REPORTING harrassment & sexual abuse
If you or someone you know has experienced an unwelcome, troubling or traumatizing event involving a church member, leader or pastor, the Albany Presbytery Response Team is here to provide trauma-informed listening and support for victims and/or witnesses. Their goal is to respond within 24 hours by telephone and/or in-person [at a location of your choosing]. If the event involves a person under 18 years of age or a vulnerable adult, local law enforcement should be contacted as well.
To activate the Response Team:
- Call 518-273-4991, and select any staff extension. [3] Presbytery Chaplain – Rev. Laura Mitchell, [2] Stated Clerk – Rev. David Bennett, or [1] General Presbyter – Rob Trawick.
- E-Mail [email protected]. This forwards directly to the current members of the team: Meg Knight, Kyle Delhagen, Ruth Pierpont, Bill Crawford, Bonnie Orth & Laura Mitchell.
RECENT LEARNINGS
After a recent situation where Albany Presbytery was ill prepared, Vestry Laight was engaged to perform an analysis of policies and make recommendations to improve capacity to respond in trauma-informed and victim/survivor centered ways. In full transparency, Albany Presbytery shares Vestry Laight’s report a separate White Paper to demonstrate commitment to do better as a presbytery and a denomination.
RELATED POLIciES
- Anti-Harassment, Sexual Misconduct & Child Safety Policies
- Note: This page went live on June 16, 2026 and the presbytery Response Team has been in place since June 2025. The above policy will be revised as soon as feasible according to recommendations from the Vestry Laight Report and White Paper linked above.
RESPONSE TEAM MEMBERS
Bill Crawford is a retired minister member of Albany Presbytery serving as pastor for the Hebron United Presbyterian Church. Bill has served previously in 2 presbyteries, chairing COM and serving as moderator in both… along the way as a university chaplain, local church pastor and recently as a seminary dean of students.
Kyle Delhagen is a minister member of Albany Presbytery serving as pastor for the Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church in Guilderland. Kyle recently defended his Doctor of Ministry dissertation entitled, “Who is Welcome? Toward a Theology of Trans Inclusivity”.
Meg Knight is an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Ballston Spa and a long time member of the Committee on Ministers and Congregations for Albany Presbytery. Meg also spent two years as a Presbyterian Church USA Mission Coworker in Rwanda.
Laura Mitchell is a minister member of Albany Presbytery and currently serves as the Chaplain for Albany Presbytery. Prior to taking on this role, Laura served as the Chaplain for Saratoga Hospital and over a decade as pastor of a local church.
Bonnie Orth is a minister member of Albany Presbytery serving as pastor for the Mayfield Central Presbyterian Church. Bonnie brings decades of experience working with people experiencing domestic violence here in the United States and internationally.
Ruth Pierpont is an elder at the Cornerstone Community Church in Lansingburgh and recently chaired the Board of Trustees for Albany Presbytery.
David Bennett, Stated Clerk & Administrator for and minister member of Albany Presbytery serves as a staff resource and support. The Response Team operates as a sub-committee of the Albany Presbytery Committee on Ministers and Congregations, and also ensures that pastors are trained in Boundary Awareness and Sexual Misconduct Prevention.
