Park View Mennonite
is given pastoral leadership by a team of persons called by the congregation to serve in various roles.
Phil Kniss
has served as lead pastor at Park View since 1996. This is his third pastorate, following Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg (1991-1996), and Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Gainesville, Florida (1983-1990), where he also worked part-time as a social worker for homebound elderly persons in rural Alachua County. He holds a master of divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary and is currently pursing a doctor of divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary while working full time for the congregation. Married to Irene Hershberger, they are parents to three adult daughters, Andrea, Sharon and Christina. In his spare time, Phil sings in the men's acappella group "Cantore," and enjoys bike-riding, photography, and home-roasting coffee.
Barbara Moyer Lehman
is associate pastor of nurture and pastoral care, joining the staff in 2001 after serving 13 1/2 years as co-pastor with her husband, John, at the Orrville (OH) Mennonite Church. She takes responsibility for visitation and for supporting small groups and Sunday school caregivers. She has a master's of divinity degree from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind. The Lehmans have one adult son, Ben.
Ross Erb
is associate pastor for children, youth and families. He came to the congregation in 2003 from Canada where he served as a social worker for eight years with the Family and Children's Services in Cambridge, Ontario. He holds a master's degree in social work. Married to Cathy Smeltzer Erb, associate professor of teacher education at Eastern Mennonite University, the couple has three children: Peyton, and twins Brendan and Aaron.
