Rev. Dr. Rebecca, Clergy. Rebecca came to First Church in 2000, with degrees in political science, theology, and education. She is particularly interested in cross-cultural peace movements, and in the spiritual wisdom that comes from prayer and meditation. A fun fact about Rebecca is that she has a column in the local paper for athletes who run with the birds of the area: it’s part sport, part ornithology, part ethics, part ecology.
Carmen, Office Manager. Carmen came to First Church in 2017. Originally from Romania, she is a wizard in managing details, budgets, and emergencies. A fun fact about Carmen is that she loves all the people at First Church, even though they have funny accents.
Rev. Stacey, Minister of Faith Formation. Stacey and her family, including two children and her spouse, joined First Church in 2016. She started volunteering in religious education; this was part of what inspired her to pursue a second career in ministry. She received a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology in 2024 and was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 2025. She is also a part-time Physical Therapist in Everett Public Schools. She loves to explore the dunes of Cranes beach and share meals with friends and family.
Susannah, Director of Music. Susannah came to First Church in September 2024. Her musical training includes a bachelor’s in Music Performance and Theatre Arts. During her time at the Adams School of Music and the Arts, Susannah took a special interest in conducting and studied under Dr. Minji Kim, Mr. Dolan, and Dr. Southard in choral and orchestral conducting. Beyond classical music, Susannah has enjoyed performing in musicals, playing violin and picking up new instruments like the guitar. Susannah loves the outdoors; in the summer you can find her hammocking or (attempting) to surf in the ocean!
Wangari and Paul, Director of Family Music.
Greg, Resident Theologian. Greg Flint, ordained in 1972, came to First Church in 2023, after serving Peace Church, Duluth, MN for 13 years, and Senior Pastor First UCC, Eugene, OR for 28 years. He and his wife, Susan, have a son and family in Santa Barbara, CA; and a daughter and grandson here in Beverly, MA. Greg surprisingly started playing golf at the age of 65, after having played handball with a vengeance since his college years.
Tom, Resident Theologian. Tom has been at First Church, offering sermons, classes, and trips to the Outdoor Church, since 2013. Ordained in 2005, Tom came to Ipswich after serving churches in New York and Maryland. Fun facts about Tom are that he played collegiate basketball, and collects model trains.
Farah, Housekeeper. Farah has been the First Church housekeeper since 2016. She loves animals of all kinds, and one of her favorite things in Ipswich is to visit the seagulls, ducks, hawks, eagles, and pigeons at the river, and see what they are up to.
Ana and Conway, religious education and Sunday childcare. Ana grew up in Ipswich, participating in youth programming at First Church. She is in the middle of a degree in early childhood and brings all her passion for children to religious education and infant and childcare. Conway has been working and living at the House of Peace in Ipswich for two years, which is how we came to know them. Their background is as an occupational therapy assistant. Conway is passionate about caring for people of all ages and different abilities.
First Church in Ipswich, MA 