Scott Black Johnston
The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston came to FAPC in 2008 having previously served as the Senior Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Prior to that, Scott was a member of the faculty at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary where he taught preaching and worship. Scott holds a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has co-authored one book, Theology for Preaching: Authority, Truth and Knowledge of God in a Postmodern Ethos, (Abingdon Press, 1997); has numerous other published articles, sermons, and chapters in books. Scott is a frequent preacher on Day One Radio (formerly The Protestant Hour) and at various church conferences around the country. He and his wife Amy, a nurse practitioner, have been married for 17 years and are the parents of Izzy (9) and Ollie (5). In his free time, Scott enjoys roaming Central Park with Amy, reading comic books (mostly super heroes), and laughing at his children’s antics. Scott says, "Here in worship each week, I look out at a diverse collection of Christians who refuse to check their brains at the church door, and, at the same time, who have not “given in”—not to skepticism or cynicism. They walk into this old, sacred place with eager minds and hungry spirits—yearning to engage their faith with rigor, expecting to hear a Word; and intending to make a difference in the world. It is a challenge and an incredible blessing to serve with such people."
Kate Dunn
The Rev. Katharine C. Dunn first served FAPC as Parish Associate for Visitation from 2004-2006, before becoming Temporary Supply Pastor in the fall of 2006. Kate oversees FAPC’s Pastoral Care ministry, and works with the Board of Deacons and the Stephen Ministers. Kate also provides staff support for Outreach’s ministries to the homeless. Kate graduated from Princeton University, has a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University. She was ordained in 1996 to a Validated Ministry with West Side Federation for Senior Housing, where she worked for ten years with formerly homeless, mentally ill seniors. Kate lives in New York City with her husband, Jim Ellis, a psychotherapist. They have been married for fifteen years and have two children, Cullen, and Lucy. Kate says, “It is an ongoing privilege to see the creative and transformative ways God’s love continues to work through this faith community.”
Helen Jackson
The Rev. Helen Jackson currently serves as the church's parish visitor, working part time with the Rev. Kate Dunn and church social worker Emily Dunlap, making pastoral care visits to the church's homebound and hospitalized members. A graduate of Duke University, Yale Divinity School and the Blanton-Peale Institute, Helen was ordained as a minister in February of 1977. Most of Helen's ministry has been as a pastoral psychotherapist. She has served on the staff of the Riverside Church Pastoral Counseling Center and the Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute and is now in private practice. Helen brings to the Parish Visitor position experience in parish ministry, having served as pastor of Barkhamstad Center Church in Brooklyn. Helen guest preaches two Sundays a month at Presbyterian Churches in New York City. She lives in Brooklyn with her daughter Amy.
Paul Rock
The Rev. Paul Rock came to FAPC in 2004 after serving as a head of staff and associate pastor in Southern California. In his current role he oversees a number of ministries: The Center for Christian Studies, our ministry to 20s and 30s (Next), Family Ministries, and Outreach’s mission programs. Paul graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in both education and history and then served as a missionary in Budapest, Hungary for three years. There he fell in love with cross cultural ministry, as well as another American, Stacey Perkins. After marrying, they were asked to serve as in-country directors for all of Central Europe, traveling broadly to develop new programs and oversee the work of 60 teachers. On their return in 1994, Paul completed a master of divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. Currently Paul is working on his doctorate at Drew University. Paul and Stacey have been married for 16 years and are the parents of Emily (11), Nathan (7) and Claire (5), whom they adore. Paul says, "We love being a part of this enchanting city and are excited about what God is doing in and through this diverse, talented and vibrant Fifth Avenue congregation."
Randy Weber
The Rev. Randolph L.C. Weber became Associate Minister at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in 1991. He carries particular responsibility for cultivation of new members. He teaches the What We Believe Class to those interested in exploring membership in Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. He has also taught "Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts" several times each year since his arrival. He developed the program in churches he served previously in Pennsylvania. Randy received his master of divinity degree at Princeton Theological Seminary and his B.A. at the University of Virginia. Randy lives with his wife of 30 years, Cindy (who is a lower school librarian in a private school here in the city), and they have three grown children: Laura, who is a student at San Francisco Theological Seminary; Craig, who is a mechanical engineer; and Emily, who is in marketing. Randy Weber says, "Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church is an oasis of Christian Community in the heart of New York City. It is a place where people from all walks and stages of life find fellowship and friendship as part of a faith family that touches countless lives in the name of Jesus Christ. It is a place of great spiritual depth and breadth, made up of Christians from across the country and around the world. It is a place where people make creative use of their gifts for ministry, linking arms together in service to the world. It is a place we call 'home'!"
