Our Leadership
Pastor/Head of Staff: The Reverend Doctor Anna Pinckney Straight comes to us from Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg, West Virginia. She has served this historic church (1783), for five years, as pastor and head of staff. Prior to her call to Old Stone, “Anna” served as associate pastor for ten years at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Anna grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. As a youth, she attended and was confirmed at Charleston’s Second Presbyterian Church (1809). She attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1993, she enrolled at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, from which she was awarded a Master of Divinity degree in 1996. In 2007, Rev. Straight received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Her doctoral concentration was in preaching. During her 24 years in pastoral ministry, Dr. Straight has served churches in West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
A lifelong learner, Anna retreats to Ring Valley Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming, for annual workshops and seminars exploring issues related to ministry and pastoral care. In addition, she is a valued member of The Well, a group of seventeen Presbyterian (U.S.A.) ministers who gather annually to study lectionary texts and to share ideas and sermons with application for ministry today. Outside of work, Anna enjoys boating, running, baking, and history.
Anna is married to Ben Straight. Ben is a microbiologist who has worked in both brewing and scientific research. Their daughter, Sarah Allan, will be a high school senior in September and will soon be selecting a college to further her education. In Lewisburg, Sarah Allan plays flute in the high school marching and concert bands.
Anna grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. As a youth, she attended and was confirmed at Charleston’s Second Presbyterian Church (1809). She attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1993, she enrolled at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, from which she was awarded a Master of Divinity degree in 1996. In 2007, Rev. Straight received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Her doctoral concentration was in preaching. During her 24 years in pastoral ministry, Dr. Straight has served churches in West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
A lifelong learner, Anna retreats to Ring Valley Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming, for annual workshops and seminars exploring issues related to ministry and pastoral care. In addition, she is a valued member of The Well, a group of seventeen Presbyterian (U.S.A.) ministers who gather annually to study lectionary texts and to share ideas and sermons with application for ministry today. Outside of work, Anna enjoys boating, running, baking, and history.
Anna is married to Ben Straight. Ben is a microbiologist who has worked in both brewing and scientific research. Their daughter, Sarah Allan, will be a high school senior in September and will soon be selecting a college to further her education. In Lewisburg, Sarah Allan plays flute in the high school marching and concert bands.
Designated Associate Pastor: Reverend Doctor 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, and three chickens.
Director of Children, Youth and Families: Reverend Catherine Campbell is an eastern North Carolina native and a two-time graduate of Campbell University. She completed a B.A. in Religion in 2010 and a M.Div. with a concentration in Theological and Historical Studies in 2013. Her most recent time in Raleigh was spent networking among non-profits and pastoring in Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations where she is an ordained clergy member. In 2020, Catherine also became a RYT-200 Yoga Teacher. In her free time, Catherine and her husband Drew enjoy spending time on the water, playing with their dog Maggie, and watching cows on the family farm.
High School Youth Coordinator: Marianna Dunn grew up in New Bern, attending First Presbyterian Church. She graduated from NC State University with a degree in education. She currently teaches English at New Bern High School and coaches JV Cheerleading. She is married to to her high school sweetheart. Together they have one spunky daughter and a crazy yellow lab. She is thrilled to be involved with the youth and pour into the future generations of the church.
Facilities Supervisor: Mike Wildauer has worked as the Facilities Supervisor at First Presbyterian since January 2022. After over 21 years of service as an active Marine, Mike recently retired and has settled in New Bern with his lovely wife and four beautiful children. Mike enjoys sports and outdoor activities and spending time with his family.
Office Administrator: Marcy Latteman and her husband Ken have lived in New Bern since early 2019. She grew up in Rhode Island, where her father was an architect and a Navy Captain, so being by the water in a historic area feels like home! She has a long history of administrative/secretarial and church experience. While living in NJ, she served at Church of the Saviour (Episcopal) as Vestry Clerk for 10 years, taught Sunday School for 3 seasons, sang in the choir, and participated in fellowship activities. While living in Hawaii for 4 years, she danced with the hula ministry, Nā Wahine Hilina’i iā Iesu, at Mana Christian Ohana. Her sister, Rev. Sarah Brockmann, is the rector of an Episcopal church, and her son Joseph hopes to be a pastor in the future! Marcy enjoys outdoor activities, travel, being by the water, cooking, baking, and spending time with family and grandchildren.
Financial Administrator: Summer Hough is a transplant to New Bern from Rochester, NY. She has worked in the not-for-profit and church sectors for 19 years. Ranging in responsibilities from Non-Profit Manager, Pastor, Program Administrator, to Director of Development. She has a passion for warm weather, her family including her husband Zeb of 18 years and her two children Isaiah and Eden, community, and quippy one-liners. She sees her role as Financial Administrator for FPC as an epic adventure of numeric possibilities.
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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 has lived in New Bern since 1978, and enjoys 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.
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.
Communications Facilitator: Cathy Wingfield began serving First Presbyterian in the fall of 2018. She has a Master's Degree in Media Technology from Appalachian State University. "Cradle" Presbyterian, serving as Elder and Moderator of Presbyterian Women in previous churches. Cathy and Dale moved to New Bern in 2017. She and Dale have five kids, two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law scattered across the country, two grandchildren, and one very spoiled "Journey" dog.
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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 six different Commissions — each responsible for a major area of leadership: administration, care, education, fellowship, outreach, and worship.
Class of 2022Kevin Avolis
Margaret Cooper Madison Crum Marc Finlayson Patti Fleming Julia Speight Hal Vandersea |
Class of 2023Phoebe Briley
Brent Hinckley Middleton Hinckley Mark Moeller Micajah Newman Elizabeth Paul Margaret Pritchett |
Class of 2024James Copland
Christin Grady Kenneth Holton Vaughn Purnell Helen Robinson Joyce Weaver |