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. Katie Cummings
Pastor
Rev. Cummings has served First Presbyterian Church of Bentonville since March of 2015. In prior calls, she served as Associate Pastor for Adult Ministries at Grace Presbyterian Church, and as Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Congregational Care at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church, both in Houston, Texas. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where she currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Rev. Cummings grew up in Dallas, Texas. She is married to Phil Cummings, a retired attorney. They have one adult daughter.
Rev. Dr. Georgia Senor
Associate Pastor
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 two grandchildren.
Brian Breeding
Director of Music Ministries
On staff at FPC, Bentonville since 2019, Brian has also served in churches in Louisiana, Texas, and California. He received his Bachelors in Music Education from the University of Central Arkansas, a Masters in Music History from the University of Arkansas, and doctoral studies in choral conducting at the University of Iowa. A former educator, he taught public school and at the university level for a total of 14 years. Brian and his wife Vicki live in Bella Vista with their two chihuahuas.
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 Flood
Director of Children and Youth Ministries
Katie Flood grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and moved to Michigan to attend Hope College, where she graduated from in 2014. She spent 2015-2020 serving children, youth, and their families with First Presbyterian Church of Harbor Springs and with Young Life. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Divinity through the Distance Learning program at Western Theological Seminary with the hopes of pursuing ordination in the PC(USA).
Jorge Esparza
Custodian
Kristy Olefsky
Accompanist
Session
not pictured: Tela Webb, Ken Ziervogel, Mike Bender, Linda Freeman, and Cie Cochran
Clerk of Session: Virginia Breshears
- Class of 2022: Harry James, Krystle Foster, Linda Freeman, Cheryl Wright, Arisson Fox
- Class of 2023: Cie Cochran, Kim Dixon, Hunter Breshears, Melissa Monroe, and Ken Ziervogel
- Class of 2024: Mike Bender, Nate Burdick, Josh Johnson, Denny Rogers, and Tela Webb
Board of Deacons
not pictured: Ben Fox, Susannah Neville, Andy Martin, Zach Cade
- Class of 2022: Andy Martin, Susannah Nevill, Gail Rogers, Rebecca Schneringer, John Whiting, Colby Monroe
- Class of 2023: Alex Brice, Ben Fox, Charlotte Macartney, Annette Robek, and Julie Verdoorn
- Class of 2024: Zachary Cade, Ann Dixon, Jayne Roth, Jodi Schneider, Michael Zoller