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First Central
Presbyterian Church
A PC(USA) church on Rodney Square
Wilmington, Delaware
Staff and Leadership
Session
A Presbyterian church is governed by its Session, a body of elders, with the Pastor serving as moderator. (The word "presbyter" means "elder of the church.") These members of the church are elected for three-year terms, renewable for up to six years' continuous service.
First & Central's current Session are:
Ruth Arias, Margaret Ann Butterfield, Terry Dykstra, Patty Irwin, Ellen Oiler, Ellen Roberts (Treasurer), Jesse Rodgers, Sarah Ryan, and Karl Zipf. Jeanette Zipf is the current Clerk of Session.
The Book of Order, the governing document of the PC-USA, provides this definition of elders:
As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session. When elected as commissioners to higher councils, ruling elders participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office.
Session Meeting on Zoom
Staff
Laura Viau, Pastor and Head of Staff
The Reverend Laura Schmidt Viau brought her southern charm to Delaware in July, 2022. She most recently served as a transitional pastor in coastal North Carolina, where she regularly got to preach on the beach! Laura recently celebrated the seventh anniversary of her ordination as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament, but she has been doing God's work for much of her life.
She will be living in Wilmington's Haynes Park neighborhood.
F&C Announces New Director of Music Ministries
Emily Ballentine Erb accepted First and Central’s offer to be our Director of Music Ministries. She will begin her duties starting July 21, 2025. Emily grew up in Wilmington and graduated from Dickinson High School. With a piano performance degree from James Madison University and a Master in Music Education from Columbia, she is now completing a second Masters degree at Indiana University, this time in Organ Performance and Sacred Music.
Ballentine Erb has provided worship service music in Bloomington, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Conshohocken, PA; and Manhattan, NYC. As a singer, Emily has sung with several choirs, including the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia. As an educator, Ballentine Erb has taught music at schools in Manhattan, Rosemont (PA), and Bryn Mawr (PA). She was an associate instructor in piano at Indiana University. Emily is an advocate of the Kodály and Orff music teaching methods. She also has Community Theater experience.
Emily has experience as an arts administrator. She worked with Colbert Artists Management in New York City and with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra here in Wilmington.
Andrew Coleman
Building manager
Mary Wilcosky,
Program Administrator
Stephen Fugate
Financial Secretary
George Russell,
Building care assistant, videographer
John Dehart,
Building care assistant
Deacons
Deacons serve the church by ministering to its members. Often, this involves food! These members of the Board of Deacons are also elected for three-year terms, renewable for up to six years' continuous service.
First & Central's current Board of Deacons includes:
Connie Beattie, Brenda Ferris, Nancy Rosario, Jean Wakefield and Rob Wieman (Chair).
The Book of Order provides this definition of deacons:
The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this ministry.