our mission
To provide a democratic Christian fellowship of faith and acceptance, whereby through worship, education, programmed ministries, and welcoming facilities, members and the larger community find nurturing and growth.
our vision
To be a community routed in spiritual consciousness, guided by Christ’s spirit of compassion, called into service, and committed to encourage each members journey into God and community.
Our Grounds
Our Staff
Our Staff
Pastor
Jill Laufenberg
Jill’s journey to Church of the Loving Shepherd is woven from years of ministry, leadership, advocacy, and creative vision…threads that come together to form a pastor uniquely suited to guide a congregation committed to compassion, community, and spiritual depth.
She first came to Chester County in 1998 as the Youth & Young Adult Pastor at West Chester United Methodist Church, where she discovered a love for helping teenagers and young adults navigate faith in real, honest ways. She later joined the pastoral staff at Paoli Presbyterian Church and simultaneously launched a faith-based startup for urban youth in the Philadelphia metro area, an experience that strengthened her lifelong commitment to marginalized communities and deepened her passion for innovative ministry.
Beyond the church, Jill’s career expanded into executive leadership roles at two national nonprofits and culminated locally as Executive Director of Wings for Success (now The Wardrobe). These roles broadened her expertise in organizational strategy, community partnerships, and mission-driven leadership, all of which now enrich her pastoral approach.
Jill’s influence stretches throughout Chester County. She is a member of the West Chester Sunrise Rotary, serves on the PFAC Board at Chester County Hospital, and has been a featured speaker at the county’s Women’s March as well as the No Kings Rally events. She helped shape initiatives through The Fund for Women & Girls’ BluePrint Committee and led the social media campaign for Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste. Nationally, she is a contributing author to the best-selling Bible curriculum series The Complete New Testament Resource for Youth Workers (Volumes 1 and 2). Writing practical, relevant lessons for teenagers continues to shape her teaching and preaching style: thoughtful, grounded, and deeply accessible.
Jill’s call to ministry began in 1994 while studying studio art in New York City. Recognizing her desire to make a meaningful difference in young people’s lives, she shifted her path and became the first woman to complete the Pastoral Studies/Youth Ministry program at Philadelphia College of the Bible (now Cairn University). She was ordained in 2005, later served as a Real World Parent Seminar presenter, graduated from the inaugural cohort of the Executive Leadership Forum for Youth for Christ USA, earned a certificate in Organizational Development from the Wharton School of Business, and spent eleven years on the Philadelphia School Board’s Executive Council for Social Change.
Today, Jill brings this rare fusion of ministry, advocacy, creativity, and strategic leadership to CLS. She is also Founder and Executive Strategist of Future Driven Strategies, a consulting firm that works with churches, nonprofits, and mission-driven businesses navigating seasons of challenge or transition. She helps organizations move from surviving to thriving by clarifying purpose, strategy, and structure - skills that echo powerfully in her pastoral leadership.
Jill’s broad, vibrant background is sustained by a strong community of family, friends, and mentors. She and her husband reside in West Chester, while their adult son lives in San Diego. Outside of ministry, she enjoys traveling, attending concerts, snowboarding, boxing, yoga, and has recently embraced pickleball. Her life’s work centers on empowering others, nurturing resilient communities, and creating meaningful spaces where faith, justice, and hope intersect, making her a natural and joyful fit to lead Church of the Loving Shepherd into its next chapter.
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Lisa Slawinski
Church Administrator
Lisa brings a rare blend of nonprofit leadership, community commitment, and technological savvy to the heart of our church life. Originally from Philadelphia, she relocated to Chester County in 2010 to join the Chester County Community Foundation; an opportunity that continued a decade-long journey at LaSalle University’s Nonprofit Center, where she learned to navigate the challenges and possibilities of mission-driven organizations.
Since then, Lisa has served in key roles across Chester County’s nonprofits, including the Chester County Food Bank, the Chester County Health Department, and Community Volunteers in Medicine. Each position strengthened her belief in what happens when compassion meets strategy and deepened her desire to support communities from the inside out. Even her time at Keller Williams West Chester reflects her ability to adapt, connect, and help people find a sense of home.
Her path to Church of the Loving Shepherd began unexpectedly through the technology needs of our hybrid worship services during COVID, but it quickly became clear that Lisa’s gifts reached far beyond cables and cameras. Her administrative insight, her ease with systems, and her instinct for creating order so ministry can flourish make her an invaluable part of our team. She also volunteers regularly with our Food Ministry, where her history of service finds a natural, joyful outlet.
Outside her nonprofit leadership, Lisa manages two small businesses that support individuals in reaching their nutrition and skincare goals, a reflection of her commitment to holistic well-being. She is a graduate of LaSalle University with a BA in English.
Rooted in service, energized by purpose, and equipped with a broad toolkit, Lisa is the steady, thoughtful presence helping our church thrive.
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Carol Metzker
Music Coordinator
Carol Hart Metzker brings a remarkable blend of musical intuition, spiritual sensitivity, and healing-centered leadership to worship at Church of the Loving Shepherd. What began as a temporary role soon revealed itself to be a natural, joyous calling—both for Carol and for our congregation. As she stepped into worship leadership, her presence, compassion, and artistry quickly made her an indispensable part of our community, leading her to join our staff permanently.
A certified sound therapist and lifelong community advocate, Carol has spent years using music and sound as vehicles for transformation. Her work with individuals navigating trauma—including survivors of human trafficking and homelessness—has shaped her belief that sound can knit broken places, soothe anxious hearts, and open doorways to hope. In worship, that same gift creates spaces where people feel seen, safe, and spiritually awakened.
Carol holds a Master’s degree in Social and Organizational Learning, a foundation that has guided her work consulting with The Salvation Army’s New Day to Stop Trafficking Program and serving as community outreach liaison for the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. Her dedication to uplifting others earned her Rotary International’s Service Above Self award—an honor that echoes the heart she brings to leading our congregation in song and prayer.
Whether guiding a gentle chant, weaving harmonies through the sanctuary, or simply sitting with someone who needs a moment of peace, Carol embodies worship that heals, connects, and brings people closer to the Divine.
Her greatest delight is her family—her husband Eric (of 43 years), daughters Elizabeth and Kathryn, and son-in-law Justinian—matched only by her love for walking among fields of flowers. As she often says, “The people at Church of the Loving Shepherd captivated my heart. To spend time with them, connecting hearts, souls, and Spirit through music, is joyous.”
We are grateful to have her guiding our worship with grace, joy, and a heart tuned toward healing.
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D. John Woodcock
Pastor Emeritus
For more than four decades, John Woodcock helped shaped the heart of Church of the Loving Shepherd with a pastoral presence marked by wisdom and compassion. His leadership began while he was still a student and his college friend, Mark Bailey’s father was the founder and Pastor at CLS. Working alongside his friend Mark, John helped form the very identity of our congregation which welcomes the seeker, uplifts the vulnerable, and inspires generations to live out a faith rooted in service.
John is a voice in the wider community; he served faithfully on the Religious Council of Greater West Chester and contributed his insight to initiatives such as the West Chester Area School District’s Multicultural Task Force. Most recently, he lent his experience to Chester County’s Allocations Committee for the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program, ensuring that resources reached those most in need.
His commitment to inclusion and belonging is perhaps best reflected in his role as cofounder of Bournelyf Special Camp, a place where young people with disabilities can experience the joy of adventure, friendship, and confidence-building. This legacy continues to touch families across the region.
John holds graduate degrees from the Philadelphia Divinity School of the Protestant Episcopal Church and Temple University, and was ordained by The Rt. Reverend Herbert Spaugh of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum). His ministry has always blended theological depth with a tender attentiveness to the human spirit.
Now honored as Pastor Emeritus, John remains a cherished part of the CLS story, and continues to inspire the path ahead.