leadership

Leadership

Our tradition believes in the "ministry of all believers".
That is, we believe that all of the staff and members of FCC
are truly intended to be ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Professional Staff

Gary Walling, Senior Minister

Gary came to First Christian Church in 2012 after serving congregations in Texas, Georgia and Ohio. Rev. Walling is a graduate of Baylor University and holds a Masters of Divinity from Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University.

Gary enjoys golf and spends each autumn making apple butter. As befitting the state in which he was born, it is suspected that most of his stories have less proximity to the truth than the stories a preacher ought to tell.

Gary is married to Linda Hanna Walling, an ordained minister who serves as the Executive Director of Hope Station. They have two adult children: Kristen, who works in Washington D. C. for Vital Voices, an organization that works to empower women worldwide, and Ryan, who lives in Columbus, Ohio and works in the solar and energy sustainability industry.

Rev. Walling may be reached at gwalling@fccwilson.org or EXT #201

Casey Whaley Childers, Minister of Music & Organist

Casey has been serving First Christian since 2007 when she arrived as organist. She served this position while gaining the Masters of Music degree in Organ Performance and Sacred Music from East Carolina University as well as the Colleagues' Certification (CAGO) through the American Guild of Organists. Prior to this she received Bachelor of Music degrees from Appalachian State University in both Music (Clarinet) Performance and Music Education (K-12). She came onto the FCC Staff full time in 2009 where she continued her ministry as organist and also became director of the Chancel Choir and children's choirs. Since then she has revived The Chalice Ringers handbell choir, has established a group of leaders (Encounter) who assist in leading more contemporary music, has provided a meaningful Mobile Music Ministry which visits members in need of spiritual nourishment in their home, and has created a seasonal music series called, "A Space for Grace". Casey feels that authentic ministry and worship experiences are vital in a gospel that calls us to be community. She also believe that though the past can be comprised of long lasting memories, new memories can also be created with the right heart and spirit.

In time aside from First Christian, Casey serves as accompanist for the Beddingfield and Hunt High School Choirs. Her piano students in the Gloria Piano Studio participate in the North Carolina Federation of Music Club performance at ECU. She has served on the boards of the East Carolina Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the East Carolina Musical Arts Education Foundation. Casey is a member of the American Guild of Organists, Wilson Church Musician's Guild, St. Cecilia Music Club, National Federation of Teachers of Music and Pi Kappa Lambda. She has performed as organist in England, France, Germany and Spain. She loves spending time with her husband, Andrew, sons, Jackson & Phillip, loves raking, sweeping, getting her hands in the flower beds and all things photography.

Casey may be reached at cwchilders@fccwilson.org or EXT #202

Office Administrator - Charles Cauley

We have welcomed Charles in this role in early February. First Christian is so fortunate to have his skills and personality step forward in this position!

Charles has been a member of FCC since 1976. He is married to Gilda and has one daughter, Madison. He has served in various capacities in the church including Elder, Deacon, Chairman of the Board, etc. and has been a choir member for most of his time at FCC. He retired as an engineer with NCDOT at the end of last year. Charles enjoys photography, working in his yard and house and going to the beach.
He is very happy to be serving FCC as Interim Office Administrator.
He can be reached at officestaff2@fccwilson.org or EXT #200.

Connie Farris, Financial Secretary

Connie keeps all of the finances and bills of the church current and up-to-date! Whether you need a reimbursement from a church related purchase or a check on your committee's budget, Connie is an organized blessing to us!

Connie may be reached at bookkeeper@fccwilson.org or EXT #203

Dawn Gunn, Nursery Attendant

We welcomed Dawn Gunn to our staff in 2018. As our nursery demands increased, so did the need for more helping hands! Originally from Kenilworth, NH, Dawn moved to Wilson, NC in 1979 to attend Atlantic Christian College. Upon graduating she worked from Ilco Unican as a Graphic Designer. Her biggest accomplishment is being the proud mother of Layla Briel Gunn.

Dawn has worked at New Hope and Jones Elementary Schools as a teacher assistant. She currently serves as the Extended After School Coordinator for Greenfield School. She has thoroughly enjoyed working in the nursery at First Christian and is grateful for joining in the family here at First Christian.

Katie Brinson & Rachel Moore, Youth Leaders

Rachel

Both Katie and Rachel are long time members of Disciples of Christ! Katie grew up in Arapahoe and is very familiar with Came Caroline! She now lives in Wilson and is a member of First Christian. Rachel is the Associate Director of Campus Visits and Events at Barton College. They love spending time with our youth!

2021 Congregational Officers

Kathy Daughety, Board Chairperson

Our church family helps define our faith journey — a journey that is marked by both personal and communal milestones and memories. I have the most vivid memory of my first grade Sunday School Class in Burlington in the early 1960s. After learning the Lord’s Prayer and reciting it without a mistake, we each received a prayer card with a beautiful image of Jesus and a glow-in-the-dark cross to remind us to say our prayers each evening. That card has been with me through the valleys and mountaintops of my life’s faith journey; I still have it tucked inside my Bible. My family moved to Wilson in 1967 and became members of First Christian Church. When I was baptized, I received a booklet with that familiar image of Jesus on its cover. That sacred reference was reassuring, and that experience became another milestone in my faith development.

We all have treasured memories of Sunday school, VBS, Chi Rho, CYF, and Youth Choir experiences with friends — each program influencing our faith and strengthening our FCC relationships. Members of my FCC family have become faith mentors for me. I embrace their lessons as I take on new leadership and mentoring roles of faith responsibility. I find myself energized by the enthusiasm and generosity of our church family, especially during Our Season of Faith in the fall. And, there are the opportunities when we gather to celebrate Sunday communion, births, confessions of faith, wedding vows, and the commending of precious lives into God’s eternal care that make my heart swell with emotion. I sit in awe of God’s holy presence in our everyday lives, as He makes ordinary moments really extraordinary. I love that we laugh and cry, pray and sing, and work and play — together, as a church family.

Storytelling is important in my role as Director of Public Relations at Barton College. Stories map our journey, and I look forward to helping our church family capture FCC’s stories as we plan for our Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2021. God’s love and grace abound in this sacred space, while milestones and memories-in-the-making lie ahead for our FCC family.

Theresa Mathis, Board Vice-Chairperson

Theresa shares, "My family moved to Wilson 15 years ago from the mountain end of VA. We took a solid year searching for a church that would help my children see the love of God. From our first experience during a spaghetti dinner by the youth to 15 years later, FCC has been a blessing in our lives. The congregation has become my second family. My passion is around bringing people together. From my event planning for the City of Wilson, to my volunteer work directing the Whirligig Festival, to my involvement at FCC with Vacation Bible, Small Groups and annual celebrations – it’s all about connecting people. It’s like a family reunion every Sunday. Yes, we do have that crazy Uncle and the Cousin that gets on everyone’s nerves, but just as we love our family, so does FCC - we love everyone. My partner and I have found FCC to continuously be an open and affirming place of worship. "

Tim Sharp, Treasurer

Tim is a native Wilsonian and lifelong member of FCC Wilson. He has served in numerous leadership positions including Board Chair, Elder, Trustee, Deacon and Treasurer. Tim graduated from Fike High School and Barton College where he met his wife, Steffanie. He and Steffanie have one daughter, Taylor. He has been an independent insurance agent in Wilson for 30 years. As Treasurer, Tim works closely with the Financial Secretary and the Financial Affairs Committee to help oversee the finances of the church.

Beth Williams, Secretary

Gilda Cauley & Jeannette Etheridge, Chairpersons of Elders

2021 Team Leaders

Melissa Boyce-Inscoe & Melissa Whitley
Christian Nurture + Growth co-chairs

These two members both have children heavily involved in our children's programs at FCC! Help spur the ever-growing moving spirit in the lives of all who desire to grow. From children's Sunday School to small groups and larger to VBS, this is a core that pulls from a huge pool of facilitators! We are here to help nurture the minds and spirits of all of our members.

Christy Proctor & Linda Walling
Compassion & Service co-chairs

This team seeks to create and foster a vision of service in our community and beyond, with responsibility for advocating for the compassionate ministries of Christ. Do mission trips get your energy up? Do you care deeply about helping beyond our walls? Do blood drive, shoe box drives and food drives get your passions going? This team is for you! Christy & Linda will be thrilled to have you help gather energy around needs beyond our walls!

Facilities & Maintenance

Sometimes our building and grounds need care. Whether it is gearing energy around a work day, helping assess needs of our building and property or realizing that the yard needs a fresh coat of pine straw, this team needs you!

Tish Scott | Financial Affairs

Financial Affairs oversees the finances of the church, with responsibility for administering all the income and expenses related to church operations.

A little bit about Tish... "I was born and grew up in Wilson and am the 4th generation of my family to be a member of First Christian Church. I graduated from Greenfield School and UNC-Chapel Hill after which I returned to Wilson. I have worked in computer programming, manufacturing sales & marketing, public relations, college foundation, and office management and accounting.

At First Christian I have been an active member serving as a deacon, committee chair, treasurer, board chair (following both my parents who also served as board chair) and elder. I currently serve as the chair of Financial Affairs. I am also a member of the Chalice Ringers handbell choir and enjoy the music ministries at our church as well as the many other opportunities to spend time with my church family. As chair of Financial Affairs my hope is to be blessed with offerings that cover our needs as well as our plans and dreams for our ministries. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family (husband, David, and our daughters, son-in-law, grand-daughter, grand-dogs and grand-cat), going to the river, and attending events where David plays his saxophone.

Leslie Kendall | Hospitality

Are you ever thankful to sit down at a meal after worship and just 'enjoy' what has been provided? Do you enjoy refreshments after worship service or a nice breakfast on Easter Sunday? This team, led by Leslie Kendall, helps coordinate these enjoyable moments in our congregational life!

Bob Kendall | Member Care

The mission of Member Care is to be mutually present – to share a human connection – with members, friends and neighbors during the course of their daily lives. What is required of Member Care is an eagerness to apply the power of love, person to person, as life's journey calls. If you are eager to practice “the greatest” of things, Member Care is your opportunity. Additional annual assignments include planning Our Season of Faith and managing the many ways First Christian presents itself to groups inside and outside the church. Chair for another year is Bob Kendall.

Jeannette Etheridge
Spiritual Worship & Expressions

We promote and guide Christian worship and enrich the devotional life of the entire congregation, with responsibilities centering on the worship and music. Gilda & Jeannette are welcoming you to the future of what it means to fully worship.