Author: Haley Dahl

Bertha Lopez Hinojosa

Bertha is a third generation Presbyterian from South Texas. She was baptized at El Divino Salvador Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi, Texas and is a life-long Presbyterian. She was on the Presbytery Youth Council for South Texas and has served at the local and Presbytery level in South Louisiana. She is a member of Broadmoor Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is active in Presbyterian Women. She attended Cursillo in Texas and helped put on many Cursillo and Pilgrimage retreat weekends in Louisiana.

She is a mother, grandmother, wife, and child of God. She and her husband, Mariano, have two children. Both children have been elders in their churches in Texas and Georgia. Her grandfather was an elder in the 2nd Presbyterian Church of San Benito, Texas. At that time there were two presbyteries in South Texas, an English-speaking Presbytery and the Mexican-American Presbytery.

Bertha teaches newly arrived immigrant children in a public elementary school in Baton Rouge. She is the only Newcomer Teacher in East Baton Rouge Parish Schools. She teaches over 100 students from five different countries every school day. Broadmoor Church supports her in her mission to help educate these children. She has been on mission trips to Mexico and Cuba with the Presbyterian Church. She is very aware of the needs of the Hispanic community.

Rev. Dr. Julie Adkins

Rev. Dr. Julie Adkins serves as the Secretary for the Synod of the Sun PW Coordinating Team (2025–2028).

Rev. Dr. Julie Adkins is a minister member of Grace Presbytery and can usually be found in a different small(-ish) church every Sunday, either as pulpit supply in congregations without a pastor, or filling in for a colleague who is taking a Sunday off. She has just retired from 15 years as an adjunct assistant professor of anthropology at UT Arlington, and is still figuring out what to do with herself. Part of the answer to that question includes four dogs (Hattie, Wesley, Winnie, Chester) and two classic cars. She’s also a regular volunteer with Meals on Wheels, and occasionally sings with the choir at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Dallas…mostly for non-Sunday-morning services like Evensong, ordinations, concerts. Julie has lived in Waxahachie for 14 years.

Meg Garver Hamilton

Meg Garver Hamilton serves as the Moderator for the Synod of the Sun PW Coordinating Team (2025–2028). She is a proud mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, and, most importantly, a beloved Child of God, adopted to be a sister to Jesus and all God’s children. Meg is married to Terry, a retired school bus driver and talented cook, and they live in the country in Terrell, TX. Together, they have four children, eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Meg has been active in Presbyterian Women for over 50 years, serving at the local, presbytery, and synod levels. She is a member of Grace Presbytery, serves as Clerk of Session at First Presbyterian Church, Mesquite, and teaches an adult Sunday School class.