State University. In addition to living in the borough of West Chester, Jill enjoys traveling, attending concerts, snowboarding, boxing, yoga, and has recently taken up pickleball!
CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR: Amos Kohne
Amos received a degree in Communications from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania before finding his way to his current position at CLS. Amos is also an avid musician and sings in both his home church and the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus.
INTERIM MUSIC DIRECTOR: Carol Metzker
Carol’s calling to use music as a source of healing runs deep. She is a certified sound therapist and community advocate, passionate about supporting survivors of trauma—including victims of human trafficking and homelessness—and those seeking peace and well-being in a noisy world. Her community work includes consulting for The Salvation Army’s New Day to Stop Trafficking Program, serving as a liaison with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, and earning Rotary International’s "Service Above Self" award! As Interim Music Director, Carol will not only lead our worship music each Sunday, but will also help plan special guest musicians and coordinate concerts and musical offerings throughout her tenure.
PASTOR EMERITUS: D. John Woodcock had served Loving Shepherd for over 40 years and served the community through involvement in The Religious Council of Greater West Chester, on committees such as the Multi-Cultural Task Force of the West Chester Area School District, and most recently on Chester County’s Allocations Committee for the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program. He was a cofounder of Bournelyf Special Camp. John holds graduate degrees from the Philadelphia Divinity School of the Protestant Episcopal Church and from Temple University, and was ordained by The Rt. Reverend Herbert Spaugh of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum).
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