Grant F. Anderson Citation for Meritorious Ministry
2002 Honoree of the Queens Federation of Churches

Jeanne M. Seyffarth

 
Jeanne Seyffarth resides in Glendale and, from infancy, has been a member of St. Mark's United Church of Christ in Ridgewood. She attended a Church-related College, Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where she majored both in religion and sociology. Professionally she didn't pursue these fields. Instead, she had a career in Special Libraries, beginning with General Electric, which paid for her Masters Library of Science from Pratt Institute. She later worked for Oppenheimer & Co. and Prudential Securities, Inc.

However, she has used her college majors nonprofessionally. Immediately after graduation, she assumed the leadership of St. Mark's Youth Groups and the Sunday School. This led to representing the Sunday School at the Ridgewood-Glendale Sunday School Association. When she joined, its main responsibility was to conduct the Anniversary Day Parade (it still does), witnessing each year on the streets of Ridgewood to a Biblical theme. In 2002, the theme will be "Peace through Christ," based on Phil. 4:7. She agreed to become President, if they would enlarge the program, which they did by holding Youth Rallies and Bible Quizzes and now Teacher Recognition Programs and Musical programs. In 1990 she suggested that the Association should sponsor a Crop Walk for Church World Service. It is held in Middle Village at Juniper Park. On September 29, the walkers and their sponsors collected $3,000.

In the 1970s, Jeanne participated in a Christian Education Workshop sponsored by the Queens Federation and then was asked by Rev. Grant Anderson shortly before he retired to Chair the Christian Education Committee. She did so for 20 years.

Currently Jeanne teaches Sunday School and the Confirmation Classes, writes the Vacation Bible School curriculum and a by-monthly Church newsletter, heads the Board of Consistory, and is President of the Women's Fellowship – and takes out the Church garbage on Thursday evenings!

Since taking early retirement, she has recently joined Church Women United and has become a volunteer at the Queens Federation's Emergency Food Service.
 
Queens Federation of Churches http://www.QueensChurches.org/ Last Updated February 2, 2005