Cultivating Congregational Ministry Team
Our goals are to strengthen and build the capacity of the Local Church.
We foster Local Church Vitality through educational programs.
We support Local Churches discerning their future.
We Can Help Your Congregation to:
- Identify and address the fears of change within the church and community.
- Equip your church with essential resources for development.
- Examine the practices and procedures which impact their vitality and growth.
- Help your churches to imagine a new future.
- Assess your strengths for growth and vitality.
- Determine your congregation’s faithful response to our current reality.
Our Team
Rev. J. Matthew Deal, Co-Chair
Rev. Matt Deal earned his MDiv from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 2005 and has since then been serving St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Somerset, PA. In 2022 he completed the Pension Board of the UCC’s Next Generation Leadership Initiative, a program focused on equipping local church leaders with tools to help congregations grow vital ministries. Matt has served on a variety of association, conference, and denominational committees and teams over the years.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Gorkos, Co-Chair
Matt currently serves both the Church of the Good Shepherd UCC in Alburtis, PA, and Fireside Fellowship UCC in Bradford County. He has had nearly 20-years in ministry serving congregations at various stages of their vitality journeys. He has a DMin from Boston University in Transformational Leadership. And he is the author of “The Storied Church: A Strategy for Congregational Renewal” (2021 Fortress Press).
Rev. Ken Evitts
Pastor Ken is pastor of St. John’s Center UCC in East Earl, PA. He has served two other churches in his 38 years of authorized ministry (MA and NE). As an authorized minister he has been active in all settings in association, conference, and denominational work. He is an Executive Christian Coach through Coach Approach Ministries.
Dr. Mike Gibbs
Dr. Gibbs is a retired educator with 39 years of experience as a teacher, school administrator, and consultant. Mike holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland, and has a special interest in the dynamics of change within organizations. Mike is a member of Mt. Zion United Church of Christ in York, PA. He began his service to Penn Central Conference as a member of the Congregational Vitality Team and as coach in the former Road to Vitality program. Since then he has continued his service to the conference as a member of the Board of Directors, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, and Chair of the Search and Call team for an Associate Conference Minister and he was involved with the start of Keystone Conference. Mike was a coordinator for the conference’s Congregation Empowerment Team through which he has helped to train the conference’s cadre of coaches as well as having provided workshops and coaching services to church leadership teams and individual pastors. His coaching experiences have tended to focus on mission and vision development, strategic planning, and governance issues.
Dr. Sue Cromwell
Dr. Sue received her Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University in Workforce Education and Development with an emphasis in leadership development/organization development. She is a member of Faith UCC, State College, PA. and has served in various leadership roles within the church; most recently she served as President of Faith’s Consistory. As a champion of change and people, Sue has focused her career on helping people and organizations thrive. As an educator, trainer, consultant, she has gained experience and wisdom not only from her work, but more importantly from the people and organizations she serves. As she has navigated the world of change in organizations and the impact on people, she understands how successful organizational development and change management practices contribute to organizational excellence and success.
Rev. Barbara Pence
Pastor Barb Pence is in ministry with St. Andrew’s UCC in Perkasie, PA. She is a graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. Barbara has a passion for
mission and outreach and a heart for welcoming all people into the fullness of God’s love through Jesus Christ. Barbara is a past Moderator of the historic Pennsylvania Southeast Conference and has served on several Conference and Association committees. She is honored to serve on the Committee for Cultivating Congregations.
Rev. Jim F. Neatrour
Rev James Neatrour has pastored the congregation of St Paul’s UCC in Imler, and St Mark’s Reformed Church in King (a former UCC congregation) for over 20 years. During his time in the historic PennWest conference he was active with a variety of association and conference committees, with more than 17 years in Transformation and Renewal.
Rev. David J. Ackerman
The Rev. David J. Ackerman currently serves as Transitional Regional Conference Minister for Region 3 of the Keystone Conference of the United Church of Christ and is helping to staff the Cultivating Congregational Ministry Team. He served as Conference Minister of the Penn West Conference from 2014-2025 and as Pastor of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Trauger (Pleasant Unity) PA from 1993-2014.
Tom Croner
Tom writes: “I am a member of Trinity, United Church of Christ in Berlin, Pennsylvania, where I have served in different capacities in my eighty two years. I also serve on the Interim Keystone Board of Directors and the United Church of Christ Board. I try to share my perspective at times when appropriate to help connect all our disciples to God, and our church!”
Rev. Heather Kurtz
Rev. Heather Kurtz is the minister at Zion UCC. She has been involved in a number of pursuits ranging from interning at the National Office of the United Church of Christ, to overseas ministry in the United Reform Church in England. Rev. Heather has been trained as a Coach for ministry and has trained others to be a coach. She has taken courses from Lombard Mennonite Peace Centers which includes Family Systems and Mediation/Conflict Training.
Rev. Dr. Bruce Bouchard
Rev. Bruce served a church in the Connecticut Conference for 8 years, 32 years at Grace Hanover, PA, and as an interim pastor at St. Jacob’s (Stone) in Glenville for seven years. He is currently retired. For the last several years, Bruce has been part of church vitality efforts in Penn Central. and presented a number of workshops to help churches move into the future that God has in store for them.