The Reverend Dr. George H. McConnel "Sandy"Pastor/Head of Staff
sandy@westminsterdayton.org
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Pastor/Head of Staff
Sandy has served as our Pastor/Head of Staff since the beginning of
1993. He is a graduate of The Choate School, Lehigh University,
Princeton Theological Seminary and Emory University. Before his call
to Westminster he served churches in Jamestown, NY, and Pittsburgh,
PA. In a "prior life" he was a stockbroker as well as a Lieutenant
in the U.S. Army. He and his bride of 38 years, Jill, are the proud
parents of Jamie (33) and Erin (29) and husband Neville (28). Sandy
and Jill are excited to enter the role of grandparenthood with the
birth of Katherine (2) and Lindsay (infant). Jennyanydots, a Ragdoll
cat and Fife, an English Cocker who accompanies Sandy to church
daily, rounds out the family. Sandy is an avid golfer, a voracious
reader and retired sailor. (He once won 2 world championships!)
Associate Pastor for Music
John
has served for the past 24 years as Associate Pastor for Music at Westminster Church . He grew up in
Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care
A
1992 graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary, Kay also has a Master of
Social Work Degree from Western Michigan University. She was called to Westminster Presbyterian Church in November 1997 as
the first full time Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care. Her ministry
includes but is not limited to hospital and home visitations, and
short-term counseling. Kay is the staff resource to the Board of Deacons,
Older Adult Ministry, Westminster Presbyterian
Women, Stephen Ministry and the Health Ministry Team as well as several support groups.
Together Kay and her husband Fred have three daughters and two sons as
well as six beautiful and delightful grandchildren, ages 7,6, 5, 4, 3 and
a newborn.
Associate Pastor for Education
Nancy joined the staff of Westminster in December of 1997. She is a native of the State of Maine and a Graduate of The Univerisity of Maine at Farmington and a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Prior to coming to Westminster Nancy worked as student chaplain at a prison in Kentucky. Nancy oversees the education and children and youth fellowship programs at Westminster. In her spare time she enjoys reading, movies, and traveling.
Associate Pastor for Spiritual Growth
Laurie officially began her call at Westminster on January 1, 2008, and is excited because her ministry at Westminster draws upon the center of her passion for ministry: spirituality and evangelism. Growing up, she lived in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Kansas, as the fourth child of a Presbyterian minister. Laurie is a graduate of the College of Wooster (Ohio) and San Francisco Theological Seminary (California). Her husband, Bob, is a Professor of English at Wittenberg University. Laurie and Bob have two daughters, Emily, a junior at Stanford University, and Hannah, a Junior at Shawnee High School.
Business
Administrator
Craig
has been formally working with church facilities and finances since 1985.
He has been instrumental in numerous building and fundraising projects
over the years. This includes involvement with the renovation plans of old
church buildings and associated capital campaigns. He is certified as a
Fellow in Church Business Administration, and a Fellow in Presbyterian
Church Business Administration. A member of Cross Creek Community Church,
United Church of Christ, he is active with the United Church of Christ in
many capacities related to church finances, stewardship and planned
giving. Craig met his wife, Veronica (Ronni), during a summer job in high
school. They have two children, David and Erica (Ricki). When not at work
or busy on another church activity, Craig is most likely to be found
tinkering on some project around his house.
Mission
Associate Jim
was born in Dayton and grew up in nearby Germantown. He received a B.A. in
History and Government from Otterbein College in 1969, an M.A. in History
from Miami University in 1977 and an M.S. in School Counseling from the
University of Dayton in 1990. Jim retired from the Dayton Public School
System in 1999 after teaching, coaching and counseling for 30 years. He
served as the Executive Director of the Germantown Senior Citizens Center
following retirement and now coordinates the partnership between Westminster
and Van Cleve School for the Arts. Jim's wife, Donna, is employed by the
Dayton Public Schools and currently serves as a Literacy Specialist at
Patterson-Kennedy Elementary School. They have a beautiful daughter,
Allyson, who is married and lives in Florida.
Music Associate Born
in the pacific northwest, Jerry Taylor attended music schools near San
Francisco and Seattle, graduating from Walla Walla College, before
beginning a twelve year career teaching high school music in Arkansas
and Virginia. After building a pipe organ for the Shenandoah Valley
Academy Chapel, he won a fellowship to Indiana University where he
completed his graduate degree in Church Music (Organ and Choral
Conducting) graduating with "distinction." In 1986 Jerry
accepted the full time position of Minister of Music at the Kettering
Seventh-day Adventist Church. At the same time he became a member of the
Westminster Choir and was invited to be the Music Associate three years
later.
Education Associate Gerald is a native of Virginia. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in music (organ), as well as graduate degrees in Christian education and social work. Before coming to Westminster in 1998 Gerald served churches in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia as musician and educator. His primary responsibilities here are in the Sunday morning education, worship and music programs for preschool and elementary children. Gerald, a licensed independent social worker, serves as a child and family mental health therapist in Cincinnati and is the father of a son and daughter as well as the proud grandfather of four young boys.
Dr. Jacqueline Nowak Seminary Associate for Pastoral
Care
Jackie earned the degrees
of Master of Arts in Religious Education and Doctor of Ministry from United
Theological Seminary. She is under care of our church
and the Miami Presbytery as she works toward ordination as Minister of Word
and Sacrament. Jackie has most recently served as Associate Executive
Executive Assistant to Dr. McConnel
Judy Hamilton is Executive Assistant to Dr. McConnel and has been at Westminster for 11 years. Her responsibilities, in addition to assisting Sandy in his position as Pastor/Head of Staff, include supporting the Session, the Personnel Committee, the Worship, the Music and Fine Arts Committee, and the Nominating Committee. When not at Westminster, Judy enjoys bridge and movies, and is a huge college basketball fan. She and Dave, her husband of 46 years, have held season tickets to the University of Dayton Flyers basketball games since 1950. She is active in her home church as a Lay Speaker and Stephen Leader and is in the process of training the first class of Stephen Ministers at her church. Judy and Dave have one beautiful grown daughter, a great son-in-law and two “almost perfect” grandsons.
Financial Secretary
Shari has been at Westminster for 21 years. She is responsible for all the contribution records and accounts payable. She and her husband Dick have been married for 40 years. They are the proud parents of three grown sons and grandparents of two adorable granddaughters and two terrific grandsons. Her hobbies include quilting, walking, scrapbooking and reading.
Membership and Pastoral Care Secretary
Carol
has been with Westminster
since September 1990 and
has also been a member since May 1996. Her responsibilities include
secretarial support for David Fleming and Kay Davis-Dudding, which includes the Evangelism
Committee, Fellowship Committee,
Music/Christian
Education Secretary
Amanda Newhart is
the secretary to John Neely and Nancy Hodgkins providing support for the
Music and Christian Education departments. In addition to those duties,
she serves as the main receptionist in the Church Office.
Amanda was recently married to Todd Newhart and has a stepson,
Hunter, and stepdaughter, Morgan, who are 9 year old twins.
She is very active at her home church, Brookville First United
Methodist Church, as well as spending time playing softball, knitting, web
surfing and watching movies. However,
her favorite activities are all the fun things she does with her new
family. Amanda
has sung with the local vocal ensemble, Musica! for 6 years.
Maintenance Supervisor Wayne was born and raised in Bexley (Columbus), Ohio. He retired from the Air Force in 1994, after spending the majority of his career in North Carolina, Iceland and Florida. He has four children, Nicole, Gregory, Gary, and William. Wayne enjoys cooking, music, movies, computers, traveling, spending time with his children and helping them with their academic and musical endeavors.
Sexton
Marvin Fleming is a native of Dayton and has served in the Naval Reserves and retired from the City of Dayton Fire Department after 30 years of service. He received special recognition from both the City of Dayton and Dayton Fire Department as Employee of the Year and recognition by the VFW for his dedication and services rendered to the City of Dayton. He was also named Officer of the Year by the Harrison Township Fire Department. Marvin and his wife Becky have two grown sons, three grandsons and one granddaughter. Besides spending as much time as possible with his grandchildren and attending most of their sporting events, he enjoys fishing, camping, gardening and golf. |
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Westminster Presbyterian Church: Where Loving God and Neighbor Is Transforming Lives |
The Reverend John W. Neely
The Reverend Kay A.
Davis-Dudding
The Reverend Nancy S. Hodgkins 
Craig
Showalter FPCBA
Jim Henry
Jerry Taylor
Gerald Bailey
Judy Hamilton
Shari Hulsman
Carol Porter
Amanda
Newhart
Wayne
King