The Staff at First Presbyterian

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Pastor, LP Jones

"A faithful sermon interprets scripture, teaches theology, and applies both to our lives in relevant and meaningful ways. Anyone who attempts that has incredible audacity and better have knees calloused from prayer." ~ LP

Throughout the years First Presbyterian Church has been blessed with exemplary staff and excellent preaching. Continuing in this rich tradition, God has called LP Jones. Our congregation placed before God our need for spiritual leadership. LP brings that leadership. In addition to excellent preaching, he brings hope, promise, and a commitment to "...participate in a faith community that worships earnestly, serves with enthusiasm, seeks to grow through study, and wants to enjoy life together."  LP is nurturing, patient, and listens as earnestly as he preaches.

LP and Nancy were married in the summer of 2001, combining their families to include three daughters; Rachel, Julie and Elizabeth, and two sons; J.D. and Rob. His education includes a Ph.D. in Religion, Vanderbilt University; a M.Div., Lexington Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in History, University of Kentucky. LP is the author of:  Preaching Apocalyptic Texts, Chalice Press, 1999; The Symbol of Water in the Gospel of John, Sheffield Press, 1997; and Living Water: Water Symbolism in the Bible, Faith Crossing Bible Study Series, Christian Board of Publication.

Congregational Care, Evangelism and Church Growth
Mary Austin, Associate Pastor

Mary Austin is the Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care, Evangelism and Church Growth.  She comes to the church with a background as the director of pastoral care and bereavement for a hospice in New Jersey, where she served for eight years.  She has a passion for pastoral care, and is also interested in how the church tells its story to its neighbors – how we share the good news of what God is doing.  Mary is a graduate of Princeton Seminary and Wells College.  Before going to seminary, she worked in marketing and fund raising in the Washington, DC area.  Mary is married to Carl Smith, and has a daughter Lucy, and a stepson, Carl. 

Director of Christian Education
Cindy Merten

Cindy Merten, our Director of Christian Education, came to FPC after serving in a similar position at the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak for twelve years.  There she began the first Workshop Rotation Model Church School in the Detroit area.  Rooted in her conviction that Christian education programs need to address the learning styles and needs of all people, she brought the model to us in the form of CrossWalks.  She leads workshops, organizes conferences, teaches others about the "rotation" model and is part of a national "rotation" curriculum writing team.

She earned her BA in Religion and History from the College of Wooster (OH) with a secondary school teacher's certificate.  She did further study toward a M.Div. at Lancaster Theological Seminary (PA) and is currently taking courses toward becoming a Certified Christian Educator within the Presbyterian denomination.  Cindy and her husband, Forrest, have three children, Sarah, Eric, and Mark, and live in Troy.

Cindy is committed to working with staff and volunteers to provide programs for children through adults that reflect her conviction that worship, education and mission must be interwoven into the fabric of our faith.  She believes that as we worship, learn and grow together as a faith community, we are better equipped to grow and serve as faithful disciples who live lives of Christian faith in and for the world.

Director of Youth Ministries
Matt Henry

Matt Henry, our Director of Youth Ministries since 1999, first encountered FPC Birmingham in 1994 as a Skyline Summer Camp counselor. For many subsequent summers, Matt ventured from his home in Australia to work with the young people at Skyline.  His call to youth ministry developed though his own experiences as a youth being nurtured by a faith community.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Religious Education, a Master of Education degree, and recently completed a Doctor of Ministry degree, which focuses on spirituality.  He is a regular presenter for the Laurencelle Foundation where he addresses the topic of depression in teens.  Matt also coordinates and guides the Presbytery Youth Council and serves on the General Citizen's Committee of Birmingham Youth Assistance.

Matt regularly shares his musical abilities in the form of guitar playing and songwriting.  He is sought after as a song and recreation leader for Presbytery and Synod events, and also enjoys teaching youth to play the guitar.  His creativity, energy and wonderful sense of humor make his deep faith contagious and exciting for youth and adults alike.

He is not really as bald as the youth of the church might have you believe!

Ministry of Music

Director of Music Ministries
Tom Trenney

Tom Trenney is Organist and Director of Music Ministries at First Presbyterian Church where he oversees a comprehensive choir program and the popular Birmingham-First Concert Series. In addition, Tom is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Birmingham-First Chamber Choir, a select ensemble of twenty singers from throughout Southeastern Michigan. Tom has earned two graduate degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, studying Organ Performance with David Higgs and Choral Conducting with William Weinert. While in Rochester, Tom was Director of Music Ministry at Bethany Presbyterian Church and accompanist for the Eastman Chorale and the Eastman-Rochester Chorus. He holds the Bachelor of Music Degree in Organ Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where his mentors were Anne Wilson and Todd Wilson. A certified colleague of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), Tom has served as a member of the AGO's national Committee on the New Organist and has directed two Pipe Organ Encounters. He currently serves on the executive board of the Detroit Chapter AGO. Tom is in frequent demand for recitals, silent films, and hymn festivals around the country and has been featured in recital at the 2003 AGO Region V Convention in Cleveland, the 2000 AGO National Convention in Seattle, the 1999 AGO Region V Convention in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the 1994 AGO National Convention in Dallas. He recently performed at the National Convention of the Organ Historical Society in Buffalo and presented a workshop at the AGO's 2004 National Convention in Los Angeles.  Tom's first CD recording, Organa Americana, was released last summer on the ProOrgano label.  Upcoming engagements include a dedicatory concert on the new organ at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, home of the Philadelphia Orchestra.  Tom has been invited to serve as organist for annual conferences of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians in 2006 and 2007.  Tom joins the faculty of Oakland University this fall as conductor of the Oakland Chorale.

Associate Director of Music Ministries
Christopher Lees

Director of FPC Nursery School
Leslie Butler

Leslie Butler has been associated with the FPC nursery school program for thirteen years--first as a teacher, then as director for the past five years. She spent four years as a nursery school "mom" when her two children attended this play-based, developmental program.

Leslie is a graduate of Alma college with a B.A. in both English and Elementary Education. She received her M.A. from Oakland University in Reading.

Leslie and her husband, Keith, have reached the "empty nest" period of their lives. They spend a good deal of time at their  cabin "up north." She enjoys all the lake activities, and also hiking, fishing, and golfing.

Parish Nurse Sue Steinl

Sue Steinl, R.N., became the first Parish Nurse at FPC in 1997. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Barry University and completed her Parish Nursing course at the University of Detroit Mercy. Prior to joining our staff, Sue was employed as a staff nurse at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland. She has also worked as a volunteer at Cranbrook Hospice.

Sue continues to be excited as her ministry develops and she identifies new ways to reach out to the congregation. She discerns a strong connection linking the body, soul, and mind. This connection relates the wholeness of people to the wholeness of the gospel.

Kitchen Coordinator Sara Paterson

Staff Liaison, Health & Spiritual Wholeness Committee
Ernest F. Krug, M.D.

Dr. Krug is a Presbyterian minister and a doctor of medicine, associated with Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. He is unpaid, accepting a variety of responsibilities at FPC, including especially leadership of Evening Prayer on Wednesday evenings, and leading in periodic Services of Wholeness.

Director of Skyline Camp & Conference Center,
Pastoral Associate
Christine Gannon

Christine Gannon joined the church staff in March, 2003, as director of our FPC-owned camp and conference center, near Almont, Michigan, just in time to finalize preparations for the summer camp season.

Coming to Skyline from New York where she has had broad experience in youth work, church leadership and education, she served as chaplain and assistant program director at the Johnsonburg (NJ) Presbyterian Center.

Chris has a bachelor’s degree from Queens College and in 2002 attained her Master of Divinity degree from Princeton (NJ) Theological Seminary, during which time she also was student pastor at Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Califon, NJ. She feels she has been called to Christian camp ministry, and chose Skyline as her first director’s position. Cheerful and enthusiastic, she has entered the life of our church by participating in worship, teaching classes and seminars and sharing her fond memories of being a native New Yorker. Contrary to popular belief Chris does not use the skills she learned as one of New York’s Finest in her daily work at Skyline. However, it might behoove folks to obey Skyline’s 15 mph speed limit. Just a warning!

Pastor Emeritus and First Foundation Representative

Charles A. Sommers

Minister of Music Emeritus

Gerald S. Crawford

 

Support Staff:

Linda Luther

Financial Administrator

Janet Peters

Office Coordinator and Pastors' Secretary

Pam Chandler

Secretary, Children's Ministries, Youth Ministries
Membership Records

Diane Lea

Communications
Computer Coordinator
Webmaster

Joan Milligan

Secretary, Music Ministries
Editor, The Messenger

 

Michael J. O'Neil

Head Sexton

Joe Yorkey

Sexton

 

Mary Cupples

Administrative Assistant, Skyline Camp & Conference Center