Our council provides vision and direction in the areas of Worship, Learning & Faith Formation, Witness, Evangelism & Communications, Congregation Life, & Support.

PRESIDENT, DAWN HECKERT

Dawn has been a member at Saint Luke since 1993, along with her husband, Bob Mitchell. They have 2 daughters who were baptized and confirmed here, Joslyn and Gillian Heckert-Mitchell. She has been involved with various ministries over the years including: Worship & Music Team, Call Committee Chair, Counselor for Worship on Council, ASP, Feeding Thousands, Confirmation small group leader and 9th grade lead teacher, as well as, various Worship assistant roles: Assisting Minister, Lector, Communion Assistant. She works in the Libraries at Haverford College, where she has been for over 25 years. In her free time, she loves to read, visit Rehoboth Beach and now during the pandemic has been volunteering at the Upper Merion Community Cupboard with her family.

SECRETARY, AMANDA HEINTZELMAN

Amanda became a member of Saint Luke when she married long-time member Matt Heintzelman in 2008. Their wedding reception was the first major event in Saint Luke's newly renovated Schlack Hall. Amanda works with "at-promise" youth at Lakeside's Upper Merion Vantage Academy where she serves as the educational director. She is also the mother of Laura Jane and the primary handler for Vantage's service dog, Mint. At Saint Luke, Amanda has served on the worship committee, dedicated many summer Sunday afternoons to the Saint Luke softball team, delivered the occasional midweek service reflection, and supported and facilitated youth activities and events over the years. Amanda is looking forward to the prospect of serving the Saint Luke community in a new way.

TREASURER, DAVE HUGHES

Dave joined Saint Luke in 1984 when he married his wife Janet (Lawrie), who has been a member since 1964. Both of their two grown children, Jonathan and Julie, were baptized and confirmed at Saint Luke. Dave spent 39 years in sales in the industrial valve business. He retired in 2019 and started a consulting business in 2020. In 2022, he published a book on strategic account management and has spoken on this topic at numerous conferences across the United States. Before becoming treasurer of Saint Luke in June 2023, Dave was the treasurer of A Haven, a non-profit in Exton that provides grief support services to children who have lost a friend or loved one. He has also served as treasurer of Saint Luke previously and served as council president twice. He and Janet moved to Zurich, Switzerland on an ex-pat assignment with his company in 2015 and returned to the United States in 2017. You will find Dave at the gym five or six times a week. He also enjoys daily morning Bible reading and golf as well as entertaining and traveling with Janet both domestically and internationally.

COUNCILOR FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE, ROBERTA MENAPACE

Roberta’s and her family have been active members of Saint Luke since 2000, except for the 3 years we lived in Toronto, Ontario. She has been involved in Sunday School, Adult Education, Third Act Ministry, Ruth Circle, Social Ministry, 2 Copper Coins, Rejoicing Spirits, and VBS. Her adult daughters, Samantha and Kimberly, were confirmed here, and they both enjoyed attending youth gatherings and retreats throughout their high school years. Her husband, John, has taught confirmation classes and is involved in issues of social justice and the church. During the school year Roberta works part time with special education students at Indian Land Elementary in Media, and in the summer she is the Director of Vacation Bible School here at Saint Luke. As an avid birder, I spend much of my free time walking through local parks and conservancies looking for birds.I am so grateful to be a part of our Saint Luke community!

COUNCILOR FOR WORSHIP & MUSIC, NANCY SHAW

A member of Saint Luke since 1990, Nancy Shaw chaired the search for Director of Music Ministry, taught sixth-grade Sunday School, and has led the Global Ministry Team from its beginnings in 2009, taking two groups from Saint Luke to visit companion congregation Mikanjuni Parish in Tanzania. Her career focus has been advancing education and arts opportunities for underserved youth. She was Director of Education at People’s Light for 16 years and has also worked at Philadelphia Futures and Widener Partnership Charter School in Chester. Currently she works at Main Line School Night. Prior to her non-profit work she taught American literature and writing at Villanova University and Ursinus College. She holds degrees from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Cornell University (PhD). Nancy enjoys reading, gardening, playing the flute, hiking, traveling, and gathering with her far-flung family. She is married to Evan Radcliffe; their two adult children are Sara Radcliffe Shaw and Eric Radcliffe Shaw.

COUNCILOR FOR WITNESS, JOHN AILOR

John has been a member of Saint Luke since 2003 and previously served as Councilor for Evangelism and Communications.  John is currently serving a three year term as the Saint Luke Audit Committee Chair and is a faithful Coffee and Conversation attendee.  He is currently Chief Security Information Officer for an investment fund.  He received a BA from William & Mary, an MBA from George Washington University and is a CPA.  John is a Marathoner, he has finished eight marathons and competed in over 50 races to date.  He is an avid bicyclist, most recently riding from Pittsburgh to DC in the fall of 2019 and is preparing to ride from New York City to Philadelphia in the Spring.  He is also a sailor, he sailed his 37' sloop the length (and back) of the Chesapeake Bay last summer, captained a charter in the Italian Mediterranean in 2018 and will be returning to the BVIs to bareboat charter with friends in May.

COUNCILOR FOR SUPPORT, TOM MCCOWN

Tom and his wife Lynn have been attending Saint Luke regularly since early 2015 and became members in 2016. Tom grew up in Berwyn, graduating from Conestoga High School in 1971. Tom has always been a thoughtful and service-minded individual. In his youth he was a member of the Paoli One Boy Scout Troop. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1968, and served as Scoutmaster for several years in the early 1980’s.  More recently, Tom has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, building houses for people who could not otherwise afford a home. Professionally, Tom has been a self-employed carpenter/contractor since 1980. Tom found his real niche at Saint Luke with the Appalachia Service Project, which he has participated in since the summer of 2015. He looks forward to using his professional expertise in serving Saint Luke as Councilor for Support.

COUNCILOR FOR LEARNING & FAITH FORMATION, RUTH VALENTINE

Ruth joined Saint Luke in 2012. She is married to Philip and has 2 sons: Matthew and Andrew. At Saint Luke, she has been active as a Sunday school teacher &  youth ministry team.  At present she is part of ushering, and serves in the Connectors team & Stephen Ministry.  Ruth enjoys traveling and cooking and  visits to New York city. She currently works as an Underwriter for State Farm Insurance. 

COUNCILOR FOR EVANGELISM & COMMUNICATIONS, HARLEY SONN

David “Harley” Sonn, filling a vacancy Harley, his wife Joanne, and son Nicholas joined Saint Luke in 2006 while pregnant with Evan, born in August of that year. Over these last 17 years, the Sonn family has been very active in many Saint Luke programs and events. Harley will assume the role of Councilor for Communications. In 1996, he founded one of the first website development companies in the Philadelphia region. Later in 2010, Harley launched, and still manages, a digital marketing agency that caters to companies throughout the US and UK. He will draw upon this expertise to help direct church communication initiatives.

YOUTH COUNCILOR, TAYLOR VERMILLION

Taylor is a sophomore at Conestoga High School. She is 16 years old and enjoys going to the beach as well as hanging out with family and friends. She is passionate about helping people in need. In her spare time, she runs, plays basketball, and reads. Additionally, she love animals, especially dogs, and has a rescue dog named Stormy.