Our Leadership Team

Christ alone is the Head of the Church.  We all strive to be servant leaders here at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church.

  • RevEREND robert griffin

    temporary supply pastor

    Pastor Bob attended Lake Forest College in Michigan and later Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.


    He spent many years ministering in Los Angeles in both a congregational setting and as a Hospice Chaplain until moving back to New York, where he had spent much of his youth. He accepted a call to the Cutchogue Presbyterian Church and joined East End Hospice as Chaplain.


    Most recently, he served as the Interim Pastor of the Middle Island Presbyterian Church on Long Island at a time of pastoral transition. He has also served the Presbytery on the Committee For Preparation of Ministry, the Communications Team, and currently the Board of Trustees.


  • Linda Betjeman

    Minister of Music

    Linda Shelton Betjeman has been the Minister of Music at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church since 2007. She is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music, New York City, where she received a Master’s Degree in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting. During her 50-year career in church music she has served in congregations in Manhattan, Westchester County, and Long Island.


    Linda has been a recitalist at concert series in Manhattan, Westchester, and Rockland Counties, and has performed as a soloist in England and Italy (including St. Peter’s in Rome). She has been a keyboard soloist (organ, harpsichord, piano) with the Broadway Bach Ensemble of Manhattan and has performed with the Chappaqua Chamber Orchestra and Mimosa Chamber Ensemble of Manhattan. Additionally, Linda has been the accompanist for Taghkanic Chorale and Tri-County Opera of northern Westchester and has taught on the music faculty of the Walden-Lincoln and Trevor Day School in New York City as well as the Riverdale Country School and Sarah Lawrence College.


    Linda is currently the Director of the Shelter Island Community Chorus and summer organist-choir director at Union Chapel in the Grove, Shelter Island.

  • Katherine moore

    Administrative Assistant

    Katherine is a preacher's wife and mother of three grown daughters who has a lot of experience in church life. She was trained as a school teacher (English) and home schooled her children K-12. Her children are all college graduates and two are in seminary in Memphis, TN.


    In addition to her experience as a school teacher, Katherine worked in mental health and as Director of a ministry focused on homeless and chronically unemployed adults to guide them in returning to work. For the last few years Katherine has worked in many positions at Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch in Riverhead including Executive Assistant and Assistant to the Director of Finance.


    Five years ago Katherine and her husband John moved to Shelter Island and he began his work at the East End Church of Christ in East Hampton. Katherine also works part-time at the Shelter Island Public Library.

  • karin bennett

    Sexton


  • Ruling Elders (Session)

    Ruling elders are so named not because they "lord it over" the congregation, but because they are chosen by the congregation...to strengthen and nurture its faith and life.  Ruling elders, together with teaching elders (pastors), exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of the congregation as well as the whole church. (Book of Order - G-2.0301)

    Class of 2020: Laura Nelsen, Dan Binder, Ellen Gove—Clerk of Session

    Class of 2021: Marianne Baird, Peter Vielbig

    Class of 2022: Marilynn Pysher, Heather Reylek, Vacancy

  • Deacons

    The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burned by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. (Book of Order - G-2.0201)                                                  

    Class of 2020: Karin Bennett, Brenda Bergman, Colleen Smith

    Class of 2021: Rachel Brigham, Cindy Griffin

    Class of 2022: Alison Binder, Sharon Donno, Rose Wissemann

                             

  • congregational nominating committee

    This is the team of people who are elected by the congregation to put forth nominations for congregational vote for elections of Ruling Elders and Deacons.  

    Class of 2020: Lee Anne Bastible, Carol Gray, John Miller, Heather Reylek