elders

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (1 Pet 5.1-4). 

  • George C. Spina (Ruling Elder)

    George joined the church on March 26, 1959 as part of that year's confirmation class.  He studied piano as a child and organ while in high school. These studies included master classes with Marcel Dupré and Marie-Claire Alain. He was appointed the church's organist and choirmaster in 1964.  He was ordained a Ruling Elder in February of 1969, and took over the duties of Clerk in 1986.  During the 1970s he organized a series of choir festivals in Newark for children and adults from churches within the Presbytery.  He has degrees from Seton Hall University, the University of Southern California, Georgetown University Law School and Columbia University Law School.  He served in the Air Force from 1970 to 1974, first with the Space and Missile Systems Organization in Los Angeles and then with Southern Command based in what was then the Canal Zone.   After his discharge he continued his legal studies and in 1977 was appointed Executive Director of the International Law Institute in Washington, D.C. While at the ILI, he organized the "Interface" series of international conferences which attempted to deal with trade issues between countries with free market economies and those with centrally planned economies.  He purchased Pillsbury & Company Travel in the 1980s and continues to manage that company.  He currently serves as President of the Global Legal Information Network Foundation.  He has also served on the Boards of several start-up ventures.

  • Reverend CS Washington

    Carson (CS) Washington is devoted to the transformative proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was called by God when he was 8 years old and since has been a rigorous student of the Holy Scriptures. CS was licensed and ordained at the New Mount Zion Baptist Church in Harlem, NY. He earned an Associate of Arts in Modern Hebrew from the Defense Language Institute and a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Grand Canyon University while serving in the United States Navy. He received a Master’s of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary. Currently, CS studies Theology and Ethics at Duke Divinity School in pursuit of a THD (Doctorate of Theology). 

    CS has a heart for discipleship and guiding Christians through the scriptural maturation process. His primary pastoral call is to his family. This year he celebrates 10 years with his wife Courtney Hope Washington. Together they have four children (Eliana, Carson II, Carter and Naomi).

  • Josephine (Jo) Jackson

    Josephine Jackson, one of the Elders at MemWest (the name we affectionately use for our church), has been a member here for many years, and takes pride in calling it her “spiritual home”. She was born and raised in Newark and spent two decades living and working in education and child-care programs in New York City. Now that she has retired, she serves as one of the church’s Ruling Elders, which keeps her very busy sharing God’s love with others throughout each week. As a Ruling Elder, She focuses on her passion: planning and developing outreach programs in response to the needs and dreams of West Ward youth and adults.



  • Reverend Barbara Shaw-Jenkins

    Rev. Dr. Barbara Shaw Jenkins began her ministry in 1976 in Tokyo, Japan.

    She moved with her family to Maplewood, New Jersey and is an Honorably Retired

    Minister Member of the Presbytery of the Northeast. She has served churches in Newark Presbytery,

    Newton Presbytery and Lackawana Presbytery, in Pennsylvania.In addition to serving Memorial

    West Presbyterian Church as Moderator of the Session, she is a long time friend of the church.

  • Leonard (Lenny) Mitchell

    Leonard D. Mitchell joined the church on November 11, 2011.  A 1986 graduate of Drew University, he has extensive knowledge of fiduciary accounting practices with work experience at JPMorgan Chase & Company, Marks, Paneth, LLP and now at Citrin Cooperman & Company LLP.  In addition to his responsibilities as a Ruling Elder, Leonard serves as President and Treasurer of the Corporation and sings in the choir

  • Cindy Nicholson

    Cindy Nicholson hails from Aberdeen North Carolina. She received her post high school education from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a degree in Dance, a graduate degree from Seton Hall University in Education Leadership, Management and Policy and post graduate studies from Walden University. In addition to being employed fulltime as an arts educator, Ms. Nicholson uses the arts as a tool for ministry outside of her workplace. In past years, she served in the liturgical dance ministry at  Memorial West United Presbyterian Church in Newark NJ, where she is a member and deacon. Her goal is to expand the ministry that God is using her to impact others with the gospel of Jesus Christ.