Presbyterian Center Staff

Randy provides general coordination, vision and leadership to the entire PDA program. At the moment he provides special guidance related to the implications of armed conflict and International Humanitarian Law and holds heightened advisory responsibilities for international response and work in South Asia and the Middle East in addition to coordination responsibilities. He serves as a denominational representative on the Board of Directors of Church World Services and a member of the Church World Service Emergency Response Program Committee, serves on the Action by Churches Together Advisory Committee on Protection, and on the Board of the Foods Resource Bank.

Luke is focused on strengthening councils of churches and partner churches as they develop their responses, and provides monitoring and evaluation functions for PDA. as well as working in-country to ensure that systems are in place and able to deliver the relief assistance being provided. Luke represents PDA in various capacities on ecumenical organizations and frequently provides assistance to Church World Service in conducting Emergency Management Training.

David works for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and is developing story initiatives with communities affected by the tsunami in Indonesia and Hurricanes Katrina/Rita in the Gulf region.

Pamela serves as the "information officer" for PDA. She is responsible for the development of PDA interpretive materials and serves on the ACT Communicator's Reference Group. She is available to support the information needs of your church mission committee as it relates to the PDA program and interest in special projects for Vacation Bible School, Alternative Christmas Giving and Sunday School projects. She does our posting to the RIN (Rapid Information Network) and also to the Web site.

Christie is responsible for ensuring that funds are transferred to the field as promptly as possible. She monitors the PDA budget, develops grant listings, maintains PDA equipment, supports the work of the advisory committee, coordinates PDA Associates' and volunteer travel schedules and manages recognition of donors.

Jenny provides administrative support for the communications, national response, and refugee and government relations offices within PDA. She helps prepare information for the PDA Web site; supports work teams involved in short term disaster recovery mission trips; resources staff, volunteers and requesting congregations and middle governing bodies; and offers other special project and supportive work.

John trains, recruits, coordinates and manages the PDA National Response Team. He works with middle governing bodies to enable response to disasters in their area and tracks our national responses. He is responsible for decision making around where we respond and at what financial level. John is also active in various areas of providing spiritual care to disaster survivors and others affected by trauma, and he provides linkage to government agencies and other important groups in Washington, D.C.

Beth is responsible for managing the files on all projects and programs of PDA including tracking payments, monitoring and securing reports from the field, handling the reporting from volunteers working on field projects, and relating to program partners.

This administrative assistant provides support for PDA staff, volunteers and contract staff; provides support in the organizing, preparation and implementation of training events and gatherings; tracks volunteer activity and maintains such records as requested.

Gulf Coast Operations Staff

The volunteer village coordinator is responsible for implementing standard operating procedures and guidelines for the Presbyterian Volunteer Villages, which were established by PDA to provide hospitality to volunteer work teams. This person recruits and trains long-term volunteers who staff the villages.

The finance manager trains long-term volunteer village managers in PDA financial policies and procedures, including collection of village fees, food purchasing, gift cards, donations and paperwork. This person works closely with Presbyterian Center staff to ensure smooth financial processes and reporting.

Christie’s responsibilities include ensuring that the Presbyterian Volunteer Villages work cooperatively with Long Term Recovery Organizations; building and maintaining relationships with local partnering disaster assistance organizations; setting up effective partnerships for case management and construction management; ensuring that PDA volunteers have meaningful faith and mission experiences while guests in the villages; ensuring that clients receive appropriate case management and effective volunteer assistance.

Frank has primary responsibility for the overall operations of the Presbyterian Volunteer Village system.  He oversees finances, management of staff, location and setup of new villages, relationships with hosting governing bodies, interpretation of mission, and relationships with partnering and other appropriate disaster organizations.

The facilities manager has primary responsibility for the overall maintenance and upkeep of the Presbyterian Volunteer Villages; upkeep and maintenance of vehicles, trailers and equipment, including proper licensing; maintenance of an effective and up to date inventory of all tools and equipment throughout the village system; and oversight of the building of new villages and teardown of closing villages.

Mission Co-workers

Kathy is a PC(USA) Mission Coworker, formally posted to serve the Reformed Church of Hungary. Half of her time is assigned to PDA to work as a facilitator with our growing work in psycho-social care and pastoral care giving. She is providing leadership to our joint work with the Church of Sweden Aid, Varsta, and Norwegian Church Aid. We are designing training manuals for the development and equipping of international support teams that will provide staff care to emergency field workers, care to mission workers, and pastoral care training for pastors in our partner churches. She is available also for emergency call to serve for up to three months in an emergency response team. Kathy will mentor and work with the international care giving team of PDA.

Carlos is a PC(USA) Mission Coworker based with CEPAD in Nicaragua and working half time with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. He began his work with PDA coordinating the response to the 2001 earthquake in El Salvador. Since then he has become a Sphere trainer for Latin America, and expanded his work regionally. Carlos will represent PDA regionally in disaster response, mitigation and training work. He will also provide training and support to the development work of CEPAD in Nicaragua.

Rebecca (Becca) is a PC(USA) Mission Coworker teaching systematic theology at Jakarta Theological Seminary in Jakarta, Indonesia. Becca began her service with PDA in the response to the 2004 Asian tsunami. She is fluent in the local language and during the initial response stage served as the interim regional coordinator for the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Medan, Indonesia, office. The seminary has agreed to a portion of Becca's time being dedicated to continued PDA liaison work with partners in Indonesia during the ongoing tsunami recovery stages.

Julia Thorne is an attorney in the Office of Immigration Issues, which is located in Constitutional Services in the Office of the General Assembly.  She resources and advises presbyteries and churches regarding immigration law and other immigration issues.  This Office also works with presbyteries, churches and interfaith partners on education on immigration issues that affect our churches and our nation and advocacy for the reform of current immigration policies, procedures and laws in accordance with General Assembly policy.