Clergy and staff

Clergy

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The Reverend Dr. Barbara J. Seras,
Priest-In-Charge

Mother Barbara was born and raised in Carlisle. She attended Chatham College in Pittsburgh and Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle. While practicing law, she owned and operated Back Door Pizza, just a block off Dickinson’s campus.

She received her M.Div. from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL and was ordained to the priesthood in 1993 in Maryland. Barbara’s ministry experiences includes Program Director for Episcopal Social Ministries in the Diocese of MD where she coordinated summer day camps and youth employment program for inner city children in Baltimore.  She served parishes in Columbia, MD, Highland, MD, Woodlawn, MD, and St. James, and St. John’s in Lancaster. For two years Barbara tested her vocation as a religious sister at the Episcopal Community of St. John Baptist in Mendham, NJ. Barbara loves travel, cooking, Ikons and Greek dancing.

The Reverend James Rinehart

Fr. Jim is a graduate of the University of South Florida and Bexely Hall Seminary. He has served parishes in the Diocese of Rochester, the Diocese of Long Island, and most recently the Diocese of Bethlehem. He retired as Rector of Trinity Church, Pottsville, PA in 2015 and since then has being serving as associate priest at Hope Church and Christ Church, Reading. Fr. Jim is a chaplain for the Clergy Assurance Fund and has served on a variety of committees and commissions at the diocesan, provincial, and national church levels. When called upon, he continues to lead workshops on stewardship and congregational development. In his leisure time he enjoys golf and flyfishing and with his wife, Nancy, does a lot of biking and traveling. He and Nancy look forward to joining us and being a part of our St. Paul’s family.

The Reverend Dolores Smith

The Rev. Dolores Smith was born and raised in Lancaster.  In 2008, she was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Bethlehem and has served parishes in Schuylkill, Berks, and Lancaster Counties.  She presently lives with her husband and their cat, Simon, in Conestoga.  When she is not serving as a priest, she enjoys walking, biking on rail trails, and throwing axes with her husband, Bill.

Staff

Pam Heisey, Organist and Administrator

Ms. Pam Heisey came to St. Paul’s as Organist in October, 1975. Her ambition has been to play hymns on the organ for a church service.   She had started taking piano lessons at the age of nine, and played for the Sunday School at her church, Ross Street United Methodist. In high school, she began taking organ lessons from Mr. Frank McConnell, who was the organist at St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster. She told him of her dream; and when a job offer came in from St. Paul’s, Mr. McConnell informed her and she was hired by Father Don Evans, the Vicar there at the time.  Except for a ten-year break, she is still there.