Our Pastors
Rev. C. Kyle Gott
Lead Pastor
The Reverend C. Kyle Gott's family hails from Raton, New Mexico. But when he was 8 years old, his family moved to La Jolla, California where he became a stand-out student athlete in wrestling, football, and track. Growing up in sunny California, he also found time to surf at some of the world-famous beaches right down the street from his house.
In 1995, he earned a BA in Religious Studies from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. The following year, he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Religion, also from Lipscomb U. In 2001, he returned to California to begin seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, but completed his M. Div. at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville in 2006, the year he was ordained by the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee.
Kyle served as pastor of the rural Milldale Presbyterian Church, Cross Plains, Tennessee, from 2004-2009 and then First Presbyterian Church, Gallatin, Tennessee, from 2009 to 2016. He also chaired the New Church Development Committee of The Presbytery of Middle Tennessee visioning and helping coalesce support for what would become New Creation Church in Hendersonville Tennessee.
Kyle’s call to Christian service was evident early in his life but he envisioned himself serving in medical missions or music and youth ministry as opposed to being the pastor of a local church. While in college and afterward he worked in church youth ministry in non-denominational churches. This all changed when he sensed and answered the call to ordained pastoral leadership in the PCUSA, following a theological transformation during his graduate studies in New Testament.
In addition to his preaching, Kyle is a talented songwriter, and he has led music for Saddleback Church’s Celebrate Recovery, Presbytery meetings, and also helped found and produce the roots group Merging Blue, featuring George Pendergrass. Kyle was a staff songwriter for BMG gospel music publishing/Final Four Music for several years all while serving churches in Nashville. He believes an important part of his calling is to support the church toward deeper creative development. Kyle has lead “Created to Create” classes for many years, helping launch a Creative Arts Center while in Gallatin, Tennessee, and has been able to develop some of these same forms of ministry here in York. Kyle’s three children Nathan, Ellie, and Nora, are all three gifted musicians and creators too.
Kyle enjoys fly-fishing, writing fiction, guitar restoration, wood working, audio engineering/production, and lyric/music composition.
Rev. Katie Rosenson
Associate Pastor for Families, Youth, & Innovative Worship
Katie was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago where she grew up alongside two older sisters in an interfaith family. As a teenager, she was very active in the life of her church. Katie received her call to ordained ministry as a high school student and is currently in the final steps of the ordination process.
Katie received her BA in English and Philosophy of Religion from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. During college, Katie interned in several churches across the country doing all sorts of ministry including children, youth, adult education, and pastoral care. After college, Katie attended Princeton Theological Seminary where she received her Master of Divinity. During seminary, Katie worked for a year and a half as Program Coordinator and Social Media Manager at a large church in Scottsdale, AZ. For two years, she also served as the Youth Leader, then the Children’s Ministry Lead at a smaller church in Hopewell, NJ. After seminary, Katie served for a year and a half as Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries at a small church in South Pasadena, CA.
Katie enjoys reading American fiction, eating delicious food (especially Indian food and chicken tenders), playing with dogs, songwriting, and taking walks (often to Starbucks).
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Rev. Dr. Betsy McCormick
Bridge Pastor
Betsy currently serves as a staff chaplain at Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center in Harrisburg. Betsy completed extensive courses and clinical experience as a chaplain through the Clinical Pastoral Education programs at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hampton VA Medical Center, and WellSpan York Hospital.
She served 20 years as a pastor in Presbyterian churches in Western Pennsylvania and Western Maryland and, most recently, with First Presbyterian Church in Bloomsburg. She served 14 years as a mission coworker of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a Professor of Theological Studies at Nile Theological College in Khartoum, Sudan.
Betsy and her transgender spouse Mary Amy have been married for 37 years. They still enjoy good Sudanese food, explore the outdoors, and actively advocate for the inclusion of LGBTQ followers of Jesus in the church.
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Rev. Chris Blackford
Bridge Pastor
Chris grew up in northern New Jersey with her two siblings. After attending Elizabethtown College, where she earned a BS degree in Biology, she met her husband, Nate, whose family introduced her to the Presbyterian Church. After marriage in 1973, they joined Eastminster PC and raised three children, Sarah, Meghan, and Adam. God's persistence and nudges started early in life, yet God patiently waited. Years later, after a pastor suggested attending seminary to expand her biblical knowledge, her call to God's service became clear.
Chris received her M.Div. from Lancaster Theological Seminary, where she was a recipient of the Rev. Thomas W. Rhoads award for excellence in Biblical Interpretation in the Old Testament. She served Wrightsville Presbyterian Church for 15 years and is now honorably retired. Chris brings a passion for her God-given creativity that covers a wide variety of forms, from tactile projects to visitations to worship. She is excited to offer her gifts to First Presbyterian Church during this transitional period. Chris is a longtime resident of York with her husband and their dog, Oliver. She enjoys knitting, crafting, puzzling, and playing piano and guitar. Chris spends time with her four grandchildren and takes trips to explore the national parks to experience God's wondrous creation.
Our Staff
Elizabeth Lauer
Director of Caring Ministry
Elizabeth was born and raised in York, marrying her High School sweetheart, Nate, after earning dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary and Special Education. While living in Missouri and Texas – to fulfill Nate’s military service commitment – Elizabeth taught Elementary School and volunteered in various military community and family service groups. After moving back to the York area, Elizabeth and Nate started a family, having two daughters. Elizabeth transitioned from working in education to the nonprofit community after having children. She continues to volunteer in her daughters’ schools, planning events and fundraising activities. Throughout her childhood years and into adulthood, Elizabeth’s passion to serve others has only strengthened. Each life experience has built upon her faith foundation, and she continually strives to learn and grow each day.
Wendy Smith
Director of Spiritual Formation
Wendy is a trained Spiritual Director having received her training at the Kavanna House in York. She is passionate about creating space for people to grow spiritually whether it is through spiritual direction, friendship groups, or Godly play. She and her husband have three grown daughters and five grandchildren. In her free time she enjoys reading, going to the gym, spending time in nature and loving her grandchildren.
Daniel Brownell
Director of Music Ministry
Originally from South-Central Connecticut, Dan is a versatile professional musician who has quite literally done it all. He has nearly 15 years of professional experience as a church music director and organist, over 10 years as a licensed professional music educator, and years of experience as a performance artist, music composer and arranger. Most recently, he’s gained limited experience in acoustic engineering, video editing, and livestreaming tech development. He holds degrees from Ithaca College (Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Organ/Sacred Music) and the University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music (Master of Music Education and Conducting), and comes to FPC York after over seven years as Minister of Music at First UCC in Milford, CT. At FPC, Dan leads the music ensemble program, collaborates frequently with youth music initiatives, plays organ and piano for worship and concert functions, leads the concert series, assists with the development of the contemporary worship service, and engages in the broader long-term vision of the Music Ministry as it in interdependently related to the long-term vision of FPC itself. In his spare time, Dan enjoys reading, writing music, hiking, and being out in nature. Dan met his wife Amy while they were at Ithaca College, and they reside in West York. Dan teaches private music instruction in a number of areas and instruments. If you are interested, contact him for more information.
Stephanie Auker
Director of Children’s Programs
After spending 20 years in the fundraising and event planning fields, Stephanie came to FPC in 2018 to work with the children's programs. In her free time she enjoys reading, traveling, and going on adventures with her two boys - husband Adam and son Luke.
Cindy Fields
Business Administrator
Before joining FPC’s staff in January of 2019, Cindy spent 21 years as a professional photographer. She has been married to her husband Dan for 32 years and has 2 children and 7 grandchildren that she loves spending time with. Her time so far at FPC has been some of the most enjoyable and fulfilling years of her life.
Kyle Gorin
Director of Communications and Media
Originally a native of Selinsgrove, PA, Kyle found his way to York after meeting his future wife at Wesley Forest, a camp ministry that he holds near to his heart. Kyle’s experience working in this ministry has well-prepared him for working creatively while serving the Lord. He is a graduate of Messiah University with a degree in Film and Media Arts. When he’s not making videos or watching movies, you can find Kyle spending time at his family’s cottage outside of Huntingdon, PA or cheering on Penn State at a football game.
Keishla Luciano
Caring Ministry Administrative Assistant
Keishla is the Caring Ministry’s Administrative Assistant and helping others is very important to her. She loves working at the Caring Ministry and hopes to continue to do it as long as she can. “I will always serve you with a smile on my face.”
Rachel Kretsch
Ministry Assistant
Before coming to FPC, Rachel worked as a waitress, cook, and in the HR department at Waffle House restaurants in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania for 12 years. There she met her husband, Matt. They have 4 wonderful kids together and enjoy anything outdoors, animals, crafts, and science related. Rachel is excited to be back in a position serving the community after being a stay-at-home mom for the last several years.
Cindy Lobach
Accountant
Cindy was born a long time ago in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It took her 17 years to graduate from college with a degree in accounting. In the meantime, she enjoyed working in various positions, mostly accounting and bookkeeping. She is married to Jeff Lobach, and the couple has 3 ½ sons (the ½ is not biological, but still their son) and three granddaughters. Cindy is part owner/operator of 20 Red Robin restaurants and 4 Wingstop restaurants. She enjoys volunteering, family, traveling (anywhere, anytime), golfing, doing genealogy research for families, camping, hiking, sewing, and quilting.
Amy Brownell
Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator
Amy grew up in Reading, PA, where she was active in her church and playing oboe in music ensembles around the county. She continued to pursue her musical interests while earning a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College and a Master of Music Therapy from Shenandoah University. After she and her husband Dan got married, they lived in Connecticut, where she worked as a board certified music therapist in a private practice for nine years. She is now happy to call York her home, and she has enjoyed being welcomed into the FPC family. Amy specializes in using music and other creative arts to help children grow and develop while learning new artistic skills. In her second year at York, she completed the Childhood Development Associate Credential. She is excited to make music and the arts more accessible and build community relationships through outreach programs at FPC. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her family, going for hikes, completing jigsaw puzzles, and reading.
Miles McLoughlin
Facility Support Supervisor
Miles has extensive building maintenance with Sheetz as well as Sight and Sound Theatre. He is a big fan of Science Fiction and enjoys listening to Podcasts.
Eric M. Chase
Interim Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Eric met his wife Ellen who co-leads youth & young adult ministry and fellowship there. They started dating their senior year in Highschool way back in 1983. Eric has been ordained as a deacon, ruling elder, and is a candidate for ordination as a teaching elder minister of the word and sacrament in the PCUSA. Eric holds multiple degrees including an A.A. in Communications, B.A in Psychology, a M.S. in Counseling Education, and a M.Div. in Theology from Lancaster Theological Seminary. Eric works full-time as the President /CEO of the Children’s Aid Society, Southern PA District Church of the Brethren, a para church ministry and 501 (c) 3 non profit organization. He has over 35 years experience in the Non Profit sector. He and Ellen are the proud parents of two adult son’s Andrew (30) & Luke (26) and grandparents to two grandsons Henry (2) and Stetson (2 months). The Chase’s live in York Township with Ellen’s 96 year old mother Dorothy Stipp since 2010 when they moved from Mountoursville, PA and joined FPC. Eric has served FPC in many ministry capacities including ruling Elder, Director of Youth Ministry, Pastoral Associate, Youth Coordinator, Youth Leader, Chair of the Youth Advisory Board, committee member of the strategic visioning team, other church committees, a Sunday school teacher, and confirmation mentor. Eric & Ellen are humbled and honored to serve our church and youth in this ministry call!
Mitzy Laboy
Caring Ministry Administrative Assistant
Mitzy started at the Caring Ministry in 2020 as a volunteer helping occasionally through the COVID pandemic. Now, she is part of the Caring Ministry team as an Administrative Assistant. Prior to her time at the Caring Ministry, Mitzy was a volunteer for various nonprofit organizations in Puerto Rico. She is glad to be a part of the mission to help others in need and looks forward to continuing that work!