Synod of the Trinity

What Synod of the Trinity does

The Synod of the Trinity is a regional middle governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), established under PC(USA) constitutional authority and headquartered at 702 East Simpson Street, Unit 87, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It coordinates support for 15 presbyteries spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio, which together encompass 972 constituent churches and approximately 105,733 members. Its origin traces to the 1706 General Presbytery in Philadelphia; the present name and boundary configuration date to 1983 following the PC(USA) reunion.

The organization is run by a small staff of six (Executive, Stated Clerk, Business Administrator, Event Planner & Funding Resources Coordinator, Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper, and Communications Coordinator), with elected Co-Moderators and a Governing Commission providing lay leadership. It does not operate a commercial technology platform; its 'product' is administrative service delivery — grants administration across categories (Innovation, Education & Nurture, Partnership, Ecumenical Relationships, Justice & Righteousness, Mission Travel, and Fit-For-The-Future), governance policy support, coordination of joint mission, continuing education, racial justice and disaster-preparedness resources, and oversight of campus ministry and eight affiliated camp and conference centers.

Revenue mechanics rely primarily on a Synod per capita assessment of $2.40 per member (2026 and 2027), approved annually, supplemented by pass-through grant administration and donations routed through the PC(USA) financial infrastructure. Because per capita receipts do not fully cover identified per capita expenses, the Synod depends on additional funding streams not publicly itemized. Distribution is channeled through the 15 presbyteries rather than directly to churches, making the presbyteries its principal institutional customers and the churches/members its end beneficiaries.

Name

Synod of the Trinity

Legal name

Synod of the Trinity

Website

https://syntrinity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1706

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Synod of the Trinity is a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) middle governing body that administers grants, governance, and educational support for 15 presbyteries encompassing 972 churches and 105,733 members across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Administration Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Denominational governance services
• Presbyterian administration
• Religious grant administration
• Church coordination services
• Clergy education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mechanicsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Per Capita Contributions: Presbyteries contribute per capita dues to support synod operations. The Synod portion is $2.40 per member for 2026 and 2027.
2. Grants Administration: The Synod distributes various grant programs to presbyteries and congregations including Innovation, Education & Nurture, Partnership, Ecumenical Relationships, Justice & Righteousness, Mission Travel, and Fit-For-The Future grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Synod of the Trinity is a middle governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that provides administrative support, governance coordination, and grant administration to 15 regional presbyteries and their 972 constituent churches across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio. Its core offerings include denominational grant programs (Innovation, Education & Nurture, Partnership, Justice & Righteousness, Mission Travel, and Fit-For-The-Future grants), continuing education for clergy, leadership training, scholarships, and denominational coordination. The Synod is funded by per capita contributions from presbyteries.

Product overview

Synod of the Trinity is a regional governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that provides administrative support, governance resources, grants, and educational programs to 15 presbyteries across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio. It does not offer a technology product or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grants Administration Program Administers multiple denominational grant programs to presbyteries and congregations including Innovation, Education & Nurture, Partnership, Ecumenical Relationships, Justice & Righteousness, Mission Travel, and Fit-For-The-Future grants.
• Presbyterian Scholarship Fund Provides $33,600 annually for 28 students through the Presbyterian Scholarship Fund for theological education.
• Continuing Education Program Provides continuing education opportunities for Synod clergy and lay leaders in partnership with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and other denominational institutions.
• Presbytery Governance and Coordination Services Provides governance, coordination, and administrative support to 15 regional presbyteries and their constituent churches across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio.
• Synod Camps and Conference Centers Affiliation Program Coordinates and supports eight affiliated Presbyterian camps and conference centers within the Synod region for youth ministry programming, family retreats, and spiritual formation.
• Synod College Affiliations Program Supports campus ministry and chaplaincy programs at affiliated colleges and universities including Bloomsburg University, Penn State, Westminster College, and West Virginia institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed more than $22,000 to smaller churches in 2025 for clergy and lay leadership training
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Board of Pensions is the agency legally responsible for administering the pension and benefits programs of the PCUSA. Three representatives are assigned to the Synod region: Rev. Dr. Emily Chudy (covering most of the Synod except Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Presbyteries), Rev. Dr. Carrie Mitchell (Philadelphia Presbytery and Synod of the Northeast), and Rev. Dr. Doug Portz (Pittsburgh Presbytery, also Vice President of Church Relations).
• Presbyterian FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Presbyterian Foundation raises, stewards and distributes funds for mission, working to strengthen congregations and related mission efforts. Two Ministry Relations Officers serve the Synod region: Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley (covering most of the Synod except Donegal and Philadelphia) and Rev. Dr. Rose Niles (Donegal and Philadelphia Presbyteries plus the Synod of the Northeast).
• Presbyterian Mission AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Presbyterian Mission Agency works to inspire, equip and connect all Presbyterians for the church's work. Lynne Foreman serves as the regional representative for the Synods of the Trinity and Northeast, working from the PCUSA's mid-Atlantic presence.
• Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program (PILP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPILP is a nonprofit corporation of the PCUSA that provides low-cost loans to congregations, governing bodies, and related entities for construction, purchase, renovations, and refinancing. Catherine Lynch serves as the development specialist for the Synods of the Trinity and Mid-Atlantic plus New Jersey and South Carolina.
• 1001 New Worshiping CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA movement in the PCUSA creating new worshiping communities in varied forms for changing culture, with the goal of forming new disciples of Jesus.
• Pittsburgh Theological SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA graduate theological school of the PCUSA offering multiple degree programs and serving students from multiple denominations. The seminary provides continuing education opportunities for Synod clergy and lay leaders.
• Presbyterian Disaster AssistancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnables congregations and mission partners to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities affected by crisis and catastrophic events. Core budget is funded through One Great Hour of Sharing.
• West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy & WorkcampsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Christian ministry partnered with PCUSA that offers discipleship opportunities by partnering with those in need affected by natural disasters or poverty in West Virginia.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Synod of the Mid-Atlantic: Another regional middle governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), covering Delaware, Maryland (excluding Western Maryland), the District of Columbia, and parts of Virginia and West Virginia, providing grants, governance support, and coordination to its constituent presbyteries in a structurally identical role to the Synod of the Trinity.
• Synod of Living Waters: A PCUSA synod covering Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia portions, structurally identical in mission and operations to the Synod of the Trinity.
• Synod of the Covenant: A PCUSA synod covering Michigan, Indiana, Ohio (excluding the eastern portion in the Synod of the Trinity), Kentucky, and West Virginia (eastern panhandle), serving as a direct peer with the same governance, grants administration, and presbytery-coordination function.
• Synod of Lakes and Prairies: A PCUSA synod covering Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and surrounding states, operating as another middle governing body within the same PCUSA connectional system with parallel functions in grants, education, and regional coordination.
• Synod of the Northeast: A PCUSA synod covering New York and surrounding states, operating the same middle-governing-body model as the Synod of the Trinity—administering per-capita contributions, distributing grants, and coordinating regional ministry across its constituent presbyteries.

Broad incumbents

• Presbyterian Mission Agency: The PCUSA agency responsible for inspiring, equipping, and connecting Presbyterians for the church's work across the entire denomination, with regional representatives serving the Synod of the Trinity's territory and providing mission programming that parallels the Synod's outreach.
• Presbyterian Foundation: The national Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) foundation that raises, stewards, and distributes funds for mission across the entire denomination, overlapping with the Synod of the Trinity in grantmaking, donor stewardship, and mission funding but operating denomination-wide.
• Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): The PCUSA agency that administers pension and benefits programs for the denomination, with assigned regional representatives working directly with the Synod of the Trinity and its presbyteries, providing overlapping governance and member-support services at a national scale.

Others

• Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania: A comparable middle governing body in the Episcopal Church covering a similar Mid-Atlantic geography, performing analogous functions of congregational support, grants distribution, governance coordination, and clergy formation, making it a strong adjacent comparator for ecumenical governance structure.
• United Methodist Church Eastern Pennsylvania Conference: A regional United Methodist governing body covering eastern Pennsylvania with a comparable role in coordinating local churches, distributing grants, and supporting clergy across a multi-state territory, structurally analogous to the Synod of the Trinity's middle-governing-body function.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Synod of the Trinity