Yvonne K. Chapman, J.D., M.A.

Yvonne is a Ruling Elder and active member of Session at her home church, Faith Presbyterian Church in Germantown, Tenn., where she sings in the choir, helps lead children’s choirs, and teaches adult Sunday school. She serves on the Minutes Review Committee for Central South Presbytery. She served two terms as a member of the EPC Permanent Judicial Commission and was Moderator of that body for four years.

Yvonne received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis, where her article Pretrial Discovery in Antitrust Cases was published in the Law Review. She earned a Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice magna cum laude from the University of Memphis and was inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She presented her master’s thesis on The Association of Family Structure and Presence of Learning Disabilities as Related to Incidence of Juvenile Delinquency. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Memphis State University, was inducted into the Mortar Board Honor Society, was a varsity cheerleader, and was recognized in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Now retired from law practice, Yvonne’s legal career encompassed civil and criminal trial and appellate practice in state and federal courts in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Washington. She was admitted to practice in the United States District Courts of Southern District and Northern District of Mississippi, Western District of Tennessee, Western District of Washington, and in the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals for the 5th, 6th, and 9th Circuits.

In addition, Yvonne managed an extended degree criminal justice program at Central Washington University-Lynnwood and was an adjunct instructor of numerous courses in criminal justice, civil law, business law, and paralegal studies at colleges in both Tennessee and Washington. She was twice recognized by Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.

Yvonne enjoyed working in the field of continuing legal education. She developed the curriculum for the new lawyer education program for the Washington State Bar Association and presented at numerous professional seminars, including criminal justice conferences and legal education seminars focusing on professional ethics.

She chaired the Professionalism Committee of the Memphis Bar Association for several years and was an officer in the Memphis chapter of the Christian Legal Society. She was a pro bono alliance attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, the world’s largest legal organization committed to protecting First Amendment freedoms.

Yvonne retired as a United States Naval Reserves Intelligence Officer.

As a public service, Yvonne wrote, directed, and produced patriotic civics education programs on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and U.S. historical figures. In addition, she had several civics education articles published in local journals. Within the EPC environment, her monograph, The Beauty of the Singing Church: Making the Case for Sacred Music, was published in the Westminster Society Journal, Volume 3.

In retirement, Yvonne began playing violin, and pursues her interests in creative writing, reading, bicycling, and gardening.