The Rev. Dr. Susan Andrews

Denomination: Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA)
Organization: Hudson River Presbytery in New York

The Rev. Dr. Susan Andrews is general presbyter of the Hudson River Presbytery in New York, and the former pastor of Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD. In 2003-2004 she was the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

"I have been in love with the church all my life, the daughter and granddaughter of Presbyterian ministers. As a child, church was comfort food for my soul, and I felt loved unconditionally by little old ladies and stern, tall men. I attended Wellesley College and Harvard Divinity School and was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament by Boston Presbytery in 1974. I then served as a parish pastor for 32 years in three parishes (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland). Proclaiming the Good News from the pulpit and in the shadows of people's lives has never ceased to be a great privilege and joy for me.

"Though born and bred in the Presbyterian Church, I chose it for myself as a young adult because of its polity, its biblical and relevant theology, and its commitment to reverent joy in worship and social justice in life. I have served in many capacities within the denomination - moderator of two presbyteries, chair of a major GA Task Force, commissioner to GA three times, and was elected Moderator of the 215th General Assembly in 2003. The combination of my parish and pastoral experience coupled with my denominational leadership led me to accept the call to become General Presbyter of Hudson River Presbytery in August of 2006.

"I am blessed to share a 33 year marriage with the Rev. Sim Gardner, Chaplain at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville. We cherish our two adult children - environmental attorney Nathan, married to psychologist Tara, (DC area) - and inner city school teacher, Anna, soon to be married to aero-space engineer, Chris (St. Louis)."