Meet the Leadership!
Behind every service we provide is a dedicated team of professionals, each bringing their unique expertise and enthusiasm to our worship together.
The Session
The Session is the governing body of Greenway Presbyterian Church. Made up of elected ruling elders together with the pastor, the Session provides spiritual leadership and helps oversee the ministry, mission, and day-to-day life of the congregation. Each elder is given a specific part of the church's mission to oversee, usually through a corresponding committee chaired by that elder, and they report back to the full session.
Meet the members of our Session:
✠ LOIS CLARK – MISSION & CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
✠ TOM GIBSON - PROPERTY
✠ LYNN HENNESSEE– OUTREACH & MISSION
✠ CINDY OWENS – FELLOWSHIP & WORSHIP
✠ DEE STRICKLAND -FINANCE & PERSONNE
✠ SUSAN MCFARLAND – CLERK OF SESSION & WORSHIP
Together, our pastor and Session seek to lead with faithfulness, humility, and a spirit of service as we follow Christ and serve our neighbors.
Pastor
Currently, Greenway is searching for its next installed pastor, but the pulpit is being supplied by ministers within the denomination.
A History of Greenway
Greenway Presbyterian Church’s story reaches back through several congregations and generations of ministry in Caldwell County. Its roots lie in the mission work of First Presbyterian Church of Lenoir, which helped establish Presbyterian communities at Valmead, Fairview, and Whitnel. Beattie Memorial Presbyterian Church was organized at Valmead in 1924, carrying forward a name associated with an earlier Presbyterian mission at Patterson. Fairview Presbyterian Church was organized on May 4, 1930, followed by Whitnel Presbyterian Church on October 9, 1949.
In 1965, Beattie Memorial and Whitnel joined together to form United Presbyterian Church, establishing a shared home on Pennell Street. United and Fairview continued their ministries as separate congregations for decades before drawing closer through shared pastoral leadership, worship, and fellowship.
On January 1, 2023--under the leadership of the Rev. Leah Epps--Fairview and United merged to become Greenway Presbyterian Church, worshiping in the former United church building. Today, Greenway carries forward the heritage of Beattie Memorial, Whitnel, Fairview, and United as one church family, rooted in the Reformed tradition and looking ahead with faith, hope, and a commitment to serving our neighbors.
The Presbyterian Church U.S.A
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) traces its roots to the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s, particularly the work of John Calvin in Geneva and John Knox in Scotland. Grounded in the Reformed tradition, Presbyterian faith emphasizes God’s grace, the authority of Scripture, and leadership shared by ministers and elected elders.
Scottish, Scots-Irish, and English immigrants brought Presbyterianism to America, establishing the first American presbytery in Philadelphia in 1706. The first General Assembly met in 1789. Over the following centuries, Presbyterians founded churches, schools, and ministries while experiencing divisions over theology, slavery, and the Civil War.
The present Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was formed in 1983 through the reunion of two major branches separated since the Civil War era. Today, the denomination continues its commitment to thoughtful faith, meaningful worship, education, and service, seeking to reflect the love of Jesus Christ through compassion, justice, and welcome.
Click here to learn more about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The Presbytery of Western North Carolina
The Presbytery of Western North Carolina is a regional body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) serving congregations and communities across western North Carolina. The Presbytery supports and connects local churches through worship, ministry, mission, leadership development, pastoral care, and congregational support. Together, its churches seek to strengthen the ministry of Christ in their communities while encouraging collaboration, service, and faithful engagement with the world around them. Click here to be linked to their website.
