STAFF & LEADERSHIP
Our team of staff and volunteers is grateful to serve this community of faith.
Read more about us and feel free to give us a call.
Dr. Jim Gilchrist
Bridge Senior Pastor
jim@fcpc.us
Jim Gilchrist retired from full-time ministry in 2019, having served most recently as senior pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in the South Hills. A native of southwestern Pennsylvania, Jim holds BA and MDiv degrees from Yale, an MPIA in international affairs from Pitt, and an MA and PhD in history and policy from Carnegie Mellon. Besides serving as a pastor in Methodist and Presbyterian churches, he was also executive director of The Wesley Institute (now Wesley Family Services) and director of operations for a national program on standards and assessments for students in public schools. He continues to teach part-time at Carnegie Mellon, and has taught at Dickinson College and Pittsburgh Seminary. A participant in the Council on Foreign Relations Workshop on Religion and International Affairs, he has enjoyed visiting some twenty countries on five continents. Jim and his wife, Gwenn, now live in the North Hills and have two grown children and two young grandchildren.
JESSICA BARBOUR
Communications Coordinator
Preschool Administrative Assistant
| 412-963-8243 x 60
DAVID BILLINGS
Director of Music Ministries & Organist
412.963.8243 x29 |
TONI BORRELLI
Administrative Assistant for the Congregation
412.963.8243 x10 |
LINDA HELFFERICH
Financial Administrator
412.963.8243 x22|
"MR. CHET" KARAS
Preschool Welcome Monitor
RYAN LANCIA
Director of Youth Ministries
412.963.8243 x19 |
KARIN MILLER
Preschool Director
412.963.8243 x12 |
KIM POWER
Parish Visitor
HANNAH ROUX
Children's Choir Director
GUY RUSSO
Chancel Choir Director
OUR LEADERSHIP
S E S S I O N (E L D E R S)
As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session.
- G 2.0301 Book of Order 2017-2019: The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Part II
Clerk of Session: Cristie Good
Moderator of the Session: Rev Dr. Don Dawson
CURRENTLY SERVING ELDERS & COMMITTEE ON WHICH THEY SERVE
Administration & Personnel: Joe Mettenburg - Chair (2023), Kim Siddons (2024)
Building & Grounds: Barbara Patterson - Chair (2022), Steve Schultz (2024)
Christian Nurture: Greg Carter - Chair (2023), Bonnie DeMotte (2022)
Fellowship & Cafes: Judy Leininger - Chair (2022), Emy Boag (2023)
Finance: Kim Bartolacci - Chair (2022), David Fowler (2024)
Membership: Richard Sweringen II - Chair (2023), Molly Childs (2024)
Mission: Ralph Miller- Chair (2023), Vijay Gulati (2024)
Nominating: Kitty Skinner (2023), David Fowler (2024)
Preschool: Kitty Skinner - Chair (2023)
Worship & Music: Glenn Baldwin - Chair (2022), Ann Boyd (2022)
B O A R D O F D E A C O N S
The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress . Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this ministry.
- G 2.0201 Book of Order 2017-2019: The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Part II
Moderator: Kelly Sample
Vice-Moderator: Susan Rattner
CLASS OF 2021: Judy Grune, Christine Gulati, Brad Harrison, Howard Havlicsek, Brenda Karas,
John Musgrave, Paul Privett, Kelly Sample
CLASS OF 2022: Debbie Burke, Carl Feige, Cindy Frohlich, Juli Huntington, Mary Jacob,
Judi Juselius, Susan Rattner, Mary K. Williams
Class of 2024: Elizabeth Carter, David Huff, Ben Johnston, Susan Nichols, Connie Phillips,
Lili Rosenthal, Sarah Schroeder, Jerry Swanson