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Our Pastor - Rev. Jolin Wilks McElroy
Rev. Jolin McElroy is an artist and a pastor. She currently serves as Pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Charlotte, North Carolina since July of 2000.
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Colorado State University in 1990, she intended to paint for a living. The call to ministry challenged her to consider a new direction for her life and her art. In 1995 she enrolled at Lexington Theological Seminary and received her M.Div in 1999. Rev. McElroy has continued to draw and paint while also serving the church in more traditional ways. In addition to gallery shows and auctions, her work has been exhibited at General Assemblies, a Regional Assembly, church social halls, and many sanctuaries. First Christian Church has a display of her pastel portraits of church members lining the walls of the education building. Another exhibit, Holy Communion, a series of watercolor portraits of Disciples of Christ members and leaders, has been traveling the denomination since the Fall of 2004.
Rev. McElroy uses a number of media in her artmaking which include acrylics, oils, watercolors, pastels, pen and ink, and graphite. Because of her dual vocations of art and ministry, she has been a desired speaker on the topic of creativity and spirituality for retreats and workshops. Her most recent endeavor was sketching portraits of 33 children of two Head Start programs for the benefit of their families, sponsored by The Craddock Center in Cherry Log, Georgia.
Prior to accepting the call to her current position, Rev. McElroy served as: Associate Minister to First Christian Church, Falls Church, VA (1998-2000); Chaplain Intern at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, DC (summer of 1998); and Pastor of First Christian Church, Carlisle KY (1995-1998). In addition to her work at First Christian, Rev. McElroy has been active in the life of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the regional level, and was the recipient of a Clergy Renewal Grant from The Lilly Endowment in 2004. Other organizations in which Rev. McElroy has been active include: Crisis Assistance Ministry (2002-present); United Family Services (2001-2006); General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in North Carolina (2001-05); North Carolina Regional Commission on Faith and Understanding (2001-02).
Born in Iowa City, IA, Jolin Wilks McElroy was raised in Mt. Prospect, IL, where her parents Alan and Irvana Wilks still reside. Rev. McElroy currently lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband Tom and their son Thomas Alan.
Our Minister of Music - Jeff Norville
Jeff Norville, Minister of Music is very active in our congregation. Jeff serves as an Elder and also on the Worship Committee. Jeff has been a member of First Christian Church for 13 years and loves every minute of it. He directs the choir at First Christian. Directing this group of people and working with Rev. McElroy and Bonnie Herdt is such a blessing. This group of people has the most talented and loving Christian people he has ever met. What a joy it is to come to rehearsal and church each week and simple "be" with these folks.
Jeff received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pfeiffer College with an emphasis on instrumental. He taught music in the public schools after graduation. Jeff has been involved in Music from an early age. His musical desires come from two sources. His mother, who encouraged him and sang with a gospel quartet for many years, and from his high school band director. Jeff currently is the Tenor section lead for the Opera Carolina Chorus Association and has been singing with them for 14 years. Jeff has been employed with Carolina Healthcare System as an Application Analyst for 9 years.
He was born and raised in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. He has one sister, Teresa, who is also a member of First Christian Church. Jeff feels truly blessed to be able to use his talents in a way that is so pleasing to God and so rewarding.
Our Organist - Matthew Davis
North Carolina pianist Matthew Davis received instruction from The Julliard School alumnus Clifton Matthews and was a nominee for the Fletcher Foundation Scholarship at the North Carolina School of the Arts. He has participated as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra member at numerous functions including the Illuminations Festival 2003 in Manteo, North Carolina.
In addition to his High School Diploma and Bachelor Degree at N.C. School of the Arts, Mr. Davis pursued a collaborative piano independent study under Canadian pianist Allison Gagnon. In 2004, he continued studies as a collaborative pianist at the Brevard Summer Music Festival and participated in master classes held by Ben Heppner, David Effron, and John Greer. As a soloist, he has also performed in master classes held by a few of the great pianists of our time such as Carlos Rodriguez, Emmanuel Ax, Anton Kuerti, and Pascal Rogé.
Subsequent to his training at N.C. School of the Arts, Mr. Davis received additional training from instructors at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor while performing as a soloist, collaborator, and choral pianist.
After returning to North Carolina, Mr. Davis has served as an accompanist at UNC-Charlotte, Williamson’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Opera Carolina and now First Christian Church.