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, Diane Curtis, and Associate Pastor of Family Ministries and Pastoral Care, the Rev. Valencia B. Norman, guide our worship life and oversees the congregation’s mission as a caring, learning community of faith. She also 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.  

Diane Curtis, Interim Senior Pastor

Rev. Diane Curtis is the Interim Pastor/Head of Staff. She is a second career pastor who was ordained in 1997 in the Presbytery of San Jose. Diane received a Bachelor of Science in Geology from San Jose State University, and a Masters of Science in Geology from the University of California, Berkeley. Upon graduation from Berkeley, she returned to San Jose State to teach as a lecturer.

Diane’s first visit to a Presbyterian church came during her senior year of college, after growing up in the Lutheran and Methodist churches. She was drawn to Union Presbyterian Church in Los Altos, California by its small, contemporary worship service and the friendly people who attended. As a lay person in the church, Diane has served in almost every capacity, from youth advisor, to Clerk of Session. She also worked on the church staff as the Business Administrator.

After discerning the call to pastoral ministry, Diane enrolled in Fuller Seminary’s Northern California Extension program. During her almost five years of seminary study, she took courses both in the extension program and on campus in Pasadena, spending the last year full-time on campus. At the end of her seminary studies, Diane was awarded a fellowship to study overseas for a year, which she and her family spent in Edinburgh, Scotland. While in Scotland, she studied at the University, served as a student minister in a local parish in Musselburgh, and completed CPE at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Diane’s first call was at the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church as Associate Pastor for Adult Ministries and Small Groups. After serving another church as Associate Pastor for Administration, she began doing interim ministry in 2001. Serving as an interim pastor is a calling for Diane. She brings a variety of gifts and experiences to First Pres, her sixth interim position. She enjoys both the joys and the challenges of working with churches in transition, and is always amazed at what God does during this time in the life of a congregation.

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 and daughter Valerie, who were born in July of 2003 and 2006, respectively. 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 Neal 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.

Fred Irwin, Minister of Music

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 forty-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.  

 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.  

Melissa Layfield, Youth Director