The mix of diverse backgrounds and experiences of our staff and lay leaders come together for a common purpose: to live in God’s grace and share God’s love.
Meet Our Pastors
Rev. Dr. Greg Stovell
Head of Staff
(212) 675-6150
Rev. Dr. Greg Stovell joined The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York as our new Pastor/Head of Staff effective September 1, 2020. Dr. Stovell is originally from Mexico City, and split his formative years between London and Mexico City. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from the University of Dubuque and a Masters in Divinity from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Dr. Stovell also earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching from McCormick Theological Seminary.
Dr. Stovell has a diverse theological background, serving churches in New Jersey, and Illinois, before being called to First Presbyterian in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His West Chester church boasted a vibrant 1,200-member congregation that Dr. Stovell shepherded for the last 10 years as the Lead Pastor.
Dr. Greg Stovell joins the First Church family along with his wife Susie, daughter Susie, and son Harry.
Rev. Dr. Barbara E. Davis
Executive Minister
(646) 230-3901
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Davis is the Executive Minister at First Church. Her ministerial areas of focus include spiritual formation and pastoral care.
Barbara hails from western Pennsylvania, where she was deeply influenced by her upbringing in the Methodist Church and netting tadpoles in the pond near her house.
She graduated from Thiel College in Greenville, PA, where she majored in religion, with minors in English and Classical Languages. She then moved from rural to urban living to attend Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where she completed her M.Div. Her call to ministry led her to First Church in 1998. Barbara is a member of the Metro Association of the United Church of Christ (UCC), from which she was ordained in 2004. In 2016, she finished her doctoral work in Religious Education at Fordham University where she wrote about the “Unresolved Conflict Over Revelation in American Protestantism.”
Barbara has served on the board of the Religious Education Association and is currently part of the Boundary Awareness Training Team for the Metro Association of the UCC. The mother of two amazing daughters, Barbara has been a leader in the parent body at their Quaker school in Brooklyn. An avid reader, essayist, sketcher, sky watcher, nature observer and proud Brooklynite, Barbara can often be found cycling the city’s streets.
Rev. Dr. Mark Hostetter
Associate Pastor for Stewardship & Mission to the Corporate World
(212) 675-6150
Mark Hostetter is Associate Pastor for Stewardship and Mission to the Corporate World. This is an unpaid and unique part-time position where Mark serves as a liturgist in worship, occasional preacher, and frequent teacher. Dr. Hostetter is CEO of Vinik Asset Management, a Tampa investment firm; is active in the leadership of Auburn Theological Seminary’s Board of Directors; and continues his work with the national Presbyterian Church (USA), most recently as Moderator of the Way Forward Commission of the General Assembly. Mark received his B.A. degree in Economics at Harvard University, his J.D. from Columbia University, and his M.Div. and D.Div. degrees from New York Theological Seminary. He has been a member of the board for several organizations, including The Actors Fund, Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, and Holmes Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center in New York. He is co-founder of the Summit Preparatory School in Kalispell, Montana which he began with his partner Alex Habib. Together they are parents of three children, Lani, Lea, and Kai.
Our Staff
Michael Shake
Director of Music
Michael Shake was called as the sixth director of music for the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York in June 2019. At First Church, he shepherds the musical life of the community as a keyboardist, conductor, and team member in creating weekly worship and broader worship and music opportunities.
Michael previously served King of Glory Lutheran Church and Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas; and, Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, hailed by USA TODAY as one of the “ten great places to be enthralled by heavenly music.” He has been a solo and collaborative artist, and clinician for regional and national events, including the 2011 Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the 2013 National Conference of the American Choral Directors Association, the 2017 Southwest Regional Convention of the American Guild of Organists, the 2017 East Texas Pipe Organ Festival, and has been featured on American Public Media’s Pipedreams. He is a former dean of the Dallas Chapter – American Guild of Organists
A native of Florence, South Carolina, Michael holds degrees in organ and sacred music from Erskine College and Emory University. He has been a conductor at the Choral Institute at Oxford, a collaborative program of Westminster Choir College and St. Stephen’s House, Oxford, and a conducting fellow of the Voices of Ascension Conductor Academy with Dennis Keene. The recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Erskine College, Michael is married to Laura Bowden and enjoys learning about aviation, cooking, and travel.
Jenny Bennett
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
Jenny Bennett is the Director of Youth and Family Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, bringing many years of diverse experience working with youth in various settings. With a strong foundation in the Presbyterian church, Jenny’s passion for nurturing young hearts and minds has been fostered through her past experiences as a youth counselor, a full-time educator in both New Orleans and New York, and a volunteer church school teacher.
Her enthusiasm for teaching, building relationships, and exploring challenging spiritual questions is contagious. Dedicated to meeting children, youth, and families where they are on their spiritual journeys, she aims to create purposeful events, encourage biblical inquiry, and nurture meaningful connections. Jenny’s ultimate goal is to empower young people and their families, enabling them to discover their own faith and embrace the love of God. Jenny enjoys catching Broadway shows, walking the city streets with a podcast, and spending time with her daughter, Corinne.
Folafunmi Odukoya
Director of Finance and Operations
MaryLennox Halfacre
Director of Communications and Media
MaryLennox serves as Director of Communications and Media at The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York. She oversees the church’s communications and storytelling across digital, print, and worship platforms, helping connect the congregation with the wider community.
As a lifelong Presbyterian, she sees church communications as both creative work and a calling. She cares deeply about helping churches communicate in ways that are welcoming, clear, and rooted in connection. Her work reflects a love for faith-based communities and the role thoughtful communication can play in supporting worship and belonging.
MaryLennox holds a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate & Organizational Communication from Western Kentucky University and a Master of Science in Media Management from The New School. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her basset hound, Grace, who often makes appearances in church conversations and social media posts alike.
Sally Collins
Mission & Social Justice Consultant
Sally Collins, longtime active member of First Church, is currently serving as the full-time Mission and Social Justice consultant. This role supports and advises the important work of the 9 M&SJ Action Groups as well as facilitating other opportunities for civic engagement and service. Sally has always had a passion for pursuing a more kind, accessible and just world, from her college years on the GA Board that created an effective affirmative action program to her present-day advocacy for peace, benevolence, and a responsible democratic government. Sally has extensive experience in higher education administration, serving at Florida State University, Rutgers University, Westminster Choir College, and Columbia University. Sally has also worked in faith-based organizations including a reform Jewish synagogue and the Palisades Presbytery of Northern NJ.
Sally holds a Bachelors in Sociology and Psychology from Georgia Southern University, Masters in Administration from Florida State University, and postgraduate certification in Organizational Leadership Development / Change Management from The New School.
A nature enthusiast, Sally cherishes all flora and fauna, and enjoys everything outdoors: hiking, gardening, reading, Tai Chi class overlooking the Hudson, concerts in the park, and spending any time at any beach, all done preferably with longtime partner, Faye Timmer, and family.
Babs Smith
Aileen Caba
Office Manager
Aileen graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a BA in Sociology. Her degree is in Criminology, with a background in Psychology. She plans to return to college and pursue a master’s degree in psychology. Aside from her commitment to her education, she enjoys traveling to new places, trying new foods, and meeting new people. Aileen is a travel enthusiast who hopes to visit at least one new place each year.
Rachel Barker-Asto
Family Music Coordinator
In 2023, Rachel joined First Church as the Family Music Coordinator, directing the Student Choristers, teaching music for church school, leading worship for babies and toddlers, and spearheading community music outreach programs. She is a versatile musician with an M.M. in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from Westminster Choir College and has been teaching voice and beginner piano for over 15 years. Rachel is a certified Musikgarten teacher, specializing in teaching caregivers how to interact musically with their little ones. Her commitment to nurturing young musicians is matched by her extensive performance background.
Rachel has been praised for her “bel canto chops, with a bright, lyric coloratura sound.” Notable performances include the American premiere of Salieri’s La Cifra with Dell’arte Opera Ensemble in New York City. She has portrayed iconic roles such as Queen of the Night, Adina, Pamina, Drusilla, Gilda, and Susannah, showcasing her vocal versatility and dramatic range. A participant in the prestigious Caramoor Festival under the guidance of musicologist Will Crutchfield, Rachel has delved deeply into operatic works from the bel canto period. Her recitals often feature music from the 20th and 21st centuries, while her collaborations with chamber groups like The Sebastians and The Paramount Chambers Players have highlighted her ability to excel in diverse musical settings. Rachel has also distinguished herself in oratorio works, performing pieces such as Barber’s Prayers of Kierkegaard, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem as a soloist.
Our Staff
Session
The Session is the governing body of the church. First Church, like all Presbyterian churches, is a representative democracy.
We are governed by elders who are chosen from and by the entire congregation. Governance and authority over church matters resides with these elected leaders. Elders serve a three-year term. Meet our elders and the program and/or committee they lead below.
Rev. Dr. Greg Stovell
Head of Staff
Lawrence Tallamy
Clerk of Session
Rev. Dr. Barbara E. Davis
Executive Minister
Deacons
The role of the Deacons is one of “sympathy, service and witness” to the love of God as shown in the life of Jesus Christ. The origin of “deacon” is the Greek diakonos, “servant.”
At First Church we have an elected Board of Deacons who minister with compassion to anyone in need, whether they are members of the church, visitors, neighbors or other members of the community. Deacons meet on a monthly basis to determine how best to meet those needs. They receive care and prayer requests from those who themselves, or whose loved ones, are ill, or have other special needs, and can refer people for pastoral care.
Each month, two Deacons for the Month are appointed by the Board of Deacons to act as specific points of contact for those in need. Any Deacon, however, can assist. Requests for Deacons should be directed to the Deacons of the Month or if urgent, to the Pastoral staff.
Ian Boswell & Michael Judkiewicz
Co-Moderators
Jennie Barry & Mary Virginia Ireland
Secretaries
Michael Clay
Treasurer
Trustees
The Board of Trustees holds and manages properties and, as authorized, conducts business for the church. They oversee investments and work with the Session and the Joint Finance Committee to develop a sustainable church budget.
Brett Cochrane
President
Tim Warmath
Vice President
Jeff Metzler
Secretary
Anne Gray
Treasurer
Martha Ferry and Amy Cooper
Assistant Treasurers
Jack Griem
Counsel
