Staff
Rev. Dr. Rebecca, Senior Minister. 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, Church Administrator. 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.
Governance
Officers of the Church (2026)
Moderator: Mary Woodall-Jappe
Clerk: Katherine DeSilva
Treasurer: Bill McDavitt
The Cabinet supervises all boards and committees, seeking to further the growth, efficiency, and usefulness of the church.
The Diaconate attends, with the Minister, to the spiritual needs of the church and community, serving the sacraments, and attending to the elders and the sick. 2026 chair:
The Board of Trustees oversees the legal, financial, property, and personnel issues of the church. 2026 chair:
The Board of Faith Formation promotes the development of Christian faith, overseeing the church school, children’s programs and adult education. 2026 chair:
The Board of Stewardship attends to the stewardship campaign, supports the fundraisers, and supports the counting of the offerings and pledges. 2026 chair:
The Music Committee promotes musical activities within the church, and recommends candidates for the position of choir director and organist. 2026 chair: .
The Missions Committee educates the church on missions and outreach, and makes decisions on use of missions funds. 2026 chair:
The Altar Committee coordinates the altar’s sacred articles and flower arrangements and seasonal presentations. 2026 chair:
The Historical Committee meets once a month on a Thursday, collects and preserves articles connected with the Church’s history, and teaches the church about our rich history. 2026 chair:
The Memorials Committee accepts gifts and recommends long-term acquisitions to the church. 2026 chair:
The Scholarship Committee offers youth who have joined the church, either through confirmation or through an adult membership liturgy, financial support for education past high school through the chance to receive grants for books and other expenses. 2026 chair:
The Nominating Committee. 2026 chair:
The Pastoral Relations Committee(s) conducts the performance and salary review of the senior/associate minister, and addresses matters of mutual concern. 2026 chair:
The Ushers welcome newcomers, offer a kindly handshake, and share the bulletins and some good news with newcomers. Contact Chris Dorman.
Hospitality teams prepare a welcoming coffee hour reception once every two months. This is a chance to serve a plate of food to members of the church who otherwise eat alone, plus, the children appreciate it. Contact Laurie Crane.
Contact the church office if you would like to get in touch with any of the officers or chairs.
First Church in Ipswich, MA 