Meet the Board of Directors

The Rev. Valerie Coe Lowder is an authorized minister in the Southeast Conference, United Church of Christ, where she serves as an Intentional Interim Minister. She is also a D.Min. student at McAfee School of Theology. She has been pastor of congregations in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, a campus minister in Delaware, and a youth minister in Indiana and Pennsylvania. As an educator, she has taught Spanish to elementary and middle school students; religion, philosophy and ethics to college students; and served as administrator of two preschools. Ordained as a Baptist in 1990, she came to the UCC in 1997 by privilege of call, after sojourning among Methodists, Moravians and other ecumenical exploits. She holds a B.A. from Wake Forest University, a M.A. in Religious Studies from Indiana University, a M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, with further studies at the Divinity School of Duke University. She has earned certificates in Clinical Pastoral Education and in Interim Ministry and is trained in therapeutic parenting and emergency response. For decades she has been a mentor to many women and men preparing for ministry, including chairing the Commission on Ministry of Southeast Conference and serving on the Members in Discernment committee at Kirkwood UCC in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also a mental health advocate, a hand-weaver and quilter. She is married to Dr. Patrick Lowder. They have two grown sons, an old black cat and three xoloitzcuintlis.

Kim is a highly experienced Human Resources professional with 25+ years of progressively responsible roles at the site, regional and corporate level for companies servicing diverse industries and market segments. Her professional qualifications include a strong HR Business Partner background enhanced by broadening assignments in Organization Development and Design, Change Management, Process Consulting, Compliance and Risk Management. Kim currently works for Lockheed Martin in Workforce Strategy and Planning and holds a B.A. Psychology from Emory University and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Rochelle is a distinguished career educator and educational leader with 24 years of experience in public education. Having completed the PATHWAYS program herself, Rochelle then served as the Interim Executive Director of PATHWAYS from November 2018 to February 2020. While working as a public school principal she was recognized as an “Aspiring Leader” and has published in an academic journal on curriculum development for LGBT students. Rochelle has worked with a number of non-profit organizations and has experience in community and church leadership. Rochelle is currently Head of School, Upper Campus of the Globe Academy Middle School, a member of Pilgrimage United Church of Christ in Marietta, GA,  and an MID (Member in Discernment) in the Southeast Conference of the UCC. In her free time, Rochelle enjoys spending time with her wife, two ‘dog’ters, and two feline children

Rev. Dr. Vertie Powers is a retired Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ordained clergywoman, with standing in the United Church of Christ.

Rev. Powers graduated from Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, NC in 2016 with a Doctor of Ministry degree. She completed a Master of Divinity degree in 1992 from Duke University, Durham, NC, and a Bachelor of Science degree in 1989 at Trinity College, Washington, DC.

This North Carolina native was ordained in 1992 at Twelfth Street Christian Church in Washington, DC.

Rev. Powers served the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as Pastor of local congregations in DC and Pennsylvania, and on the National level as Director of New Church Development and Interim Director of The Reconciliation Ministry in Indianapolis, IN.

She was subsequently called to serve on the National staff of the United Church of Christ as Minister of Evangelism for Church Development and Renewal, Local Church Ministries in Cleveland, Ohio. Rev. Powers then became Associate Conference Minister and Acting Conference Minister for the Southern Conference in Burlington, NC. In addition to serving the Southern Conference, she served as Adjunct staff for four years at Duke University Divinity School. God called her to Illinois, where she became the Associate Conference Minister serving the Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Illinois Conference. She ministered in this capacity until her retirement in December of 2019.

Rev. Powers has returned to the DMV in her retirement.  She is a consultant to the Central Atlantic Conference.  She is a proud parent and prouder grandparent and great grandparent

The Rev. David Oliver Kling is a bishop with the Ancient Apostolic Church of Alexandria and licensed for ministry with the Living Water Association (in the Heartland Conference) of the United Church of Christ serving as settled pastor at St. John's UCC in Massillon Ohio. Pastor Oliver is a 2008 graduate of Wright State University earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Philosophy and Religious Studies and is a 2012 graduate of Methodist Theological School in Ohio having earned a Master of Divinity degree specializing in Black Church and African Diaspora Studies. He is the 2012 recipient of the Interpretation Journal Award in Theology and Biblical Studies upon graduation. By the end of 2013 Pastor Oliver finished a residency in chaplaincy at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia and then moved to the Massillon area to serve as a hospice chaplain. Pastor Oliver is an adjunct professor at Aultman College in Canton, Ohio teaching medical ethics and spiritual care for nurses. He is all but project/thesis for a Doctor of Ministry degree specializing in leadership for transformational change, and he is passionate about many things including such academic topics as history, philosophy, and open and relational theology on one hand and on the other he is a fan of all things nerdy (science fiction & fantasy). Pastor Oliver is committed to social justice, radical acceptance, and authenticity. He lives in Massillon with his spouse Jacki and their amazing daughter Vivianne.

Ginnie joined the PATHWAYS Advisory Committee in 2014 while PATHWAYS was a program of the Southeast Conference. In March 2018, Ginnie served on the initial Board of Directors of PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc., and is currently the Secretary. Ginnie is retired UCC clergy and long-time church educator serving churches in Maine and Georgia. Prior to ordained ministry, Ginnie worked as a field geologist and geophysics technician. Ginnie has degrees in Geology and Chemistry and a Master of Divinity (Bangor Theological Seminary). She was certified as an Environmental Educator in 2016. Since retirement, she is an active member of First Congregational Church UCC in Atlanta. Ginnie is married to Jack Raymer who together have a little Scottie named Yevo.

Kim joined the Southeast Conference the settled Conference Minister in September 2021. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Aurora University and her Master of Divinity from Bethany Theological Seminary. Kim has served as an associate minister, a solo pastor, a head of staff/senior minister, and a bridge pastor, and she is experienced in both settled and intentional interim ministry. She has worked extensively with congregations in transition, conflict resolution, and revitalization in suburban/urban and rural settings. Kim and her spouse, Ron, celebrate the gift God has given them in a beautiful family that includes four children, their spouses/significant others, and two adorable grandchildren. Kim enjoys music, reading, sports, history, and story, learning about other faith traditions, visiting new places and landscapes, game nights with family and friends, and meeting people wherever she might be.