Celebrate World Communion Sunday with us
Sunday October 6, 2024Â |Â One service at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary
- Blended Service, 8:55 am; Traditional Service, 11:00 am
About Us
Our Team
Staff
Rev. Will Shelburne Senior Pastor
Will joined First Presbyterian Church in April 2021 as Senior Pastor. He comes to us after 13 years at First Presbyterian Church in Savannah where he served as Associate Pastor for Christian Education, Missions, and Youth. Will grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee, and is a graduate of Presbyterian College and Columbia Seminary. He is married to Sara and they have three children. We look forward to the ways that God will work through Will in our congregation and in the Greer community.
Rev. Ally Pexa Associate Pastor
Ally joined the First Presbyterian Church community in May of 2023 as the associate pastor. She has a background in mental health chaplaincy, congregational ministry, and social work. Ally is a California native and graduate of Seattle Pacific University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Rutgers University. Ally met her husband, Jacob, while in seminary and the two are both serving as associate pastors within the Foothills Presbytery. Ally is excited to be serving among God’s people here in the upstate!
Lisa Dillard Director of Music
Lisa is a lifelong Presbyterian and has been on staff at First Presbyterian since 1995. She was hired as organist, began directing handbells one year later, and became Director of Music in 2002. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in piano performance from Converse College and enjoys many facets of music-making, including teaching, performing, and adjudicating.
Lisa Johnson Administrative Assistant
Lisa is a lifelong Presbyterian and has been on staff here at First Presbyterian since October 2019. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Furman University and previously worked at Hartness International in the accounting department. Lisa lives in Greenville and is a long-time member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian in Mauldin where she serves as the Clerk of Session and sings in the choir.
Lizzie McCallum Faith Formation Intern
Lizzie, a student at Furman joined the FPC Greer staff in early 2023 as a Faith Formation Intern working primarily with youth groups. She is a lifelong presbyterian from Columbia SC where she served as a Youth Elder in her home church. Lizzie is active in campus ministry at Furman and has worked at and/or actively participated in Montreat summer conferences for several years.
Pam Turnage Associate Director of Music
Pam is a native of Gaffney, SC. She attended Columbia College and received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Limestone College. She has been in church music for some 30 years and taught piano since college graduation. She has two grown sons, Ryan and David, and one grandson.
Maggie Wentzky Director of Operations
Maggie joined our staff in March 2018 as Coordinator of Children’s Ministries before transitioning to her current position. A lifelong Presbyterian, Maggie has enjoyed learning the ins and outs of working in Christian Education and spending time with the children of FPCG. She holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism from Appalachian State University and a Master’s of Education from the University of South Carolina. Maggie, her husband Chad, and her son Ben are delighted to be a part of this vibrant community of faith.
Christi Yenser Financial Administrator
Christi grew up in Aiken, SC, but stayed in Greenville after graduating from Furman University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. Christi worked in the private sector until 2003 when she took a break to be a stay-at-home mom. In 2017 she joined the staff at Advent UMC as their church accountant. Christi and her husband, Andy have two children – a son who is a student at the University of South Carolina and a daughter who will be attending Samford University in the fall. In addition to being on staff at Advent, Christi and her family have been active members of their congregation since 2015.
Officers
There are two types of officers in the PC(USA): Ruling Elders and Deacons. Each has distinct responsibilities and work together to carry out the church’s ministries and God’s mission in the world. Both Elders and Deacons serve a three year term.
Ruling Elders
Ruling Elders are the officers of the church who make up the body known as the Session. Ruling Elders are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Together with ministers, they exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline. Each elder works with a particular committee that manages a certain part of the church’s mission and ministry.
A listing of our committees along with the chairs for each committee can be found here.
Class of 2024
Amy Couch
Heather Gordon
Carlton Greene
Nick Nicholson
Rick Turner
Patty White
Lucy Smith – Youth Elder
Class of 2025
Ed Driggers
Tricia Greene
Ann Lelo
Travis Olmert
Rudy Painter
Betsy Porter
Class of 2026
Jessica Bruce
Jim Caldwell
Rick Danner
Val Hendrickson
Sallie Smith
Bob Wiesner
Deacons
Deacons are the officers of the church who make up the body of the church known as the Diaconate. The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structure, or anyone in distress.
Class of 2024
Rebecca Aguirre
Jennifer Keller
Jenny Munro
Margaret Nesbitt
Marsha Painter
Amy Smith
Anne Marie Wall
Class of 2025
Beth Del Savio
Marian Hyslop
Kamin Lambertson
Susan Lynn
Becci Stedry
Chad Wentzky
Loralea Wright
Class of 2026
Diana Babineau
Marguerite DeMaria
Arnette Johnson
Doreen Magaha
Ginger Mauney
Ansley Wright
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