Joe is in his 14th year at First Congregational UCC. After growing up in Asheville, Joe graduated from UNC-Asheville and later received a master's degree in Christian education at Scarritt Graduate School in Nashville, TN. After working for five years for a church in Charlotte, Joe returned to school and attended Emory University for his master's of divinity from Candler School of Theology. He joined the United Church of Christ and became associate pastor at Central Congregational UCC in Decatur, GA. He was very glad to "come home" to Asheville in 1996. Joe is husband to Noel Nickle, father to Emma Clair, and step-father to Emily and Luke.

Joe loves Asheville with its diversity of people and the mountains. He enjoys being part of the local community, connecting people and ideas together, and working on issues of justice and peace. Joe decided in 2006 that he would no longer legalize heterosexual marriages until he could do the same for all people partnered in mutual, loving, and just relationships.


Shannon Spencer
Associate Pastor
sspencer@uccasheville.org

Shannon comes to FCUCC by way of Santa Cruz, CA, and Rockford, IL, serving churches in both locations. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in special education and began her first career as an assistant coach for college women’s basketball at the Division I level.  Hearing God’s call to ministry, Shannon left the coaching world to attend Duke Divinity School. She is married to the Rev. Heather Spencer, and they are very proud parents of little Abigail. Shannon loves to travel, garden, talk theology, and play all kinds of sports.

Gary Mitchell
Commissioned U.C.C. Minister of Music & Sacred Arts

Gary has been choirmaster/organist at FCUCC since 2006. He holds a B.A in church music and music education from Pfeiffer University and an M.A. in music education from Albany State University. He was a high school choral director in the public schools for 21 years before returning to church music. In addition to his work at FCUCC, Gary is the tenor soloist at Temple Beth HaTephila, teaches general music at Rainbow Mountain School, and is a regular music director at the Asheville Community Theatre. Gary and his partner David, an Evangelical Lutheran pastor, have two grown children, Jason and Michael Dawn.

Judy Slater
Administrative Assistant
jslater@uccasheville.org

Judy hails from Kansas, then California. She is passionate about her family and came to Asheville to be near them. Her professional life has included administrative experiences in psychology, pastoral counseling, mediation, non-profit management, and church office support. Sewing costumes and writing are her secret hobbies.







Penny Parker
Administrative Assistant
pennyp@uccasheville.org