Rev. Dr. Kimberleigh Buchanan, Senior Minister
Kim joins First Congregational UCC as its Senior Minister after serving 16 years as a pastor in Georgia. She is thrilled about moving to North Carolina, to Asheville, and to First Congregational UCC! Growing up Southern Baptist, where women weren’t ordained, it took Kim a while to discern her call to pastoral ministry. Her first vocation was teaching elementary school music. Then she went to seminary—to become a children’s minister (because that’s all she’d ever seen women do in the church). It was during her time at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, that Kim finally was able to respond to God’s call to pastoral ministry. Because of her own experiences of exclusion in the church and those of many others who live on the margins, Kim preaches and seeks to live the good news that God’s love is for every human being. She understands loving others to involve doing whatever is within one’s power to “act others into wellbeing.” Kim eagerly joins First Congregational UCC in its work of acting the world into wellbeing in God’s name! Joining her in the move to Asheville are Kim’s patient spouse, Allen Mullinax, and their two less-patient cats, Dayo and Gracie.
pastor@uccasheville.org
pastor@uccasheville.org
Yolanda Adams, Ministry Coordinator
Yolanda hails from Kingston, Jamaica and after attending college in Minnesota, sought warmer weather and moved to Florida where she started a long and successful career in Retail and Travel Management. She moved to Greensboro, NC, in 1995, where she found a dynamic church in which she became very involved with. She sang in both the large church choir and a small women's quartet, and was a part of the Spiritual Gifts Assessment Team. After moving to Asheville, she visited many churches, but did not find the right fit until she drove by First Congregational one day and saw the RED DOORS to the Sanctuary that beckoned her. That was four years ago and during that time she has been involved in various activities in the church, such as Choir and Joyful Voices, and has led and organized the Annual Church Retreat. Yolanda was added to the staff as Ministry Coordinator. Yolanda has what seems to be world's largest yellow Labrador, Bailey, two cats, Minx and Pete, and loves to read, cook , travel and discover new places to take Bailey on long drives. ministry@uccasheville.org
Kevin Bryant, Director of Music and Organist
Kevin has been involved with music since the age of five when he started taking piano lessons at church. He started playing the organ at the age of twelve. He is a graduate of T.C. Roberson High in Asheville, Brevard College, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He has worked in church music since 1985, heading up music programs and playing the organ in different denominations and church sizes ranging from 100 to 5000 members. He has worked with vocal, handbell, and instrumental choirs and ensembles. He is a member and past Dean of the Western North Carolina Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He has a passion for church music and likes to use the gifts God has given him for God's glory. Kevin has and continues to tour performing organ and piano recitals and dedications. bkevin16@yahoo.com.
Anthony Sumner, Building and Grounds Keeper
Anthony Sumner's work as Building and Grounds Keeper includes custodial care and maintenance of the church campus, set up and clean up for church activities, as well as safety and security for the building. Anthony will be available to assist the many
community groups who meet in the church for any emergencies or security issues. In addition to his job here at FCUCC, Anthony has his own yard and lawn service. He and his wife Krista are the very proud parents of two teenage boys, Mathew and Morgan.
He can be found in the office early every morning and in the afternoons, Monday through Thursday. aksmm@charter.net
community groups who meet in the church for any emergencies or security issues. In addition to his job here at FCUCC, Anthony has his own yard and lawn service. He and his wife Krista are the very proud parents of two teenage boys, Mathew and Morgan.
He can be found in the office early every morning and in the afternoons, Monday through Thursday. aksmm@charter.net
Nadine Hamby, Coordinator of Everything Else
Nadine has over 20 years experience organizing, coordinating and juggling a zillion different projects at the same time. While she grew up in western Washington, her roots are here in western North Carolina. She built a website about her family genealogy, writes a gardening blog and studies computer technology whenever her dog and cat will let her to sit down for a few minutes.
She is in the office from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. admin@uccasheville.org
She is in the office from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. admin@uccasheville.org