First Presbyterian Church of Mineola seeks to be led by the Holy Spirit of the Risen Lord Jesus, which is given by God our Father. We do not seek to be led by human instinct or the latest fad of psychology.

     Within the Presbyterian/Reformed tradition of Biblical interpretation, we choose elders and deacons (Biblical offices) to seek God’s will and to exercise servant leadership.

     Our elders come in two varieties. The larger group is expected to lead, rule, teach and pray. They have historically been called ‘ruling elders,’ and are chosen from the laity (they are not clergy). The smaller ‘group’ consists of trained Biblical preachers and teachers – our pastor(s) – who are concerned with teaching, preaching, praying, sacraments, and fellowship-care. These are ‘teaching elders,’ or more commonly called ‘ministers,’ or clergy.

     Our deacons are also laity, and exercise a specialized care of the membership (and others), based on the example of Book of Acts, chapter 6.

     First Presbyterian Church currently has a board of 6 lay elders plus one minister, which is referred to as “session.” The Board of Deacons has 12 members.

     Since elders and deacons are ordained to life service (although they may serve actively on their respective board for only a part of that time), there is usually a lot of spiritual guidance given to the congregation through people other than those on the boards at a given time.

     For 2010, our session (elder) board consists of these people: 

            V. Chambers             [vacant-resignation]        M. Gustafson              
            C. Lake                                                             L. James
            D. Sleem                    
                                 Rev. Chester J. Easton, moderator

     For 2010, our Board of Deacons consists of these people:
            A. Phillips                  B. Costello                     B. Callahan
            S. Schroeder             H. Eliassen                    E. Caruso - moderator
            J. Ward                     S. Hughes                      D. Dockery
            [vacant]                      V. Sleem                       D. Dixon
 

Staff - Paid and Volunteer - Partial Listing

Church E-mail:       FPCMineola@optonline.net 

Pastor    (full-time)
Rev. Chester J. Easton                         E-mail:  ChetEaston@aol.com 
     * serving First Presbyterian of Mineola since July 1993
     * Bachelor of Music, Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ; 1979
     * Master of Divinity, Princeton Theological Semnary, Princeton, NJ; 1986

Office Coordinator    (part-time)
Robert D. Asbury
     * serving First Presbyterian of Mineola since April 2004
     * Bachelor of Science (Accounting), C. W. Post, Long Island University, Old Brookville, NY; 1971
     * Master of Science in Administration (General Administration), Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI; 1989
     * Certified Public Accountant (NY)

Minister of Music    (part-time)
Dottie Easton
     * serving First Presbyterian of Mineola since July 1993
     * Bachelor of Music, Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ; 1979
     * Master of Arts in Music Education, St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN; 2005

Youth Worker    (part-time)   (sometimes paid, sometimes volunteer)
Dottie Easton
     * serving First Presbyterian of Mineola since July 1993
     * see details above

Sexton    (part-time)
Joseph P.
     * serving First Presbyterian of Mineola since February 2010

Office Support    (volunteer)
Debbie T.

Musical Support    (volunteer)
Carol Ann H., Helen P., Daniel M.