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Meet Our Pastors

Reverend Dr. Andrew Chaney, Senior Pastor

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​The Chaney family is so glad to be called here to First & Calvary. My wife Christine and I have three children, Luke, age 11, Caroline, age 7, and Anderson, age 6.  Our family enjoys playing games, making art and music, taking adventures together, being outdoors and playing most sports. We enjoy reading and saying prayers together before mealtime and before bed. We help each other and depend upon each other for love and support.

Christine grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and I grew up in Livingston, Alabama, and as God brought Springfield into our view, we realized its charm—the best of those two worlds—what a great place to be! Growing up the son of a Presbyterian minister brought the blessing of the church becoming my extended family. Christine and I praise the Lord that our children will be nurtured by the many nice Presbyterians of First & Calvary.

I received a B.A. from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and a MLS from the University of Tennessee.  I received the M.Div. at Princeton Theological Seminary and D.Min. at Columbia Theological Seminary.  I have many Presbyterian ministers in my family.  My grandfather, father, mother, and brother are also ministers!  I served as Senior Minister of the beautiful suburban Chicago church, Kenilworth Union Church, before being called here to First & Calvary.

God may be calling you to serve at First & Calvary, too, maybe in a new way, or maybe by just turning up your commitment a notch. God does have a plan for you. It is much bigger than you can imagine. Wherever you are on your faith journey, know that God’s plan is unfolding day by day.  Discovering that fact is the first step to finding true meaning in life.

Participating in ministry is a vital part of that discovery. Your church family at First & Calvary depends upon you to become more involved in ministry. “What are you calling me to do, Lord?” is a question we should ask regularly in prayer and with each other. Let us celebrate the opportunities to grow as a family of faith by working together for the glory of God.
 

Greg Ellis, Associate Pastor

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I grew up and spent most of my life in Texas before God finally brought me to Springfield in 2007 to serve First & Calvary as Associate Pastor. I have always loved school, learning and variety, so it may come as no surprise that my college and graduate school studies happened at a parade of schools—Texas A&M, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Baylor University, the University of Texas School of Law, and then later Regent College (in Canada!) and Austin Seminary. (Yes, I do sometimes get confused as to whether I am an Aggie, a Roadrunner, a Bear, or a Longhorn.)

I also love God and love people. After ten years of law practice in Texas, our Lord nudged me to become a pastor (and now I describe myself a “recovering lawyer”). I find the fact that I am a pastor to be good proof of God’s existence and robust sense of humor. Now I spend my days preaching, teaching, counseling, baptizing, marrying, burying and everything in between. You can find me (and I hope you will!) most days at the office reading, writing, praying, and trying to maintain the illusion that I’m keeping pace with the many wonderful people and projects I am blessed to work with here. As associate pastor for this large and vital congregation, I have enjoyed broad responsibilities in all areas of the church’s ministries, including our Missions, Evangelism, and Member Care areas.

For fun, I enjoy all kinds of sports and exercise. When I get to run, bike, hike, or play tennis while enjoying the beauty of the Ozarks, I know that I have arrived home indeed.

Lucia Oerter, Interim Associate Pastor

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I am happy to join the F&C PC family after serving three interims in Kentucky and Illinois. Before my Interim work, I served as the Associate Pastor for Family Ministries at First-Meridian Heights Presbyterian Church (FMHPC) in Indianapolis. During my 9 ½ years at FMHPC, the Spirit breathed into life, a new alternative worship service that brought new, and renewed, spiritual life to a congregation that was slowly dying. Being in the groundwork, the groaning, and the growth of FMHPC during the time of their taking huge risks, was one of the best guides for ministry. I also served as Director of Communications for the Synod of Alaska Northwest.

I am originally from Indianapolis, but have moved many times since then. My husband, John, is also a Presbyterian minister and is the interim Interim Pastor at Southern Heights Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. We have six children and eight grandchildren between us. Some of my favorite things are family, friends, retreats, sewing creations, and fly-fishing with John.

I am passionate about taking the gospel message out to others in creative and unique ways and passionate about helping people talk about their faith. I send out electronically over 700 E-Votionals (daily devotionals) to readers each day. If you are interested in receiving these E-Votionals, just let me know! I feel blessed to minister with the F&C PC family as we serve Christ together.

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