Servant Leaders

Jacob Bolton, Director of Family Ministries, received his bachelor's degree with honors from Kalamazoo College, with a major in English, with a creative writing emphasis, and a minor in social studies. Since then he has performed several internships, and has been a student teacher in the Michigan public school system. He came to New York City in 2004 to begin work on his Master of Divinity degree at Union Theological Seminary, and as part of his study became FAPC's seminary intern for Family Ministries for the 2005-2006 program year. In July 2006, he agreed to spread his remaining degree credits over this next program year so that he could take on the full-time role of Interim Director of Family Ministries for the 2006-07 program year. Jacob will now receive his degree in May, 2007 and continue the process of ordination as a Presbyterian Minister. He was the ideal choice for this position having already been well received by the children, youth, families and staff at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. He says, "It is such a joy and a blessing to participate in worship and fellowship with the youngest and most formative members of the FAPC family."


Robert S. DeLukeRobert S. DeLuke came to Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in 1984 from his position as Director of Accounting and Finance for the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center Fund. His entire career has been in the non-profit arena, having started out as a staff accountant for the Phoenix House Foundation after a stint with the Peace Corps. He spent his time in the Peace Corps teaching accounting practices to small businesses in the Solomon Islands, a Pacific nation of fewer than 300,000 inhabitants, 1,000 miles northeast of Australia. "I grew there," Bob said. "I found that I enjoy working with accounting, but I also enjoy dealing with people." At Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, the finance director gets to do a lot of both, with a $5 million operating budget, a $1.5 million annual capital budget, more than $55 million in investments and nearly 3,550 members. "I love the Church and the people, just the whole atmosphere," Bob said. Bob received a BS in business management and accounting from State University of New York at Oswego and completed the Certificate Program in Financial Management for Executives at New York University. He is active in the National and New York City Chapters of the National Association of Church Business Administrators and Presbyterian Church Business Administrators Association.


Emily Dunlap Emily Dunlap has worked as the social worker at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church since 1982. Ms. Dunlap is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in English literature. She earned her master's degree in social work from New York University, and also holds a Post Masters Certificate in Aging from the Brookdale Center on Aging-Hunter College School of Social Work. She is a certified social worker in New York state and also is a board certified diplomat of the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work. She was previously employed at The Riverside Church and the New York City Family Court Mental Health Services. Ms. Dunlap serves on the board of directors of United Neighbors of East Midtown, an agency serving the homebound elderly, and is active with the Eastside Council on the Aging and the Midtown Interfaith Network. Emily says, "I love being a social worker and it is a double blessing to be a social worker at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church...it is difficult to put into words how much I personally gain from my work with people here. This is a special place indeed!

David LiuDavid Liu joined the staff of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in May, 2002, as the Coordinator of the newly formed Small Group Ministries. A native New Yorker, David's faith journey led him and his family to membership at FAPC in 1996 where he quickly became involved with the Couples Club, the Stewardship Committee, the strategic planning process and service as an elder. David received his undergraduate degree from American University and holds a law degree from New York Law School as well as a master's in education from Bank Street College of Education. He retired after 30 years as a public school teacher and felt the call to serve the Lord and reach out to others in a new capacity. David says, "Fifth Avenue Presbyterian is my home and my family. Belonging to this church gives me the sense that there truly is hope for a world in need. I am privileged to have this opportunity to do my small part."


Don McManus, Bicentennial Director of Music Ministries, is joining the FAPC family at the exciting moment of the church’s celebration of 200 years of ministry. Don comes to FAPC from Texas, where he served St. Alban’s Episcopal Church (Austin) as Organist and Director of Music and, immediately prior, from a 25-year ministry as Organist/Choirmaster for St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church (Lufkin).  During that period he was a tenured member of the Fine Arts faculty of Angelina College where, in an unprecedented act, his colleagues twice elected him outstanding teacher to attend the TCCTA Great Teaching Round-Up. After seventeen years at A.C. Don joined the faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches) where he taught a core curriculum for music majors---music theory, sight-singing, ear-training, 18th century counterpoint, and form and analysis. The legacy from his years in higher education is a new generation of public school and private music teachers and numerous musicians who continue to serve the Church as organists and music directors. Dr. McManus holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Baylor University where he was among the first organ students of Dr. Joyce Jones and a Ph.D. in Music Theory conferred by The University of Texas at Austin. Through the auspices of the American Guild of Organists he earned the AAGO and FAGO professional certifications.  He’s been honored to serve the National Council of the AGO as Councillor for Region VII. Don was active in various professional organizations during his career in higher education, including seventeen years as Secretary and publisher of The Proceedings for the Texas Society for Music Theory.  Piano study began at age 5, organ study at age 10; Don played his first wedding at 11 and since the age of 14 has been in continual service as a musician in Christ’s Church. It is specifically the vision of a new strategic plan of servant ministry that brought Don to FAPC where his duties are entwined in being both a professional musician and pastoral colleague. He notes, “Besides the obvious excitement of the time for celebrating the bicentennial there is a wondrous challenge to help raise up a new model of personal ministry among God’s people for the increase of the kingdom. Even as we appropriately honor and revere what has been, there stretches out ahead a bold, new pathway for eager hearts and willing hands at FAPC. I would hope to contribute through opening wider the windows of worship and witness to the world that literally passes by each day on the streets of New York.”


Michael McAllister, the interim director of outreach, has extensive experience in managing behavioral health and substance abuse programs. He coordinates and supports FAPC initiatives in homeless services, the Advocates for Peace and Justice group, benevolence grants and diverse missions that provide international aid and housing for the indigent.


Christopher Thomas, Director of Administration, comes to Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church after 13 years as the
Parish Administrator of Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Houston, Texas. One of the many highlights of Christopher’s career at Christ Church was his leadership role in the $25 million Building for Community capital renovation/addition project that involved the development of the John S. Dunn Center for Mission Outreach, as well as the construction
of several office buildings, a parking garage,
and additional green space. Christopher earned both a B.B.A. and an M.B.A. from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. In addition, he earned certification and recertification as a Fellow of Church Business Administration through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, in conjunction with the National Association of Church Business Administration. Christopher served as president of both the National Association of Episcopal Church Business Administration and the Houston Chapter of NACBA, a
superior-ranked chapter within the organization. Christopher is a native Houstonian and lifelong Episcopalian, and now welcomes the new adventures of life in Presbyterian New York City.

 

 

 

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