Delaware-Maryland Synod Staff
Staff Coordinator for Congregations: Holly Crispell
E-Mail: hcrispell@demdsynod.org
Holly was born and grew up in Fremont, Ohio. She attended Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, from which she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Staff Work and Social Work. At Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pa., Holly received a Master of Arts in Religion. She earned a Master of Science in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College in Baltimore. Holly has served parishes in Kitchener, Ontario (Canada), Riverdale, Md., and Taneytown, Md., as Director of Christian Education, Director of Youth and Confirmation Ministries and Coordinator for Children’s Worship. In 1988, she began working for this synod as support staff for one of the assistants to the bishop. As part of that position, Holly developed and then coordinated "The Vineyard," a resource center for the Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA.
As the synod's Coordinator for Congregational Ministry since 1992, Holly is still responsible for "The Vineyard." Her other duties have varied and changed over the past nine years. They have included providing administrative support services as requested by each committee of the Division for Congregational Ministries, including youth ministries, evangelism, learning ministries, worship, and "The Vineyard" advisory committee.
Her position is evolving again due to the change and addition of synod office supporting staff. She hopes to be able to focus more on the Delaware-Maryland Synod resource center, reviewing and publicizing new resources. Holly expects to spend more time collecting ministry "idea" and program files of "tried and true" resources which celebrate and share the gifts and talents of Delaware-Maryland Synod pastors and congregations. These ministry programs, worship services, dramas, puppet scripts, children's programs, etc., will be shared among synod congregations upon request.
Holly feels that one of the most exciting aspects of her position is to coordinate a biennial synod-wide conference on Congregational Ministries leadership development--Partners in Faith, Partners in Vision.