‘Our education offerings play a key role in fostering wholeness’ says Board of Pensions President the Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer
by Board of Pensions | Special to Presbyterian News Service
The Rev. Lori Neff LaRue
PHILADELPHIA — The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has named the Rev. Lori Neff LaRue as Vice President, Education. Since joining the agency six years ago as Director of Board University, Neff LaRue has greatly expanded well-being support for members of the church benefits plan, including throughout the Covid crisis, when she reimagined educational offerings to provide support remotely.
The Board of Pensions has committed to extending the lifelong learning support it provides through its Board University and CREDO programs. In her new role, Neff LaRue will lead efforts to meet the needs of all who serve the Church and its affiliated organizations, including educational institutions, camps and conference centers, retirement and senior housing communities, and human services organizations. This will include ensuring that under-represented communities are fully aware of education offerings.
“Our education offerings play a key role in fostering wholeness — well-being in all the areas, spiritual, health, financial, and vocational,” said the Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer, President of the Board of Pensions. “So, it’s important that we do everything we can to ensure that our education programs serve the diverse needs of our membership, and that every member is aware of what’s available to them.”
Neff LaRue will report to Senior Vice President Andrew J. Browne of the Church Engagement team, a reflection of the agency reorganization that brought management of relationships with all employers, both church and affiliated, into one division, along with oversight of the Board of Pensions’ assistance and education programs.
“Lori has helped to reshape the education model of the Board of Pensions,” Browne said. “She is dedicated to finding paths to wholeness, the life abundant Jesus promises each of us, and that dedication shows in her design of Board University offerings, from conferences to seminars, to e-learning and webinars.”
“I am deeply honored to have been asked to lead the Education team as we extend the reach of our programs and give more members opportunities for the experience of abundant life,” said Neff LaRue. “This is what it means to be the Church and what it means to hold God’s people.”
Neff LaRue, a minister of the Word and Sacrament, holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Manchester College (now Manchester University); Master of Arts in student personnel from Bowling Green State University, Ohio; and Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. She has 30 years’ experience in higher education administrative roles and 15 years of service to the PC(USA). Currently, Neff LaRue preaches at Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and has served in pulpit supply, as a transitional pastor, and on numerous presbytery committees, including committees on ministry.
Before joining the Board in January 2017, Neff LaRue was Director of Accreditation Services for the Association of Theological Schools, an organization with a membership of diverse faiths that advocates for the improvement of theological schools. Prior to that, she served Princeton Theological Seminary in several roles, including as Dean of Student Life and Director of Accreditation and Advising. Her earlier experience includes as Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life Programs at church-affiliated liberal arts colleges.
“My work at the Board has enabled me to share my gifts for ministry and administration and my passion for serving the Church,” Neff LaRue said. “It’s been a blessing to do work that connects me to the roots of my Presbyterian faith every single day.”
The Board of Pensions supports wholeness in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) community and care for Benefits Plan members. For information, contact info@pensions.org.
You may freely reuse and distribute this article in its entirety for non-commercial purposes in any medium. Please include author attribution, photography credits, and a link to the original article. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeratives 4.0 International License.