Leaders of Gilead Presbyterian Church

Martin McGeachy	Pastor
Fred Knieriem	Pastor Emeritus
Mary Temple	Music Director
Fran Croughan	Youth Coordinator
Beth Cowan	Church Secretary
Penny Cameron	Pianist
Donna Engler	Clerk of Session
Sandy Regan	Co-Treasurer
Brenda Verdesi	Co-Treasurer
Diana Drake Behan	Church School Superintendent
Ellen Nielsen	Assistant Church School Superintendent
Sue Stone	Co-Director Carmel Nursery School
Sue O'Brien	Co-Director Carmel Nursery School
Micah Emerson	Missionary

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Session	Board of Deacons
Alice Dubon	Louise Andres
Donna Engler	Joey Borrello
Paul Francis	Elaine Cole
Renee Lent	Roy Delanoy
Emma McLean	Tori DuBon
Pablo Pantoja	Shirley Devries
Pauline Silberquit	Caroline Francis
Mary Temple	Bridget Kessman
Erik Vandenberg	Dolores Knapp
Richard Van Vlack	Ellen Nielsen
Brenda Verdesi	Ann Rand
Warren Behan	Mariah Warren

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Rev. Martin McGeachy
Pastor

Prior to coming to Carmel and Gilead in the fall of 2002, Martin McGeachy served as the organizing pastor of Baker House Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded as a ministry to the arts community in 1994, Baker House eventually broadened its scope to reach out to the artist in everyone – anyone who gives of him or herself in a creative outpouring is an artist, by the power of God, from whom all art and creation pours. Martin also worked for many years as a professional actor, playwright, and comedian, with credits from regional theatres all across the country, and also his own original one-man plays, which he toured through his production company, Theatrical Touring Productions. While in Little Rock, Martin appeared in over 75 plays, hundreds of regional and national radio & TV commercials, and was on staff as a theatre instructor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Because of his creative ministry in both theatre and church, he has been invited to speak and lead worship at many churches, youth retreats and adult conferences around the country.

Martin is a graduate of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas, where he worked as a hospital chaplain. He also served as an intern pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Marianna, Florida. Martin has two delightful daughters, Rebekah and Rachel.

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Fran Croughan
Youth Director

Fran joined the Gilead Staff in September 2004. She resides in Mahopac with her husband and 2 college-age daughters. Fran has a BS in Education and a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership. Currently she is the Recreation Administrator for the City of White Plains and has worked extensively with youth for the past 20 years.

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Mary Temple
Music Director

Mary Temple originally hails from the small community of Albion in southern Illinois. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education, Mary spent six years teaching music in the public school systems of
Des Plains, IL and Peekskill, NY. She came to Gilead in 1978, and soon thereafter began serving the church in a wide variety of roles.

Mary also teaches piano and flute privately at her studio in Carmel.

As Music Director, Mary sees her responsibilities as that of an educator as well as a worship leader. As such, she tries to expose the congregation to music from a wide variety of traditions. "No single type of music speaks to everyone in the same way…some may prefer classical music and traditional hymns, while others are moved by contemporary music or gospel." Mary explains: "Whatever music touches people, that's the music we want to include."

As Mary says: "Music is another way that we communicate with God." Any who wish to share their musical gifts by participating in Gilead's music programs are encouraged to contact Mary or come to any of the rehearsals.

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