Shared Leadership
In the Presbyterian Church (USA), leadership is shared between Pastors and Elders. Together, they have responsibilities for governance and ministry of the congregation they serve as well as in the church at large, including ecumenical relationships. The body of Elders, elected and ordained by the congregation, is called the Session. The Board of Deacons, also elected and ordained by the congregation, extends the ministry of Christ’s compassion for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the friendless, the grieving, the oppressed, and all who are in distress.
Pastors and Staff
Rev. Dr. Georgia Senor
Associate Pastor, Acting Head of Staff
Rev. Senor was called to serve First Presbyterian Church of Bentonville in October of 2014. Prior to that, she was the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Arkansas, and a chaplain at the VA hospital in Fayetteville. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Phillips Theological Seminary, and her Doctor of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. Rev. Senor grew up Presbyterian in Portland, Oregon. She is married to Tom Senor, a professor at the University of Arkansas. They have three children and six grandchildren.
Rev. Dennis Ritchie
Parish Associate
In the early 90’s Dennis sensed a call to the ministry and attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary from 1995-98 in Austin, TX. Dennis is an ordained Deacon, Elder and Minister in the PC(USA). Dennis has served two churches, 10 years with FPC Claremore, Oklahoma and 12 years with the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista, retiring in 2020. In 2024, Dennis served Holiday Island Presbyterian Church as their part-time interim Pastor. Dennis is married to Carol Ritchie (for 46 years). They have a daughter and son, and two grandsons.
Zinnuh Cooper
Director of My Friends and Me Learning Center
Zinnuh Cooper, better known as Ms. Z, has been a loving and dedicated caregiver for our children at First Presbyterian Church for the past 20 years. Z began serving as Nursery Director/Coordinator in 1999 and the Program Director of My Friends and Me Learning Center, as a founding member, in 2002. Ms. Z has a BA in Human Development and Family Science. She is married with two children and two grandsons. She loves our children (and it shows!) and is now even caring for some second generation FPC and MFM kids and their families.
Katie McKenzie
Director of Children and Youth Ministries
Katie McKenzie has served with FPC Bentonville since the fall of 2020. She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and moved to Michigan to attend Hope College, where she graduated from in 2014. She has served in a variety of different ministry contexts both as a volunteer and as a professional over the past decade. Katie graduated from Western Theological Seminary in April 2022 with her Masters of Divinity. She is currently seeking ordination in the PC(USA) and is a candidate within the Presbytery of Arkansas.
Dalton Henson
Custodian
Zoe Hughes
AV Tech/Media
Session
Clerk of Session: Virginia Breshears
- Class of 2025: David Atwood, Grace Blazer, Rick Harris, Kristi Metzger, and Sue Redfield, Anna Schneringer
- Class of 2026: Hunter Breshears, Kim Dixon, Sherri Holliday-Sklar, Carin Martin, Gary Smyth
- Class of 2027: Cie Cochran, Chase Holloway, Ross Macartney, Lou McAlister, Janice Zoller
Board of Deacons
- Class of 2025: Emily Hill, Sue Ann Overstreet, Marge Richards, John Whiting, Michael Zoller, Nathan Verdoorn
- Class of 2026: Alex Brice, Carol Ritchie, Ruth Sanderson, Marty Verdoorn, Debbie Wilson
- Class of 2027: Linda Freeman, Alicia Hall, Jeff Keeler, Joe Metzger, Celeste Taylor