Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley serves as the Ministry Relations Officer for the Allegheny and Chesapeake Region. She works with congregations to create a culture of generosity, offers seminars and workshops, develops gifts and fundraising plans for ministries, and provides coaching to finance, stewardship and endowment committees. “Building on relationships and resourcing churches to help them increase funding for their ministry are my top priorities,” said Ellie. “I want to help others realize the vast amount of resources available through the Foundation and work in collaboration with other agencies of the PC (USA).”​


Ellie came to the Foundation in 2013 after serving for three and a half years as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Warren, Pennsylvania. Prior to that, she was Director of the Summer Youth Institute and Associate Director of Admissions at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

She is a member of the Presbytery of Lake Erie’s Administrative Committee and a Trustee. Previous service to the church includes: the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission and to the Synod of the Trinity as the Regional Representative for the Theological Education Fund, a member of the Campus Ministry Task Force and a member of the Synod’s Permanent Judicial Commission. While in Warren, Ellie served on the Forest and Warren Counties Children’s Roundtable. In addition, she was a Board member and treasurer for the Warren County Juvenile Probation Association.

Ellie received a BS in Biology at Muskingum College and a Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She resides in Carmichaels, PA with her husband, Eric and their daughters Ibby and Karoline.