Welcome to
Northminster Church
Leadership
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Rev. Jillian Hankamer
Senior Pastor
Jillian has the reputation for being called to pastor and being creative, thoughtful, sensitive, empathetic, and collaborative. She previously served as the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lewisburg, PA, a congregation founded in 1844 and affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA. She served there from 2018 to 2022. From 2012 to 2017 she served as Associate Pastor for Youth at Kirkwood Baptist Church in St. Louis, an Alliance of Baptists’ partner congregation.
Jillian grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas where she was active in Austin Heights Baptist Church, also an Alliance of Baptists’ partner congregation. She received a Bachelor of Social Work degree at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches and her Master of Divinity degree from The McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta.
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy
Pastor Emeritus
Dr. Gaddy served as senior pastor of Northminster for over 24 years, retiring in 2016. Author of over 20 books, he is also the former president of the Interfaith Alliance in Washington DC. Weekly, Dr. Gaddy hosts State of Belief, a radio show and podcast on the place of religion in the life of the United States. Dr. Gaddy is recognized as a leading advocate for protecting the boundaries between religion and government. Dr. Gaddy received his undergraduate degree from Union University in Tennessee and his doctoral degree and divinity training from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Among his many leadership roles, he is a past President of the Alliance of Baptists. He has been a member of the Commission of Christian Ethics of the Baptist World Alliance for over two decades. His past leadership roles include serving as a member of the General Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, President of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Chair of the Pastoral Leadership Commission of the Baptist World Alliance and member of the World Economic Forum’s Council of 100.
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy passed away in June 2023. You may access the following information here:
Dr. Deborah Chandler
Minister of Music
Debi accepted the call to service as Minister of Music in 2006. She has a rich experience of leadership in church music, having served as the Minister of Music for 18 years in a Presbyterian church in Tallahassee, Florida. She holds a Ph.D. in conducting from Florida State University and is retired from the the faculty of the University of Louisiana at Monroe as Director of Choral Activities. She now holds the title of Professor Emeritus. Additionally, Debi is musical director and conductor for the Bayou Masterworks Chorus and host of Vocal Vibes on KEDM radio and works with Mid-American / International Productions as guest conductor.
Dr. D.H. Clark
Organist and Musician in Residence
D.H. is a founding member of Northminster and began serving as the church as Director of Music in 1997. He recently retired from a long career as a physician with the Women's Clinic of Monroe-West Monroe, and has served as organist/director of music at Parkview Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, and St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Monroe. During his military service, he served as organist at the base chapel at Scott Air Force Base in St. Louis. Dr. Clark is the founder of the Masterworks Chorus, Monroe's community chorus, and was its music director for 12 years.
Dr. Diana Thacher
Pianist, Music Associate
Diana joined the Northminster staff in September 2026. She is an Assistant Professor of Piano at ULM where she teaches piano pedagogy, class piano, applied and collaborative piano. She graduated from LSU with a Doctorate of Musical Arts and a Master of Musical Arts from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her awards include 1st place prize winner of the Concerto Competition in 2019 at LSU, 1st at the International Syberian Piano Competition in Russia as well as 2nd at the International Chamber Music Competition there. She has performed with many symphony orchestras world wide including the US, China, Russia, Germany, France, Canada, and Central Asia .Diana has held positions at Loyola University in New Orleans, Boise State University, and the San Francisco Opera. She is the proud mother to a teenaged daughter.
Miss Renee Decker
Administrative Assistant
Renee joined the Northminster staff in 2016. She is a graduate of ULM with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, and served as an Investigator for the District Attorney's Office, and a Narcotics Investigator for the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Department (MPSO). She was a founding member of the Louisiana Sheriff's Associations Narcotics Task Force as well as the MPSO Narcotics Division and the North Louisiana Drug Enforcement Bureau. After leaving law enforcement, Renee worked sixteen years with International Paper where she served as the Louisiana Mill's Export Shipment Planner before the mill's closure in 2009. She enjoys singing and playing percussion and trumpet with her band, Homegrown, going on cruises, and taking trips to the beach.
Coordinating Council and Commissions
Northminster puts a high value on lay-leadership. The various expressions of our ministry are led by the following commissions.
The Coordinating Council
The Coordinating Council is responsible for the engage in a fellowship of worship, witness, education, ministry and missions, as well as financial and business affairs.
This year, it is made up of:
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JK Kimble (C)
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Craig Henry (VC)
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Pearson Cross (S)
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Ann Aro
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Chels King
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Carol Ann Tubbs
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Baron Brandon
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Peggy Burns
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Beth Ingram
Worship
The Worship Commission is responsible for interpreting the worship needs of the congregation and assisting the staff in fulfilling those needs.
This year, it is made up of:
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Craig Henry (C)
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Patti Pate (VC)
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Peggy Burns (S)
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Marilyn Decker
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Charles Creech
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Gail Blackman
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Chels King
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Patren Spicer
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Brandy Keen
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Cheri Leger
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Marleigh Keen
Missions
The Missions Commission is responsible for helping members identify and act upon their unique gifts for ministry.
This year, it is made up of:
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Missy Spicer (C, S)
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Danielle Legerp (VC)
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Mara Loeb
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Baron Brandon
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Charlene Medders
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Laura Duke
Properties
The Properties Commission is responsible for the upkeep of the church's property.
This year, it is made up of:
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Tiffany Smith (C,S)
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Shelby Sheppard (VC)
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Robert Crawford
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Charles Creech
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Susan Curry
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Al Peterson
Hospitality
The Hospitality Commission is responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising the hospitality element of fellowship activities
This year, it is made up of:
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Brandy Keen (C)
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Patren Spicer (VC)
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Amanda Burchart (S)
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Joye Young
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JoAnn Alley
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Barbara Thompson
Education / Arts
The Education Commission is responsible for assisting the ministerial staff in creating spaces for education, arts and faith formation.
This year, it is made up of:
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Beth Mayfield (C)
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Ann Aro (VC)
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Naomi Kilpatrick (S)
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J. K. Kimble
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JoAnn Alley
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Susan Curry
Family Ministries
The Family Ministries Commission is responsible for organizing and equipping members of the Northminser community to minister to each other.
This year, it is made up of:
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Darby Miles (C)
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Whitney King (VC)
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Ann Aro (S)
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Cathy Webb
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Hannah Clark
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Pat Hayes
Flower Committee
The Flower Committee is responsible for decorating and design of the sanctuary and floral offerings.
This year, it is made up of:
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Marilyn Decker (C)
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Robert Crawford
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Susan Curry
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Peggy Burns