The Synod of the Northeast is delighted to announce it has called Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley as its Transitional Leader.  Having served as a pastor to churches, in multiple positions at the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency and most recently as an Executive Presbyter, SanDawna comes with a broad range of knowledge, talents, skills and resources to assist the Synod in moving forward. SanDawna will begin her work on March 1, 2021.  We will find multiple ways to introduce and welcome her to presbytery leaders, the synod’s various networks and working groups as well as the community at large.  For many, SanDawna needs no introduction.  However, to learn more about SanDawna, please see her bio below.

Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley is the seventh child of Dorothy and Freddie Gaulman. She was born in Frankfurt, Germany, to a military family. SanDawna spent her formative years living in both Columbia, South Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For 33 years, she has been married to her partner in life and ministry, the Reverend Murphy Ashley, Jr. She is the mother of Jay, mother-in-law to Rachel, and grandmother of Christian and Olivia. Joy, their Keeshond dog, completes the Ashley home. For the last 21 years, SanDawna has served the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) on three denominational levels: mid council ministry, national staff for the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency, and a local pastor. Currently, she is the Executive Presbyter for Minnesota Valleys Presbytery. In her various roles, she provided training, consultation, coaching, and resources for presbyteries to support Committees of Ministries (COMs), call seekers and calling organizations.

Additionally, her experience includes serving as the denomination’s Associate for Leadership Development with direct responsibility for equipping adaptive pastors. As the Associate for Gender and Racial Justice, Rev. Ashley facilitated ministries and programs at all church levels that helped the PC(U.S.A.) in becoming an inclusive, diverse, and racially just denomination. Her work included advocating for the full inclusion of all people to serve the Church and preparing Church organizations to welcome the gifts of diverse leaders. Her pastoral service includes serving as senior pastor and solo pastor of congregations in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Illinois. She is an executive board member for the Art of Transitional Ministry Consortium. She has served as faculty for Transitional Ministry Education for conference centers and mid councils training transitional pastors and new executive leaders. Rev. Ashley is experienced in working in cross-cultural ministry settings. SanDawna is an experienced consultant, diversity trainer, policy developer, and conflict mediator. She is an elected representative for the City of Willmar. SanDawna holds degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry (DMin) with a concentration in leadership development and congregational transformation, Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity in the Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care (MDIV), and Georgia State University Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).

For more information, please contact:
Rev. Nancy Talbot, Acting Synod Leader and Synod Stated Clerk
nancy.talbot@synodne.org
315-480-3553