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First Central
Presbyterian Church
A PC(USA) church on Rodney Square
Wilmington, Delaware
Staff and Leadership
Staff
Rev. Dr. Randall T. Clayton, Bridge Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Randall T. Clayton is serving as First & Central’s bridge pastor through December 31, 2025. As bridge pastor, Rev. Clayton will provide continuity while we undertake a search for a transitional pastor. He will prepare and lead worship, moderate Session, address staff needs, provide pastoral care in emergencies, and work with the congregation to address concerns.
Over a long career in ministry, Rev. Clayton has served congregations in parish ministry and held
leadership positions in the nonprofit world. He’s completed training for transitional, or interim, ministry and has concentrated recently on serving in transitional positions. Rev. Clayton served for several years as interim pastor and head of staff at Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church in Hockessin, followed by three years as interim pastor and head of staff at Second Presbyterian Church in Baltimore. Until April 30, 2025, he served as bridge associate pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. Contact Randy at randy@firstandcentral.org.
Emily Ballentine Erb, Director of Music Ministries
Emily Ballentine Erb is an accomplished musician and educator specializing in keyboard
and choral performance. She graduated in 2025 with her Master of Music in Organ Performance
and Sacred Music from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, in the studio of Janette
Fishell. Emily previously earned her Master of Arts in Music Education from Columbia
University’s Teachers College; over the course of her teaching career, Emily taught classes in
general music, chorus, band, and handbells to students in PreK through 12th grade in New York
and Pennsylvania, and taught piano classes for undergraduates at Indiana University. Before
her time at IU, Emily studied piano performance with Eric Ruple and Gabriel Dobner at James
Madison University and was an active collaborative pianist during her term of study. She has
studied conducting with Walter Huff and sung in choirs under the direction of Dominic DiOrio,
Mitos Andaya Hart, Paul Rardin, and Alan Harler; she has studied organ performance, history,
and practice with Chris Young, Jeffrey Smith, Thomas Marshall, Christine Clewell, and Michael
Krentz. She has performed in master classes with John-Paul Sevilla, Damin Spritzer, and Emile
Naoumoff. Emily has also been active as music and vocal director for several music theatre
organizations, and has accompanied Grammy-winning choral ensemble NOTUS and
Tony-winner Rupert Holmes in performance.
Emily was previously Director of Music at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Conshohocken,
PA, and Minister of Music at Advent Lutheran Church in New York, NY. The daughter of a
Lutheran pastor and a music teacher, church music has been a life-long calling and she is
grateful to make music for the glory of God with the community at First & Central.
Andrew Coleman
Building manager
Mary Wilcosky,
Program Administrator
Stephen Fugate
Financial Secretary
George Russell,
Building care assistant, videographer
John Dehart,
Building care assistant
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 members are: Patty Irwin, Ellen Oiler, Mark Olson, Ellen Roberts (Treasurer), Jesse Rodgers, Sarah Ryan, David Teager and Karl Zipf. Jeanette Zipf is the 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.
Deacons
Deacons serve the church by ministering to its members. 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, Beth Fulda, Brenda Ferris, Lynne Moody, Julie Swanson, 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.