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Leadership

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Rev. Jillian Hankamer
Senior Pastor
Jillian has the reputation for being called to pastor and being creative, thoughtful, sensitive, empathetic, and collaborative. She previously served as the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lewisburg, PA, a congregation founded in 1844 and affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA. She served there from 2018 to 2022. From 2012 to 2017 she served as Associate Pastor for Youth at Kirkwood Baptist Church in St. Louis, an Alliance of Baptists’ partner congregation.

 

Jillian grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas where she was active in Austin Heights Baptist Church, also an Alliance of Baptists’ partner congregation. She received a Bachelor of Social Work degree at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches and her Master of Divinity degree from The McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta. 

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Dr. C. Welton Gaddy
Pastor Emeritus
Dr. Gaddy served as senior pastor of Northminster for over 24 years, retiring in 2016. Author of over 20 books, he is also the former president of the Interfaith Alliance in Washington DC. Weekly, Dr. Gaddy hosts State of Belief, a radio show and podcast on the place of religion in the life of the United States. Dr. Gaddy is recognized as a leading advocate for protecting the boundaries between religion and government. Dr. Gaddy received his undergraduate degree from Union University in Tennessee and his doctoral degree and divinity training from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Among his many leadership roles, he is a past President of the Alliance of Baptists. He has been a member of the Commission of Christian Ethics of the Baptist World Alliance for over two decades. His past leadership roles include serving as a member of the General Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, President of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Chair of the Pastoral Leadership Commission of the Baptist World Alliance and member of the World Economic Forum’s Council of 100.

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Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy passed away in June 2023. You may access the following information here:

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Stream Dr. Gaddy's Service

Read Dr. Gaddy's Obituary

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Dr. Deborah Chandler
Director of Music

Chandler accepted the call to service as Director of Music in 2006. She has a rich experience of leadership in church music, having served as the Minister of Music for 18 years in a Presbyterian church in Tallahassee, Florida. She holds a Ph.D. in conducting from Florida State University and is presently on the faculty of the University of Louisiana at Monroe as Director of Choral Activities. Additionally, Debi directs the Concert Choir, the University Chorale and the Chamber Singers. She is musical director and conductor for the Monroe Symphony Orchestra Chorus and host of Limelight and Vocal Vibes on KEDM radio.

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Dr. D.H. Clark
Organist and Musician in Residence

D.H. is a founding member of Northminster and began serving as the church as Director of Music in 1997. He recently retired from a long career as a physician with the Women's Clinic of Monroe-West Monroe, and has served as organist/director of music at Parkview Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, and St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Monroe. During his military service, he served as organist at the base chapel at Scott Air Force Base in St. Louis. Dr. Clark is the founder of the Masterworks Chorus, Monroe's community chorus, and was its music director for 12 years. 

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Mr. Justin Havard
Pianist, Music Associate

Justin Havard is an accomplished director, pianist, and singer who has spent the last 13 years making music in the Tampa Bay area.  Originally from Mobile, Alabama, he received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Choral Music Education from Florida State University with an emphasis on Piano. He was the collaborative pianist for the Florida All-State Men’s Choir in 2017 and 2018, and he has played for many national tours including The Book of Mormon, Wicked, and Spamalot. Mr. Havard is particularly known for his work with Acapella Groups and Musical Theatre, and he has presented at both the Florida Music Educators’ Association Conference and the Florida State Thespian Conference.  He has worked as a music director for theatrical productions both equity and amateur, and his theatrical work at the high school level is well-known in the state.  

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Miss Renee Decker
Administrative Assistant

Renee joined the Northminster staff in 2016. She is a graduate of ULM with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, and served as an Investigator for the District Attorney's Office, and a Narcotics Investigator for the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Department (MPSO). She was a founding member of the Louisiana Sheriff's Associations Narcotics Task Force as well as the MPSO Narcotics Division and the North Louisiana Drug Enforcement Bureau. After leaving law enforcement, Renee worked sixteen years with International Paper where she served as the Louisiana Mill's Export Shipment Planner before the mill's closure in 2009. She enjoys singing and playing percussion and trumpet with her band, Homegrown, going on cruises, and taking trips to the beach.

Commissions

Northminster puts a high value on lay-leadership. The various expressions of our ministry are led by the following commissions.

The Coordinating Council

The Coordinating Council is responsible for the engage in a fellowship of worship, witness, education, ministry and missions, as well as financial and business affairs.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Craig Henry (C)

  • Kyle Gregory (VC)

  • Mark Windham (S)​

  • Gail Blackman​

  • Charles Creech​

  • Al Peterson​

  • JoAnn Alley

  • Darrell Cluck​

  • Beth Mayfield

Properties

The Properties Commission is responsible for the upkeep of the church's property.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Hannah Clark (C/S)

  • Larry Prather (VC)

  • Bill Kight

  • Al Peterson

  • Susan Curry 

  • Robert Crawford

Worship

The Worship Commission is responsible for interpreting the worship needs of the congregation and assisting the staff in fulfilling those needs.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Marilyn Decker (C)

  • Peggy Burns

  • Mirand Seal (VC)

  • Samuel Boateng

  • Anita Breen

  • Mara Loeb

  • Patti Pate

Arts

The Arts Commission is responsible for incorporating the arts into the ministries of the church.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Ellen Prather (C)

  • Cathy Webb (VC)

  • Scott Higginbotham (S)

  • Camille Peterson

  • Pat Cohn 

  • Judy Gaddy

Hospitality

The Hospitality Commission is responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising the hospitality element of fellowship activities.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Bobbye Legan (C)

  • Marilyn Decker (VC)

  • Carol Ann Tubbs (S)

  • Marissa Jaquess

  • JoAnn Alley

  • Barbara Thompson

Missions

The Missions Commission is responsible for helping members identify and act upon their unique gifts for ministry.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Sandy Harrington (C)

  • David Culp

  • Sherry Free (S)

  • Janet Dawson

  • Turner Wilson

  • Mary Delancy (VC)

Outreach

The Outreach Commission is responsible for facilitating outreach to the community.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Debbie O'Neal (CC)

  • Miranda Seal (CC)

  • Cynthia Rodriguez (S)

  • Justin & Denzel Dennegal

  • Ray Roberson

  • Cayce Roberts

Family Ministries

The Family Ministries Commission is responsible for organizing and equipping members of the Northminster community to minister to each other.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Pat Hays (C/S)

  • Hannah Clark (VC)

  • Susan Roberts

  • David Culp

  • Camille Peterson

  • Marsha McGee

Education

The Education Commission is responsible for assisting the ministerial staff in creating spaces for education and faith formation.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Craig Henry (S)

  • Laura Duke (VC)

  • Mackenzie Grassi 

  • JoAnn Alley

  • Beth Mayfield (C)

  • Susan Curry

  • Peggy Burns

Columbarium

The Columbarium Commission is responsible for overseeing the Northminster Memorial Garden

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Charles Creech (C)

  • Robert Crawford (VC)

  • Scott Higginbotham (S) 

  • Tim Jaquess

  • Patti Pate

  • Peggy Burns

Stewardship

The Stewardship Commission is responsible for designing, implementing, and supervising a comprehensive stewardship plan for the church.

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This year, it is made up of:

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  • Pat Hayes (C/S)

  • Carol Ann Tubbs (VC)

  • Jamie Grassi

  • Al Peterson

  • Mara Loeb

  • kyle Gregory

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