Our Staff at First Central
M. Winston
Baldwin is our Senior Minister and provides for the
spiritual life of the congregation including worship, visitation,
teaching and nurture. Winston has a BA from Georgetown College, and
received his M.Div. from Duke University in 1973. Ordained in 1971,
Winston has served 28 years in parish ministry, as well as serving
as a campus minister. He recently completed a two year term as
Chairperson of the Executive Council for the United Church of
Christ. Winston has been Senior Pastor at First Central for
ten years.
Pipi Peterson is
our Director of Christian Education. Pipi has a BA in History from
UNL, and received her MA in Social Psychology and Communication
Studies from UNL in 1992. She has extensive teaching experience at
both the secondary and college levels. Pipi is also a professional
organizer, and has published 2 books and numerous articles on the
subject. Pipi has been a member of First Central for 37 years, and
an employee in one position or another for many of those years. She
is the creator of our acclaimed Grand Central Stations program,
which is currently beginning the second rotation of our 6 year
curriculum.
Our Minister of Visitation is Jim Harmon. Jim has a Doctor
of
Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary, and has worked
over 30 years in full time ministry. He currently works full time
as an Account Executive for Yellow Book, and part time at First
Central as our Minister of Visitation. Jim calls on our homebound
members, and will also bring communion on request.
Sara Sharpe is our
Church Office Manager. She is a 16 year member of the congregation,
and was a social worker in her life-before-children.
Our Director of Music and Organist is Stephen Bouma. Stephen
is a graduate of
Nebraska Wesleyan University, and holds a MM in piano performance
from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He is the conductor of
the Central High School Men's Chorus, and sings with the Omaha
Chamber Singers. Stephen is also a composer, and has had works
commissioned by Central High School, Hastings High School, and the
Clarion Chamber Chorale.
