The Rev. Jennifer Manis is a child of God who believes deeply in the Holy One’s steadfast love and presence in our lives. She fell in love with the ocean growing up in Fort Pierce, Florida and gives thanks for the love of learning her mom nurtured in her during those years. She is a lifelong Lutheran who explored her faith at Lutheran Campus Ministry while attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She began to pay attention to a call to ministry while serving with AmeriCorps and went on to study at Duke Divinity School and UNC’s School of
Social Work.

Pastor Jenn’s ministry training and experience ranges from serving in local homeless shelters and food pantries to serving as the campus minister/associate pastor in a congregation to serving as a chaplain at the VA. In all her ministry, Pastor Jenn strives to embody God’s grace and work for justice and peace. She values how the Spirit, community, and laughter empower her to do this.

Music, BBC mysteries, and walks with her dog, Emma, bring fullness to her days. Her favorite Star Wars characters are Grogu (Baby Yoda) and Ashoka Tano; she plays with Legos, loves tabletop games, and enjoys visiting art museums. Singing, coffee, and talks with friends keep her grounded as she explores and ponders the vastness of creation.

She moved to Upstate New York about a year and a half ago to serve as Pastor at Grace and Holy Spirit Church in Cortland. Pastor Jenn is honored to serve as the Transition Pastor at Bethany Lutheran and accompany the congregation as they discern who God is calling as their next Pastor.

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Frances is the daughter of Dr. William F. Orr, a long-time seminary professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pa.  She was married to Rev. John McLaren, former pastor of Lake St. Presbyterian Church in Elmira, NY for fifty years.   She has two children, Dr. Heather McLaren Stanton and Matthew McLaren and  four grandchildren.

Frances received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in music with a major in piano performance from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Graduating with honors from Carnegie Mellon University, she continued to graduate school where she was the winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society Auditions.

Frances has been the organist at Bethany Lutheran Church for ten years.  Previously, She was the organist and Director of Music at St. Casimir's and St. Charles Borromeochurches in Elmira.  

Frances is the accompanist for the Cantata Singers and Common Time Choral Group. She teaches piano from her home and at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, NY.

Frances is a composer of forty piano pieces published by Sheetmusicplus.com.  

Her pastimes include reading historical books, watching old movies and documentaries.  Frances loves to go to Chautauqua and Pittsburgh.  

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