On Sunday, May 12, 2024, the First Presbyterian Church congregation unanimously approved the call of Rev. Rachel N. Klompmaker to serve as our next Associate Pastor for Congregational Care.

Rev. Rachel Klompmaker has spent the last two years as a Lake Fellow at Second Presbyterian in Indianapolis. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Calvin College in 2003, a Master of Arts in Worship from Calvin Theological Seminary in 2007, and her Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in 2020.

Rachel will officially begin on Monday, July 15. There will be a special welcome reception Sunday, July 14 after 11:00am worship. We are thrilled for everyone to get to know her. In the meantime, please watch the video below and read Rachel's full biography and faith statement in her introductory brochure.

Read More About Rachel

About our Associate Pastor Nominating Committee

Craig Long, Chair

1. Tell us about yourself:

My wife, Lynn, and I moved to Spartanburg in 1985 with our three children, Stephen, Meredith, and John. We have one grandson, Will. I have been retired for 7 years.

2. What makes FPCS special to you?

After undergoing a significant health challenge in 2022, FPCS’s response and congregational care has been overwhelming.

3. What brings you joy?

Picking, grinning, and golfing with friends.

Email Craig Long, Chair of APNC

Brandt Goodwin

Tell us about yourself:

Husband of 12 years to Amy. Father of Ellis (11) and Campbell (6). Born, raised, resides, and works in the Burg as a Builder. Wake alum. Army Veteran. 27-year member of FPCS. Served on a previous APNC.

What makes FPCS special to you?

Christ Centered | Servant Leadership| Vision, Mission, & Strategy | Collective Impact | Music

What brings you joy?

Easter, Family, Flourishing Relationships, Serving and Building Up Others, Community Development, WAF

Cheryl Lang

Tell us about yourself:

I have been in Spartanburg for 35 years and am originally from East Tennessee. Wade and I live on the Westside around lots of wildlife. We enjoy feeding and watching the deer that come eat in our yard most every day. I work at Tindall Corporation and have been there for 33 years. I have enjoyed being involved in church activities including work on the Purnell Committee, Diaconate, Cuban Mission Trips, the Holy Cow Survey and now the APNC. My favorite church event was our trip to Israel when David Renick was here. I made lifelong friends and literally got to walk in Jesus' footsteps. WOW!

What makes FPCS special to you?

The people at FPCS make it a home. We have kind, caring and committed members who love the Lord and serve each other. The community outreach is genuine and loving. I look forward to the music each week, especially, when Marcia Andrews lets loose on the organ filling the sanctuary with wondrous sound. It makes me smile!

What simple things bring you joy?

cupcakes with extra icing, my nieces and nephews, helping others, spending time with family and close friends, creating a spreadsheet, laughing until I cry, tennis (most of the time), a hike in the mountains or a walk on the beach.

Donna Pulliam

Tell us about yourself:

I have been married to my husband, Norman, for 26 years, and we are the parents of two wonderful children, Caroline (who went to heaven ahead of us in 2020 after a 17 year battle with mitochondrial disease) and Andy (who is a senior in high school and inspires us with his creativity, his sense of humor, and his kindness). I work part-time for Dunbar Construction Company and enjoy co-leading a weekly Bible study at FPCS for younger women in our congregation.

What makes FPCS special to you?

So much has happened since we joined FPCS in 1997, both in the life of our family and in the life of this church. FPCS is special to me because of the many rich relationships I’ve been blessed to cultivate here and the repeated, loving reminders from my Christian brothers and sisters that God has not and will not let us go.

What brings you joy?

Boat rides at sunset with family - long walks with friends - singing really loud to favorite songs - cheeseburgers - sitting by the fire on the porch when the weather turns chilly

Josh Thompson

Tell us about yourself:

My wife, Beth, and I have been members of FPCS for the last decade. We have enjoyed raising our two sons, Caleb (21) and Tate (6) at FPCS. I am a partner with the Boulier Thompson & Barnes law firm in downtown Spartanburg where I specialize in defending and providing support to health care providers. Within FPCS, I enjoy serving on the Diaconate and serving as the Pack Committee Chair of our Church’s Cub Scout Pack.

What makes FPCS special to you?

Beth and I have rooted our family in FPCS because it is a Church that strives to open our doors to all and serve our community. Our church members volunteer in every facet of the community, including my wife’s work in a local non-profit focusing on improving educational outcomes for our public schools. Our Church members show God’s love by rolling up their sleeves and going to work for their neighbors.

What brings you joy?

Helping my clients through tough challenges, volunteering with our local recreational baseball league, watching my wife working tirelessly to help improve local education, collecting baseball cards with my youngest son, and seeing my oldest son after he has been away at college for months.

Linda West

Tell us a little about yourself:

I've been a member of FPCS for approximately 25 years. After 30 years of service, I retired several years ago as the Community Relations/Regional Fellows Leadership Program Coordinator at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. I'm a Stephen Minister and enjoy volunteering at church and in the community, walking daily with friends, and taking trips to the NC mountains.

What makes FPCS special to you?

I love how FPCS welcomes all to come, worship, and fellowship together as a faith-filled congregation through bible study, recreational, and mission-driven activities for all ages, representing God's love and faithfulness to a community and world craving care and connection.

What brings you joy?

The friendships I have made over the years at FPCS are truly a blessing to me. Worshipping and socializing with friends each week, being available for each other during good and challenging times, and knowing that our church serves as God's heart and hands among our congregation and beyond fills me with joy and gives me hope that each individual can make a positive, meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Elizabeth Young

Tell us a little about yourself:

I am a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church. I work in my husband’s family business. We raised our children here and I have six beautiful grandchildren.

What makes FPCS special to you?

All of my life events have happened here. My baptism, marriage, my children’s baptisms, and family funerals were at First Presbyterian. I love the special services we have. The music is always beautiful. I also love our beautiful campus.

What brings you joy?

Spending time with my family brings me the most joy. I love it when we are all together. Our homes are far apart, so it is always special to me when we can all be together.