Our Staff
First Presbyterian Church’s
leadership equips members and friends to pursue and nurture a life-changing
relationship with God in Christ. Our staff members reflect the diversity of
background, faith histories, and Christian church experience typical of our
Cranford and northern New Jersey communities, as well as this congregation of
professionals, young families, retirees, teenagers and children.
In partnership with elders and other
elected church leaders, our Senior Pastor and Head of Staff, the Rev.
Gregory Horn, guides our worship life and oversees the congregation’s
mission as a caring, learning community of faith. Our Associate Pastor of
Family Ministries and Pastoral Care, the Rev. Valencia B. Norman, leads our
Deacons in their ministries of visitation and hospitality, maintains
supportive relationships with the entire community of First Pres. friends
and members, and works closely with church leaders and programs serving
children and families. Together with a staff of dedicated and gifted church
professionals, our pastors work to establish this congregation as a
welcoming ministry that values and serves families, individuals and
children alike.
Gregory A. Horn, Senior
Pastor and Head of Staff
The Rev. Gregory (Greg)
Horn became Senior Pastor and Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church in
September of 2002. Greg is a graduate of Stanford University and The Union Theological Seminary in the City
of New
York, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree. At Union
Seminary, he focused his studies on Biblical Theology, while gaining
preaching and pastoral experience at Rutgers Presbyterian Church on Manhattan's Upper West Side and at Central Presbyterian Church in Montclair, New Jersey. Upon graduation from Union, Greg received Auburn Theological Seminary’s Maxwell
Fellowship for promise of future excellence in parish ministry, as well as
the Kneeland Award for exegetically-based (biblical research) preaching.
Greg's first call to parish
ministry was as Pastor from 1991 to 1995 of the Fewsmith Memorial
Presbyterian Church in the ethnically and culturally-transitioning
community of Belleville, New Jersey. At Fewsmith Church he began developing an approach to congregational
revitalization grounded in valuing diverse voices while
focusing together on Jesus Christ's redemptive love and call
to a new and different way of living.
In 1995, Greg became Pastor of the Englewood First Presbyterian
Church in Denver, Colorado, where he served during a sustained, six-year
resurgence of growth, commitment and vitality. While at Englewood First Church, Greg worked
with and supervised several seminarians who are now ordained
to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church
(USA), while chairing the Presbytery of Denver's Committee on
Preparation for Ministry and its Urban Covenant Community.
From 2000 to 2002, he carried out a specialized ministry
in the New York City Presbytery as Director of Operations for
a New York City agency that houses homeless persons living with
HIV/AIDS while employing men and women with histories of felony
incarceration.
Greg
grounds his approach to pastoral ministry in “gracious, life-giving
person of Jesus Christ,” and in the biblical texts that “always
move me into today's world, today's real joys and real problems,
where God in Christ is already at work.” Along with a commitment
to dynamic worship and creative Christian education for all
age groups, Greg's ministry has emphasized service to the homeless
and hungry, a commitment that provides church members and friends
life-changing opportunities for "hands-on" discovery
of Jesus Christ, and themselves, as they meet and serve others.
Greg's focus as a pastor has
been on partnering with urban- and town-based Presbyterian (PCUSA)
congregations dedicated to revitalizing their ministries by
building on strong traditions, faithfully exploring new possibilities,
and serving God in Christ courageously in their increasingly
diverse settings. As the source of personal and community
renewal, he is committed to the biblical vision of an inclusive,
Christ-centered community where everyone, of any age or perspective,
is welcomed and challenged to the abundant life God makes possible. Greg and his wife, Sarah, Editor-in-Chief
of the Arts (fine arts, religion, music and philosphy) at Prentice
Hall, have a son, William, who was born in July of 2003, and
a daughter, Margaret (Maggie), born in February of 2006.
Greg currently serves on the
Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of Elizabeth, and he
also is on staff at Auburn Theological Seminary as lecturer
and Advisor to Presbyterian Students at Union Theological Seminary
in the City of New York.
Valencia B. Norman, Associate
Pastor for Family Ministries and Pastoral Care
Valencia Norman is
Associate Pastor for Family Ministries and Pastoral Care. She was ordained
and installed at First Pres. Cranford in 1998, after a successful career in
business. Valencia brings to this congregation a wide variety of
experiences gained from the lay community of the Presbyterian Church (she
is an ordained elder) as well as counseling experience as a certified
Marriage and Family Therapist. As a pastor, counselor, teacher and pastor,
she makes effective use of her skills and knowledge to equip children and
adults to live out the Gospel of their faith.
Valencia received a master's degree in business from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA in 1987. After completing her degree, Valencia joined General Foods USA as a human resources
specialist and college recruiter. She later joined Exxon Chemical Company
as both a labor relations specialist and management development analyst. Valencia and her husband, Neal Hill, live in Maplewood, NJ with their son Andrew, who was born in July, 2003. After
their marriage, Valencia and Neal joined the Prospect Presbyterian
Church in Maplewood, where they worked together as facilitators for
family home devotional groups and were members of the Chancel Choir. Valencia credits her experiences within the life of the
congregation as an ordained deacon and elder with helping her discern a
call to ministry.
In 1994, she entered Union
Theological Seminary in the City of New York and graduated with distinction in 1997. As a
seminarian, Valencia completed Clinical Pastoral Education at the University Hospital of Medicine & Dentistry in Newark, NJ. She also served as a Theological Student Advisory Delegate
to the 208th General Assembly in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Post-seminary activities included serving as a
team supervisor for a Vacation Bible School Mission trip to Jamaica, serving as Advisor to the 2000 PCUSA Youth
Triennium Conference, and completing a residency in Pastoral Psychotherapy
at Blanton Peale Graduate Institute in New York City. Valencia continues as a Staff Therapist at Blanton Peale Counseling Center.
Valencia uses the term a ministry
of identity to define her role as Minister of Word and
Sacrament. My favorite bible story is the picture of
God walking through the garden seeking the man and woman. I believe God's
question, 'Where are you?' (Genesis 3:9) is a comfort to us, and at the
same time a challenge and call to action. In my role as church educator, I
have the opportunity to help others answer this question as faithfully as
possible, wherever they are--in the Sunday school classroom, in fellowship
events, or adult education opportunities. I feel as though we strengthen
our faith as individuals and as a congregation when we are able to
translate our response into acts of justice and service to our community.
Moreover, in worship--whether I'm officiating at a funeral or presiding at
the Lord's Table--I am passionate in my belief that God cares for us
because of our unique histories, not in spite of ourselves. It is a great
privilege for me to be intimately involved in the life of this
congregation. Valencia and her husband, Neal Hill, live in Maplewood, New Jersey and have two children, Andrew and Valerie.
Mary
Beckhusen, Director of Christian Education
Mary became Director of
Christian Education in March of 2007.
In November, 2005, she became a Certified Associate Christian
Educator through the PCUSA’s Christian Education Certification
Program.
The required coursework
includes classes in Biblical Interpretation, Reformed Theology, Christian
Education Theory and Practice, Faith and Human Development, Presbyterian
Polity, Program and Mission, and Worship and Sacraments.
There are currently three levels of certification in the PCUSA
program: Educational Assistant, Certified Associate Christian Educator,
and Certified Christian
Educator. Mary has completed two of
the required courses, Worship and Sacraments and Biblical Interpretation
for the Certified Christian Educator level.
Mary says, “If anyone
were to ask me five years ago if this is where I would be, I would have
been highly skeptical. However, I
believe that God has called me to be a Christian educator. When I received the initial packet from
PCUSA regarding the certification program, I was skeptical of my
abilities. It was the Monmouth
Presbytery' educational consultant, Patty Williams, who spoke to me and
said, 'Mary, you can do this.' I
have been on an amazing adventure ever since I began the certification
process. The love and support that I
have received from the people of this denomination has, at times,
overwhelmed me. The Holy Spirit has
guided me in ways that I never thought imaginable. My faith has been strengthened and my
talents enhanced through this process.
I am excited about the work that I do. My family has also been amazingly
supportive from eating boxed macaroni and cheese during exam time to
saying, 'Have you written your paper yet, Mom?' No one knows exactly how God will call
them, but I feel blessed to have the opportunity to share the love of God
with God’s children and in return receive God’s love over and
over.”
Mary and her husband, John
Beckhusen, have been married for twenty-two years and have two
children, Christine, a student at Drew University majoring in psychology, and Matthew, who is in
the eighth grade and enjoys roller hockey, playing the trumpet
and video games. Mary
is an ordained elder and currently serves as the Christian education
elder at the First Presbyterian Church, Sayreville.
Jennifer R. Randolph, Minister of
Music
Jennifer is in her first
year as Director of Music Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of
Cranford where she directs the Chancel Choir and Westminster Choir
(7th-12th grade), along with supervising and coordinating the overall music
program.
Jennifer received her
Bachelor’s of Music from Arizona State University and her Master’s of Music from University of Colorado at Boulder. Jennifer studied opera performance in school
and has performed in several community and professional performances in Arizona and Colorado. Church music has always been a huge part of
her life as her mother has been a Director of Music Ministries in Scottsdale for 33 years. She never thought she’d
follow in her mother’s footsteps, yet here she is happier than ever
directing music here at First Pres. Now, she can’t imagine her life
without this rewarding, fulfilling job.
Previously, Jennifer was
Director of Music Ministries at Englewood First Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado. There, she directed the adult choir,
children’s choir, and handbell choirs. Before that, she was the
Assistant Music Director/Handbell Director at Mountain View Presbyterian
Church in Scottsdale, AZ (her mother’s church). Jennifer feels
blessed to have been called to First Pres Cranford. She is doing what she
loves to do best. She is thrilled to be part of such a growing, thriving
church. Jennifer resides in Queens, NY with her brother and continues to pursue her dream of being
on the Broadway stage.
Supporting leaders in Music
Ministry include Elsa Hahn (Caroler and Crusader children’s choirs),
Ann Weeks (Jubilee Bells) and Laura Philip (Cherub Choir).
Robert Grube, Organist
Robert is a native of Cranford.
He graduated from Cranford High
School
and received a Musical Club of Westfield Scholarship. He graduated
from Rutgers University and received his Master’s degree from NYU. His
organ teachers were Walter Reinhold and David Drinkwater. He
has been a virtuoso organist at First Presbyterian Church for
thirty-three years.
Gail Clauer, Church Administrator
Our church office is run by
Gail Clauer,
Church Administrator. She supports
the efforts of the church's committees, professional staff and membership. Gail spent 34 years in the communications
industry holding various management positions in finance, commercial, human
resources, and operations before retiring. She then joined a non-profit
staff when she had previously volunteered for 6 years. She worked for them
in various assignments including coordinator of volunteer activities,
scheduling and training functions for 7 years.
In July 2004, she joined the staff at
First Pres where she has been a member for about 20 years. She has chaired
youth ministries as a elder and has served as president of the trustees.
She has also served on mission studies and on a pastor nominating
committee. As Chair of Finance for the Elizabeth Presbytery she was
responsible for the administration of the budget and presbytery financial
programs.
The responsibilities of a Church
Administrator are to provide Christian administrative support to the staff,
congregation and community through prayer, attentiveness to the needs of
visitors, members and the community at large, as well as the development of
computer and administrative systems and staffing support to fill those
needs.
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