Clergy & Staff
Steven Brown
Shelter Staff
Carla Arevalo
Pastoral Associate
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Douglas Casey
Sexton
617-642-3980
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Bruce Dillenbeck
Office Assistant
617-547-2724, ext. 41
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Ahmaad Jahi Edmund
Pastoral Associate
ahmaad@firstchurchcambridge.org
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Sarah Higginbotham
Director of Creative Worship & Arts
617-547-2724 ext. 42
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Jean Dany Joachim
Poet in Residence
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Rev. Kate Layzer
Minister of Street Outreach
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Mónica Maher
Community Minister in Latin America
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Kirsten Manville
Director of Operations
617-547-2724, ext. 21
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Rev. Karen McArthur
Minister of Stewardship & Finance
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Facilities Manager
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Jim Stewart
Director of First Church Shelter
617-661-1873
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Rev. Daniel Smith
Senior Minister
(617) 547-2724, x23
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Carlyle Stewart
Community Minister for Racial Justice
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Peter Sykes
Director of Music
617-645-0833
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Emma Thomas
Ministerial Intern
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Patricia Van Ness
Staff Composer
George Williams
Sexton
617-251-5304
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Lily Piper Worth
Nursery Coordinator
Lay Leaders
At the heart of historic Congregationalism is the belief that the best, most faithful decisions are worked out in groups where each person has a voice. This belief shapes First Church’s approach to decision making. Like all churches with Congregational roots, First Church is governed by its members in trusting partnership with its pastors—guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Members prayerfully call ministers to serve, discern directions for ministry, draw up and approve budgets, and organize ourselves for ministry and mission in the world.
First Church is led by the following Officers, Boards, and Committees. The Executive Council, which meets once per month, is made up of the church’s officers and the chairs of each committee.
OFFICERS
Moana Bentin – Moderator
Meredith Quinn – Vice Moderator
Chris Reynolds – Clerk
Treasurer – Rich Goode
James Cairns – Associate Treasurer
Art Anger – Asst Treasurer
Connie Pyle – Asst Treasurer
Rachel Carlson – Controller
Claire Morgan – Member at Large
BOARD OF DEACONS
Adam Weiss – Co-Chair
Dean Eaton
Nora Willcutts
Leslie Pelton-Cairns—Co-Chair
Jean Dany Joachim
Peggy Bendroth
Casey Marsh
Laurie Williams
Audrey Bellinger
FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE
Caitlin Anderson – Chair
Phil Jones
Fellowship Coordinators: Martha Dyer, Sara Hendren, Brian Funck
Cookie Solicitors: Sara Hendren, Brian Funck, Lisa DiNardo
MISSIONS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Molly Baker – Chair
Deb Cunningham
Sally O’Brien
Alice Kidder
Holly Marple
Kathy Williams
Susan Hayward
CHRISTIAN FORMATION COMMITTEE
Ingeborg Haug
Susan Reynolds
Beth Spaulding
Heather Stanford
Carol Wilson-Braun
SHELTER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Jan Lo – Chair
Brian Funck
Claire Cocroft
Marianne Jensen
Hanna Bliska
Lisa DiNardo
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE
Peter Byerly – Chair
Cathy Garnett
Robb Morgan
Dave Torrey
Johanna Wendelin
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
Joanne Paul – Chair
Winnie Yip
Susan Ohman
Caroline Newton
Anne McClintock
GIFTS DISCERNMENT/NOMINATING
Beth Loomis – Co-Chair
Mary Robinson – Co-Chair
Gail Breeze
Jenny Stuart
Dave Kidder
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Rich Goode, Treasurer – Chair, ex officio
Rachel Carlson, Controller, ex officio
James Cairns, Associate Treasurer, ex officio
Joanne Paul, Chair of Stewardship, ex officio
Laurie Burt, Chair of Investments, ex officio
INVESTMENTS (SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE)
Laurie Burt – Chair
Marc O’Brien
Rich Goode, Treasurer, ex officio
Elizabeth Lovance
Stephen Weller
William Hsiao
FINANCIAL OPERATIONS (SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
James Cairns, Associate Treasurer – Chair, ex officio
Rich Goode, Treasurer, ex officio
Rachel Carlson, Controller, ex officio