James D. Herron, Senior Minister

Jim began his tenure as Senior Minister at First in March of 2006. A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, he has pastored churches in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. A graduate of Wichita State University and Central Seminary of Kansas City, he is currently a Ph.D. candidate in American Studies at the University of Kansas. First Church represents for Jim a return to pastoral ministry after chairing a university department and serving on the faculties of Ottawa University, Kansas State University, and Kansas Wesleyan. Jim is married to Dr. Amber Showalter-Herron, a local veterinarian. Together, they have one child, Kiegan, age 5

J. William Hawk, Associate Minister/Pastoral Care

Bill was born in northwest Nebraska in 1935. He has received degrees from Yankton College (BA), Yankton School of Theology (B.Th) and the University of Chicago Divinity School and Chicago Theological Seminary (B.D). He has served local churches in the United Church of Christ since 1956. While serving the First Congregational Church, UCC, in Hardin, MT (1962-65) he was ordained by the Yellowstone Association of the Montana Conference of the UCC. Churches he has served have been located in Nebraska, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Hawaii, New York and back to Montana in 1999. Bill came to the staff at First Church in September 2006 as Associate Pastor in charge of Pastoral Care. All of the pastors at First Church make calls in people's homes, but if you wish or need some immediate attention, Bill is the one to call. You can reach him at home at 652-6570 or on the move at 690-6310—or there is a chance you can locate him at First Church.

Amanda Cormack, Associate Pastor/Christian Education

Amanda is the newest addition to our staff, beginning her ministry among us as Associate Pastor for Christian Education in December 2007. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA, she also boasts of Oklahoma roots, having grown up in Edmond and earning a bachelor’s in piano performance at the University of Central Oklahoma. Later, she completed an MA in English Composition at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Amanda loves being in ministry with people of all ages, and is especially excited to share he passion for education with the folks at First. When she’s not working, she loves reading histories and classic fiction, playing the piano, listening to classical music or jazz, cooking (and eating!) delicious food, hiking, improving her golf game, wine tasting, and spending time with her wonderful husband, Chris—although not necessarily in that order!

Barbara Dobesh, Senior Church Musician/Piano and Organ

Barbara writes: “Piano studies began for me at a very early age, and before I was even in my teen years, I was playing for church opening exercises, solos for ‘Mr. & Mrs. Club’ and women’s circle events… In high school, as the pianist for Sunday School and the children’s choir, I was offered the opportunity to begin organ studies at Hastings College Music Conservatory. The church would pay for my lessons. In return, I would play for a new Sunday early morning family worship service. I was 15 years old—and, after a couple of months of initial, intensive training in hymn playing, I began a new thing for me that would become a life-long passion: accompanying the music of corporate worship. Here began my deep appreciation of the power of hymns in worship. All my organ studies pursued since that beginning have been for the purpose of becoming a more effective pastoral musician, and this privilege and calling has been a never-ending source of joy in my life. I have worked with many fine teachers in the fifty years since beginning organ study. Work toward a degree in music began in 1957, and was completed in 1979. Serving with the incredibly and talented and committed staff of First Church is a privilege and a joy for me. Soli Deo Gloria!”