Phil Kniss, Senior Pastor
Phil Kniss has served as senior pastor at Park View Mennonite since 1996. This is his third pastorate, following Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg (1991-1996), and Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Gainesville, FL (1983-1990), where he was founding pastor. He holds a Master of Divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg and a Doctor of Ministry from Northern Seminary in Lombard, IL. Married to Irene Hershberger Kniss, a legal nurse consultant and clinic director, the couple has three daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.
Contact Phil by email: click here
Contact Phil by email: click here
Moriah Hurst, Nurture & Faith Development Pastor
Moriah Hurst joined the Park View Mennonite pastoral team in May 2016 after finishing an 8-year term with Mennonite Mission Network in Australia. Moriah worked with several Baptist Churches in Australia in their youth ministries and taught ecumenically in young adult faith formation. She holds a Master of Divinity in Youth Ministry from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. Moving to Virginia has meant being closer to her brothers’ families and Moriah is loving being an Aunty.
Contact Moriah by email: click here
Contact Moriah by email: click here
Paula H. Stoltzfus, Care and Formation Pastor
Paula Stoltzfus joined the pastoral team at Park View on September 1, 2018, in a role focusing on pastoral care, spiritual formation, and promoting the care-giving culture of our congregation. Paula previously served as a youth pastor at PVMC (from 1998 to 2001). Following her earlier time with us she completed her MDiv at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, married, become the mother of four, and worked for a number of years as a hospice chaplain in Illinois, and as an associate pastor at Plains Mennonite Church in Hatfield, PA. Their young adult son Justin lives on his own, while she and her husband John live in Harrisonburg with their three youngest children, Lilliana, Elaina, and Isaac.
Contact Paula by email: click here
Contact Paula by email: click here
Ben Lamb, Interim Office Manager
Ben grew up in Park View neighborhood, just down the street on College Ave where his parents still live. He has a PhD in Sociology from the University of Colorado-Boulder and is currently studying IT. While in graduate school in Colorado, he also worked as Church Administrator for Boulder Mennonite Church. Since graduating, he has experimented with lots of different jobs, and is glad to be of service to Park View Mennonite Church however he can.
Contact Office Manager by email: click here
Contact Office Manager by email: click here
April Sachs, Bookkeeper and Data Manager
April has been attending PVMC since her college days and has been a member since 2005. She lives with her three children and her parents within convenient biking distance of the church. She has a masters' degree in linguistics and enjoys gardening, working in both the church and public libraries, participating in music, and spending time with her children.
Contact April by email: click here
Contact April by email: click here
David Furlong, Building Maintenance Coordinator
David and his wife Saloma have been members of PVMC since 2018. For most of his adult life, David's work has involved buildings, from his role as carpenter and project manager at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont to conducting energy audits in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Maryland. When he's not working, he enjoys hiking, birding, gardening, and traveling. His latest favorite pastime is watching "Time Team" videos. David and Saloma live in Broadway, and have two grown sons, Paul and Tim.
Contact David by email: click here
Contact David by email: click here
Joseph Lapp, Custodian
Joseph Lapp, along with spouse Hannah Mack Lapp and daughter Johanna Lapp-Paynter, have been members of PVMC since 1987. Joe was called to EMU to be president from a 15 year practice of law in Souderton, PA. Having served as EMU president till June 2003, Joe began his third profession as a financial advisor/managing director with Everence Financial. He retired on December 31, 2018. Continuing many years of service even in his retirement, Joe enjoys providing custodial services at PVMC and transportation assistance at VMRC.
John Fast, Organist
John Fast has been organist at Park View Mennonite Church since 1996. He has a Master of Music degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, and has taught in the music department at Eastern Mennonite University since 1975. Prior to becoming the regular organist at Park View he served as organist for a number of Shenandoah Valley churches. During his years in Harrisonburg he has been an accompanist for several local choral organizations. Married to Barbara Fast, a professor in the art department at EMU, the couple have two married children and three grandchildren.
Judy Bomberger, Music Director
Judy Bomberger has been music director since 1998, scheduling musicians and song leaders, and directing many children's musicals. Judy holds a Bachelor of Arts in music education from Eastern Mennonite University. She is retired from teaching music at Hunter McGuire Lower School of Stuart Hall. She is married to Don Bomberger, and they have one married daughter and two grandsons.
Karen Moshier-Shenk, Choir Director
Karen Moshier-Shenk rejoined the Park View Mennonite Church staff as Adult Choir Director in 2007. Karen holds a Master of Music degree from Duquesne Univerisity, Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to her work at PVMC, she is an Associate Director of Development at Eastern Mennonite University since 1996. She is married to Steve Shenk. They have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and three grandsons.