Cathedral Church of the Nativity
Nominating Committee Candidates Profiles
Jenifer Gamber
Jenifer and her husband, Ed, have lived in the Lehigh Valley for the past twenty years and Bethlehem
for the past ten. (Ed is a professor at Lafayette College.) Their two children attended the Cathedral
while at home and now attend college. Their daughter, Emily (age 20), attends Wellesley College in
Massachusetts. Their son, William (age 21), attends Pomona College in California. They are thankful
that William benefited from the Norwine Scholarship in 2009. Jenifer’s paid
work is as an author and editor. She has worked with David Colander, Professor
of Economics at Middlebury College on his college-level textbook, Principles of
Economics a well as related books for the past 18 years. Jenifer has written three
books for the Episcopal Church—My Faith, My Life: A Teen’s Guide to the
Episcopal Church, Your Faith, Your Life, An Invitation to the Episcopal Church ,
and Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People. She considers parenting a
significant occupation, even if unpaid. Jenifer’s parish activities are serving on
the confirmation team along with Laura Drum and Bob Lynn for the past 6 years
as well as the baptism preparation team with Tom Kolepp and Barbara Ianelli.
She also serves on the Altar Guild, is a mentor for the Education for Ministry
group online with two other mentors as well as serving on the board of Forma, the national
association for Episcopal Christian educators. Jenifer enjoys hiking and camping in New Hampshire
with Ed. Their dog Carrie provides endless joy during walks and ball tosses in the back yard. This
year, Jenifer is reclaiming their kitchen herb garden. (Ed is moving, and doubling the size of, their
vegetable garden!) She is currently working through her father’s 400+ CD library of Classical music.
She is also a Companion in the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, a group of Anglican
women dedicated to a life of thanksgiving, intercession and simplicity of life.
Connie Gilbert
Connie is a widow with two grown sons and three grandchildren. She works part-time as an art
therapist in two elementary schools and one high school to help teens and children in crisis. Some of
Connie’s parish activities:
served on Women’s Retreat Committee, Nominating
Committee, Welcoming Committee , church choir, taught YAC classes, serves as a Eucharistic
Minister, is a member of the 321 worship band, mentored youth J2A trip to Seattle, and facilitated
Women’s Bible Study on Tuesday. She enjoys painting in watercolor and oils, plays the Irish drum in
local music sessions, plays the piano, sings, loves to entertain friends for dinner, loves bird watching, reading, movies, and live theater.
Phil Schenkel
Phil has been a member of Nativity since 1987. He married Maureen at Nativity in
October 1990. Their son Matthew was baptized there in January 1993. Matthew is
now a freshman at West Chester University. Phil is a commercial real estate broker
with 25 + years in the industry. Some of his parish activities include: Usher and
Lector since 1987, Vestry from 1998-2004 (2 years as Jr Warden) and 2008-2011 (1
year as Jr. Warden and 1 year as Sr. Warden), Third Millennium Fund Board, from
2000-2007 and 2009 to present. He is also a Member of various other committees, sub-committees
and general initiatives. Some of Phil’s hobbies/activities are golfing, running, reading as well as
assisting my lovely wife Maureen behind the scene at her store Mixed Bag on Main in Bethlehem.
Susan Snyder
Sue has two sons -- Andrew, an electrical engineer - his children Casey, sophomore at Governor
Mifflin High School and Drew, Governor Mifflin Intermediate School and Jeffrey, Professor of
Geology Bowling Green University, Ohio, wife Fran and children – Avery, Aidan and Janie –
Elementary School in Perrysburg, Ohio. She works at KNBT as a Relationship
Assistant in Commercial Lending. Some of Sue’s hobbies/activities are container
gardening and going to the grandchildren’s sporting and music activities. She
started coming to the Cathedral in 2000 and has been a member of the choir since
then. She is also a member of the Altar Guild; helps with the Past and Present
Luncheons and the Emergency Shelter. She has also coordinated numerous bus
trips to raise funds for the choir. Sue has a strong work ethic and organizational
skills. She looks forward to celebrating 150 years of our church history. She sees
the maintenance of our facilities, our finances and increasing membership as the
greatest challenges for the future of the Cathedral.
James Vorosmarti
James is husband to Beth Vorosmarti and father to Jamie, Grace, and Henry.
They sit in the front pew at the 8 am service. He is an engineering manager for
Follett Corp, a manufacturer of ice machines, ice storage bins, and ice and soda
dispensers. Beth and James joined the Cathedral soon after their wedding in
1994. He has been on the vestry, taught J2A, worked in the nursery, slept with
the homeless, and is part of the Friday morning men’s group. James’s hobbies
and activities are designing mazes and puzzles and puttering around in the
garden.