This page contains updates from the Pastor Nominating Committee and Transition Team in the search for First Presbyterian’s next senior pastor.

June 24, 2026 Update

Since our formation in March 2026, the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has been working closely with the Presbytery of Charlotte’s Commission on Ministry (COM) to ensure that the search for our next Senior Pastor follows established Presbyterian procedures and best practices.

Initial steps in the PNC process involved completion of two documents — a Mission Study describing the life, ministry, and witness of First Presbyterian Church, and a Ministry Discernment Profile (MDP) providing information about our congregation’s location, size, demographics, and ministries, along with the gifts, experience, and leadership characteristics we are seeking in a Senior Pastor.

As part of completing these documents, we conducted approximately 25 formal and informal listening sessions involving more than 250 members of the congregation. Through these conversations, we heard your hopes, concerns, and aspirations for the future of our church, as well as the leadership qualities you would like to see in our next Senior Pastor.

With the Mission Study and MDP now complete and posted on the PC(USA) Church Leadership Connection portal, we are entering the next stage of the search. This phase will include outreach to ministers, seminary leaders, and other trusted leaders across the PC(USA) who may recommend potential candidates for the committee to consider.

Members of the congregation can play an important role in this effort. If you would like to recommend a pastor candidate or suggest an individual who may help identify potential candidates, please send your recommendation and contact information to pnc@firstpres-charlotte.org.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we carry out this important work on behalf of our congregation.

April 7, 2026 Update

The PNC has scheduled two listening sessions to hear from the congregation:

1. During the Sunday School hour, April 19, at 9:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall Overflow
2. After church, April 26 at 12 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall

If you cannot attend a session and would like to share your opinion with the PNC, email PNC@firstpres-charlotte.org.

March 18, 2026 Update

The PNC is up and running. The Committee has elected Milt Childress as chair, and Kathryn Justis and Jordan Wesley as co-chairs. The PNC is looking forward to hosting several listening sessions to hear the congregation’s hopes, dreams, and concerns as we move forward with the search process. Listening session dates will be announced soon.

March 2, 2026 Update

The congregation met on March 1 for the purpose of electing a Pastoral Nominating Committee. The individuals who were elected to serve are Milt Childress, Susan Daniel, Van Gambrell, Kathryn Justis, Otis Ku, Laura Potts, and Jordan Wesley. Please pray for this group as they begin their discerning work together this month, and stay tuned for ways to share your feedback on the upcoming search.

December 16, 2025 Update

The Transition Team is now turning its attention to the initiation of the search for First Presbyterian’s next senior pastor. The first step in the search process is the formation of a Pastor Nomination Committee (“PNC”), which will be responsible for identifying, recruiting, and recommending to the congregation the next senior pastor to lead our church.

We welcome your help in identifying church members who you believe will serve faithfully in our church’s search process.

Specifically, nominees should:

1. have a history of active participation and demonstrated commitment to and love of First Presbyterian Church
2. be wise, discerning, and hopeful, and
3. have the ability to meet regularly with the search committee for the next 12-18 months, with the possibility of travel.

The nomination form is available online at https://fpc.tiny.us/pnc. You can also request a mailed hard copy by emailing communications@firstpres-charlotte.org.

The nomination process will run through January 18, 2026.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of capable and qualified PNC candidates.

October 30, 2025 Update

Upon the recommendation of the Transition Team, the Session unanimously voted to call Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway to join us as our Transitional Pastor. He will begin his ministry on Sunday, November 30, 2025, which is the first Sunday of Advent. During his time with us, Lewis will serve as our primary preacher and will provide pastoral leadership as we prepare for, and then undertake, a search for a new Senior Pastor. He will also be a frequent teacher and is looking forward to deepening relationships within the congregation.

Representing the Transition Team, Rand Ayer says,

“It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Lewis Galloway back to First Presbyterian as our Transitional Pastor. We will all benefit from his many gifts that include powerful preaching, thoughtful teaching, and collaborative leadership. We are confident that Lewis’ talents, along with his engaging personality, make him the right choice to help us navigate what we know will be a bright future for Christ in the heart of Charlotte.”

You can learn more about Lewis in his introductory video, linked here.

October 8, 2025 Update

Jan Edmiston, General Presbyter, visited First Presbyterian on October 1 to present the Presbytery’s polity and process around Pen Peery’s departure. She walked through the timeline of the investigation and answered questions that were submitted in advance.

The Transition Team is in conversation with several candidates for the Transitional Pastor position, with a goal of having someone in place at the first of the year. Please pray for wisdom during this phase of their discernment.

September 21, 2025 Update

A Transition Team has been identified to help lead us through our season of pastoral transition. The members of the team are Rand Ayer, Reid Campbell, Milt Childress, Garrell Keesler, Missy Logan, and Anna Dickson.

The Transition Team’s responsibilities will include

1. Search for a Transitional Pastor to provide pastoral leadership during the interim period leading up to the call of a new senior pastor.
2. Discernment and Congregational Engagement working closely with our Transitional pastor and Session to identify key conversations our church needs to have as we prepare for a pastoral search
3. Source Names for a Pastor Nominating Committee to search for our next Senior Pastor and Head of Staff

The Transition Team will communicate regularly with the congregation as their work progresses and there is news to share. If you would like to be in touch with the team, you can email transitioncommittee@firstpres-charlotte.org.

Please keep this team in your prayers as they begin their vital ministry in our midst.