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Staff & Lay Leaders

Clergy & Staff

Carla Arevalo

Pastoral Associate

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Emma Thomas

Ministerial Intern

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Bruce Dillenbeck

Office Assistant

617-547-2724, ext. 123

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Sarah Higginbotham

Director of Creative Worship & Arts

617-547-2724 ext. 242

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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. 124

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Rev. Karen McArthur

Minister of Stewardship & Finance

617-547-2724 x236

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Lee Prouty

Facilities Manager

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Rev. Daniel Smith

Senior Minister

(617) 547-2724, x223

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Jim Stewart

Director of First Church Shelter

617-661-1873

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Peter Sykes

Director of Music

617-645-0833

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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.

Learn more about serving the church as a lay leader

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:
Moderator: Moana Bentin
Vice Moderator: Phil Jones
Clerk: Laurie Friedman
Treasurer: Jim Cairns
Associate Treasurer: Rich Goode
Assistant Treasurer: Connie Pyle, Jim Greaney
Controller: Rachel Carlson
Member at Large: Claire Morgan

BOARD OF DEACONS:
Leslie Pelton-Cairns ( co-chair)
Casey March (co-chair)
Adam Weiss
Dean Eaton
Nora Willcutts
Jean Dany Joachim
Laurie Williams
Audrey Bellinger
Lisa McCarty
Linda Ziebell
Will Erickson

FRIENDS OF FELLOWSHIP:
Caitlin Anderson
Jenny Stuart
Steve La Master
Rachelle La Master

GIFTS AND DISCERNMENT:
Beth Loomis (co-chair)
Mary Robinson (co-chair)
Gail Breeze
Jenny Stuart
Bruce Hoppe

STEWARDSHIP:
Winnie Yip (chair)
Caroline Newton
Ann McClintock
Rose Whaley
Susan Ohman
Chris Reynolds

SHELTER:
Jan Lo (chair)
Brian Funck
Marianne Jenson
Hanna Bliska
Claire Cocro9
Lisa DiNardo

CHRISTIAN FORMATION:
Susan Reynolds (chair)
Lindsay McNamara
Beth Spalding
Carol Wilson-Braun
Ingeborg Haug
Heather Stanford

MISSIONS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE:
Molly Baker (co-chair)
Kathy Williams (co-chair)
Holly Marple
Barb Hume
Alice Kidder
Sally O’Brien
Martha Mueller Cook

BUILDING AND GROUNDS:
Peter Byerly, chair
David Torrey
Jack Haskell
Don Johnson

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE:
Laurie Burt (chair)
Marc O’Brien
Elizabeth Lovance
Treasurer (ex officio)
Stephen Weller
William Hsiao