Briefly describe your family, occupation, and professional and community involvement.
I grew up in Bryn Mawr, PA with my parents and younger sister. Our parents were both physicians at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and worked very long hours caring for patients and their families. They hired a wonderful woman to live with us and to care for my sister and me and they sent us to Delaware County Christian School so that we would be surrounded every day by a community of Christians committed to knitting together heart, soul, and mind. And this is where I also met my husband, Jeff.
I attended the University of Notre Dame earning a BA in history and after college I returned to the Main Line to teach high school history, government, and economics at Delaware County Christian School for six years. While Jeff pursued his PhD, I had two jobs supporting the work of professors and their students at the University of Virginia and I also home schooled our children for three years.
We moved back to Philadelphia in 2011 and settled in Malvern. In 2015, I became president of the John Templeton Foundation, a large private foundation based in West Conshohocken, PA which was started by my grandfather in 1987. I will step down from this position in June 2025.
We have four children—Jack, Micah, Cody, and Carter. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, running, hiking, skiing, and cheering on the DC Knights in soccer and basketball.
How long have you regularly attended worship at Good Samaritan? In which ministries have you been involved and in what capacity?
We have been attending Good Samaritan for about 14 years. Jeff and I taught Sunday School during the 11 am service for a few years. We served with the Food Closet ministry, mostly by shopping and delivering groceries to restock the shelves. We have volunteered to sell Christmas trees and most recently, we have served as greeters during the 11:15 am service.
In what diocesan level ministries and/or ministries in previous parishes have you been involved?
Prior to Good Samaritan, Jeff and I attended Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, PA and Trinity Presbyterian in Charlottesville, VA. In both places, we have always volunteered in the children’s ministry by serving in the nursery, teaching Sunday School, or participating in Vacation Bible School. In Virginia, I was also involved with a church ministry to homeless women during the cold winter months.
From your point of view, what is the greatest challenge or opportunity you see facing Good Samaritan in the next three to five years?
I believe that all challenges are opportunities. And the opportunity for Good Samaritan is to demonstrate in faith, word, and deeds what it means to be united in our commitment to Christ and full of love and grace for the diversity of perspectives around the challenging social and political issues of our day.
Please describe how you understand the gospel message. What is that message to you?
The good news of the gospel means that I am a sinner in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. By claiming belief in God the Father, Jesus his Son, and the Holy Spirit, I am justified and I start the journey on “the long obedience in the same direction.” While God’s promise that those who believe in his name will not perish is solid and sure, the gospel demands that every day I must seek to love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, and soul and to seek restitution again and again when I fall short of what he has called me to be.