Elisabeth "Betsy" Simpson

Rev. Betsy Simpson is a retired Presbyterian Pastor, having served at the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove, Long Island for 17 years until 2016. During her years of active ministry, she led her congregation to become “Open and Affirming” including ordaining a gay parishioner as a ruling elder and officiating many LGBT weddings before the PCUSA “allowed” them. Her church also housed a men’s shelter, collected food for the local food bank. Betsy received a BA in theology & sociology from Hanover College, and spent her Junior Year abroad at the University of Ghana. She subsequently attended Princeton Theological Seminary, earning an M.Div., a Th.M. and completing the coursework for a Ph.D. Betsy has participated for many years with the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF), and how serves on their Executive Committee. She has taken two trips to Palestine/Israel, one in 2014 with PPF, and the second in 2017 with Interfaith PeaceBuilders, now called Eyewitness Palestine. Also she has traveled to Oman and Morocco with a group of women sponsored by One World Girl, and has helped with youth group mission trips to New Orleans and Honduras. She is currently a member at First Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem, PA, where she participates in and occasionally helps lead an adult study group focused on social justice issues, spirituality and mission.