Each congregation in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is led by a group of men known individually as elders and known together as the session. The Greek word for ‘elder’ is prebuteros, from which we get the term ‘Presbyterian.’ The elders of Resurrection, carefully trained and selected by the congregation, equip the congregation for ministry and oversee the church’s worship, walk, and witness.
Five men currently serve on the session of Resurrection:
Pastor Zachary Simmons
Pastor Simmons is a graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He and his wife Annie are originally from the Raleigh, North Carolina area and have five children. Besides preaching, teaching, and shepherding, he enjoys classical and bluegrass music, playing the piano, guitar, and mandolin, camping, baseball, and reading with his children.
Elder Ian Gregg
Ian Gregg is a native of central Pennsylvania. A son of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he served as a ruling elder in Pocono OPC before relocating to State College in 2011. Ian enjoys fishing, hiking, hunting, and Penn State football. He is a wildlife biologist employed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission as the chief of the Game Management Division.
Elder Tom Jackson
Tom Jackson is a native of Michigan. He and his wife, Sue, have been married for more than three decades. They have two sons. Tom enjoys collecting cookbooks and experimenting with their contents. He is employed by Penn State University as a Professor of Electrical Engineering.
Elder Bill Rose
Bill Rose is a native of northwest Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Lori, have been married for more than two decades. They have two children. Bill enjoys campfires and reloading. He is employed by Penn State University as the Assistant Director of the E-Learning Institute.
Elder Tim Shafer
Tim Shafer is a native of West Virginia. He and his wife, Lou Ann, have been married for more than three decades and have three grown daughters. Tim loves to spend time with his family, and enjoys driving and old-time radio. He and his wife share a passion for the great historic music of the church and currently serve on the OPC/URCNA Psalter-Hymnal committee. He is employed by Penn State University as a Professor of Piano.
Alongside the session of each congregation in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, there is a second body of men known as the deacons (from the Greek word diakonos, meaning ‘helper’ or ‘servant’). The role of the deacons is to assist the session by organizing the congregation in all aspects of ministry not directly connected to the ministry of the Word and prayer, with a special focus on mercy ministry. Resurrection has two deacons serving in this office.