Our Leadership
The Interim Pastor Nominating Committee made its recommendation to the session Tuesday, August 13, 2019 that the Rev. Edward "Eddie" Bellis be hired for the position of Interim Pastor beginning October 1, 2019, to continue through September 30, 2020. Rev. Bellis is a graduate of New Bern High School, NC State University, the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, and Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA. He was ordained in 1996. While in high school he was a member of the Senior High Youth Group here at First Presbyterian Church and was confirmed here at First Presbyterian Church. During his ministry he has held positions of Youth director, Associate Pastor (3), Solo Pastor, and Interim Pastor (5). Most recently he was interim Pastor at First Presbyterian Church Kinston and First Presbyterian Greenville. He has served churches in Virginia, Maryland, Florida, and North Carolina. Rev. Bellis is presently living in Kinston where his son is a rising Senior at North Lenoir High School. His parents still live in New Bern. He come highly recommended by churches where he has been an interim.
IPNC is comprised of Hal Vandersea, chair, Marge Avery, Janet Avery, Janet Bryan, Middleton Hinckley and Peter Moeller.
IPNC is comprised of Hal Vandersea, chair, Marge Avery, Janet Avery, Janet Bryan, Middleton Hinckley and Peter Moeller.
Designated Associate Pastor: Reverend Dr. Maren Sonstegard-Spray began her ministry at the church in January 2018, after having served for eleven years as an Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Winchester, VA. She attended Duke University for her undergraduate degree, Princeton Theological Seminary for her Master of Divinity, and received a Doctor of Ministry degree in the spring of 2019 from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is thrilled to be back in beautiful North Carolina! Maren and her husband, Jeff, have two boys, an old Labrador, and four chickens.
Director of Education & Youth Ministry: Daewon Goldenbaum-Yang has worked as the Director of Education & Youth Ministry since 2012. Graduate of Drew Theological School (2009), he served as a Youth & Young Adult pastor at Korean Methodist Church in Tarrytown, NY for two years before moving down to New Bern. He and his wife are busy keeping up with their daughter and son.
Parish Associate Pastor: Reverend Lloyd Griffith is a graduate of Duke University and Duke Divinity School. In addition he received a Masters Degree in counseling psychology from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. He is involved with experiential learning in small groups as we explore together the re-birthing of God in our times.
Administrative Coordinator: Tommy Hall has worked as the Administrator at First Presbyterian since 2007. As a Native New Bernian, Tommy and his wife Mary along with their three children have been active members of First Presbyterian for over forty years.
Communications Facilitator: Cathy Wingfield began serving First Presbyterian in the fall of 2018. She has a Bachelor of Education and a Master's Degree in technology from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. "Cradle" Presbyterian serving as Elder in two former churches. Cathy and her husband Dale moved to New Bern in 2017. She and Dale have five kids across the country, one grandson and one very spoiled "Journey" dog.
Preschool Director & Children's Worship: Kerri Wheeler has been our Preschool Director since 1999. Originally from the Detroit area, she fell in love with New Bern when she took a teaching position in North Carolina after graduating college. “Miss Kerri” also teaches our Children Worship & Wonder program on Sunday mornings. In her spare time she enjoys cooking with her hubby and spending time with her human children, Bailey and Brook and furry babies, Minnie and Big.
Organist: Vance Harper Jones
Assistant Organist & Pianist: Cindy Sutton
Music Assistant: Dru Wilkins
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Treasurer: Jim Briley
Financial Secretary: Amber Zapffel
Director of Music: Pat Kerr Rowlett The daughter of a Presbyterian minister and an organist, Pat is a graduate of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, NC, where she was a math major and voice minor. Since 1980 she has been Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church where she administers 7 choirs - children’s, youth, adult, and handbell. For 36 years she has been Co-director of the Craven Messiah Chorus and Artistic Director of Pro Musica of New Bern. She has also appeared in many theatrical presentations in New Bern as well as soloist for Messiah and various community musical events. She and her husband Pete have lived in New Bern since 1978, and enjoy gardening and sailing.
Director Resurrection Singers: Susan Mabie has been serving in the Music Ministry of First Pres since the fall of 1997. She has a bachelor of music education degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She and her husband Stephen have one married daughter, and two precious grand kids.
Sexton: Louis Foye
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Session:
The governing body of First Presbyterian is our Session. Our Session is made up of 21 elders, elected by the congregation for three-year terms. To facilitate the work of the Session, members serve in seven different Commissions — each responsible for a major area of leadership: administration, care, communications, education, fellowship, outreach, and worship.
Administration: Chris Kelso '19, Betsy Conzelman '20, Trudy Martin '20
Care: Becky Nohr '19, Polly Frank '20, Doug Phelps '19,
Communications: Susan Ryan '19, Oscara Stevick '19, Jim Findley ' 21
Education: Jennifer East '19, David Hale '20, Janet Bryan '20
Fellowship: Cathy Warren '20, Peter Moeller '20, Beth Foley '21
Outreach: Bruce Pollock '21, Peggy Clark '21, Bill Harris '19
Worship: Janelle Haggard ' 21, Gayle Hardy '21, George Moore '21
Karen Reed, Clerk
Missing from photo: Trudy Martin '20 and Peggy Clark '21
Care: Becky Nohr '19, Polly Frank '20, Doug Phelps '19,
Communications: Susan Ryan '19, Oscara Stevick '19, Jim Findley ' 21
Education: Jennifer East '19, David Hale '20, Janet Bryan '20
Fellowship: Cathy Warren '20, Peter Moeller '20, Beth Foley '21
Outreach: Bruce Pollock '21, Peggy Clark '21, Bill Harris '19
Worship: Janelle Haggard ' 21, Gayle Hardy '21, George Moore '21
Karen Reed, Clerk
Missing from photo: Trudy Martin '20 and Peggy Clark '21
