This page contains all past updates from the Transition Team and will now begin to share updates from the Pastor Nominating Committee.
April 7, 2026 Update
The PNC has scheduled two listening sessions to hear from the congregation:
- During the Sunday School hour, April 19, at 9:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall Overflow
- 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.
Learn more about the PNCDecember 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:
- have a history of active participation and demonstrated commitment to and love of First Presbyterian Church
- be wise, discerning, and hopeful, and
- 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
- Search for a Transitional Pastor to provide pastoral leadership during the interim period leading up to the call of a new senior pastor.
- 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
- 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.