Leadership

Rev. Scott Simpson

Associate Pastor of Congregational Care

Empowered by God’s love in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, Scott Simpson is excited to share Christ’s love for him by caring for God’s people at First Pres. Scott’s ministry focuses on caring and nurturing for the congregation at large; providing Christian guidance and support and overseeing the church deacons and the Stephen Ministers in their service to those who are sick, in need, friendless or in distress. He is passionate about fostering hope and healing in people by caring for them through their struggles. He also enjoys training people to use their spiritual gifts for caregiving. Scott previously served as the Senior Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Topeka, Kansas.

An Edna Gladney Adoption Home baby, Scott grew up in Dimmitt, Texas. He graduated with a B.S. from Texas Tech University and an M.Div. from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He loves gardening, gourmet cooking, reading, bird feeding, and bird watching. He is married to Suzanne and together they have three children: Samuel, Zachary, and Joshua.

Rev. Dr. Joe Moore

Assistant Pastor of Older Adults and Congregational Care

Joe came to FPC from Essex Junction Vermont in June of 2016. Where he served at Essex Alliance Church for 26 years, 15 years as Youth Pastor and 11 years as Pastor of Congregational Care. He began full time in Ministry with Youth For Christ in 1976.  Joe received his BA in Biblical Studies from Eastern Mennonite College in 1976, His Master of Divinity from Seminary of the East in 1990, and His Doctor of Ministry in Congregation and Family Care from Bethel Seminary in 2010.

Joe is well suited for his role as Minister for Older Adults and Congregational Care. He desires to develop relationships of integrity that lead to sharing the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Joe and his wife Sandy have two daughters and two grandchildren who live in Austin. They enjoy the closer connection to family and the warmer winters. They also enjoy serving together in ministry, mentoring young couples and most recently welcoming our guests to Loaves and Fishes.

Rev. Dr. Paul Kacsur

Minister for Congregational Care

Rev. Dr. John Kaiser

Assistant Pastor for Congregational Care

Tom Dooling

Minister of Music

Tom is a native of Alabama who came to FPC in May 2009 to assume the role of Minister of Music, providing musical leadership to the Sanctuary Choir and Chamber Singers, as well as oversight and vision for the entire Music Ministry of the church including weekly worship and numerous special concerts.  Tom also leads professional musicians throughout the year as they complement worship on Christmas Eve, Easter, and other concert occasions.

Tom graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama with a degree in Music and Business.  He later went on to complete a Masters of Church Music from the Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas.  Tom has participated in many workshop and masterclass experiences, including those offered by Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ, The Juilliard School in New York, and Chorus America. Tom has over 39 years of professional church music experience with a deep and diverse repertoire of conducted anthems and major choral/orchestral works.

Dr. Jae Hyuk Ha

Associate Minister of Music / Organist

Dr. Jae Ha assumed the position of Organist at First Presbyterian Church in October 2003. A native of Seoul, Korea, he earned a bachelor's degree in organ performance from Yonsei University in Korea and received a master's and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Organ performance in 2003 from the University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves as adjunct organ professor at University of the Incarnate Word.

Kara Weaver

Interim Modern Worship Leader

Wes Taylor

Interim Modern Worship Leader

Rev. Dr. Joe Moore

Assistant Pastor of Older Adults and Congregational Care

Joe came to FPC from Essex Junction Vermont in June of 2016. Where he served at Essex Alliance Church for 26 years, 15 years as Youth Pastor and 11 years as Pastor of Congregational Care. He began full time in Ministry with Youth For Christ in 1976.  Joe received his BA in Biblical Studies from Eastern Mennonite College in 1976, His Master of Divinity from Seminary of the East in 1990, and His Doctor of Ministry in Congregation and Family Care from Bethel Seminary in 2010.

Joe is well suited for his role as Minister for Older Adults and Congregational Care. He desires to develop relationships of integrity that lead to sharing the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Joe and his wife Sandy have two daughters and two grandchildren who live in Austin. They enjoy the closer connection to family and the warmer winters. They also enjoy serving together in ministry, mentoring young couples and most recently welcoming our guests to Loaves and Fishes.

Ben Henderson

Director of University Ministries

Born and raised in San Antonio, Ben grew up at FPC, but his faith became real to him during his freshman year at Texas A&M University. Ben believes deeply that all humans need the gospel, and is passionate about making disciples who make disciples. When he’s not bringing Jesus to college campuses or working on his MDiv at Covenant Theological Seminary, you can find Ben hanging out with friends, climbing mountains, pickin’ some bluegrass tunes, or making memes.

Rev. Dr. Paul Kacsur

Minister for Congregational Care

Rev. Dr. John Kaiser

Assistant Pastor for Congregational Care

Rebecca Sweet

Director to Children and their Families

Rebecca was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, but grew up in Austin. She graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  Her husband Jim of many years, is an ordained Elder in the Methodist Church, and the two have served at many churches in Central, West and South Texas. They have four grown children and five grandchildren. Though she loves nursing and continues to do so as a volunteer, her passion is to teach children about Jesus and show them His love so they can experience Jesus for themselves. She hopes that in the second half of her life, she can help parents to see the importance of being available to spend time with their children while spending time with Jesus. She counts herself blessed and honored to be a part of this church staff, and to be able to do the Lord’s work.

Kyle Bowden

Ministry Director to Youth and Their Families

Kyle was born in San Antonio and grew up in the hill country of south Texas. He was raised in the church and there developed a deep love for the word and learning. During the summers he would serve at local summer camps where he would first experience the joy of serving others. After high school he attended a Torchbearers Bible School for a brief time but found his true mission in the “normal workplace”. Kyle worked in the property restoration industry for nearly a decade learning how to minister there. All the while he never stopped serving in a ministry context. During his time in the property restoration business he was a leader with Young Life. Through Young Life he learned the power of incarnational ministry and the value of faithful/long haul relationships. During this time he also worked part time as the youth pastor at Presbyterian church in San Antonio.

Kyle has always lived with one foot in the “real world” and one in the ministry. He feels a strong call to chase after students and share with them the sweet relief of the gospel and the tremendous purpose God has for each of them.

You can find Kyle around the city sipping a cappuccino at a coffee, shooting one of his film cameras on the streets, or running through neighborhoods training for his next race.

Ben Henderson

Director of University Ministries

Born and raised in San Antonio, Ben grew up at FPC, but his faith became real to him during his freshman year at Texas A&M University. Ben believes deeply that all humans need the gospel, and is passionate about making disciples who make disciples. When he’s not bringing Jesus to college campuses or working on his MDiv at Covenant Theological Seminary, you can find Ben hanging out with friends, climbing mountains, pickin’ some bluegrass tunes, or making memes.

Hank Cherry

Director of Communications

A native of San Antonio, Hank is a communications veteran overseeing our digital and print efforts to promote FPC's numerous ministries and activities. With extensive experience in management positions serving various clients in both for-profit and not-for-profit industries in San Antonio and abroad, Hank brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to FPC’s initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of North Texas. With strong family connections in our city, Hank and his wife Debbie have two grown sons, Collin and Cody.

Robynn Amy

Media/Production Specialist

Robynn Amy is a native Texan and enjoys hunting and fishing with her family during her leisure time. Her career began in video game development, with credits on Karaoke Revolution and Guitar Hero. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, she was hired on as faculty in the Brass Department and traveled the world as a professional musician, with performances on trombone, sousaphone, euphonium, guitar, bass and vocals for over 20 years before settling down in San Antonio, Texas.

Janet Slayden

Church Business Administrator

A native San Antonian, Janet served 13 years as Business Administrator at Castle Hills First Baptist Church. Being gifted with strong business acumen and a burning passion for the local church, Janet is using her experience and expertise to help First Presbyterian Church manage its critical business functions with excellence, freeing leadership up to focus on their calling and expanding God’s kingdom. She also currently serves as the Director of  "The Back Office" for The Missional Association, a non-profit church planting movement that exists to see the city of San Antonio transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Janet’s passion is using her spiritual gifting and business background as a support for ministry.  For her, excitement lies in seeing God use her in practical, hands-on ways—she enjoys handling the "messy details" so ministry can happen. To her, making Jesus visible means living an authentic life centered around loving God and serving people.

Janet is a two-time graduate of Baylor University, where she received her undergraduate degree in Finance and her MBA.

Janet enjoys entertaining in her home, hanging out with her family, growing in Christ, and discipling others. Janet is married to Paul and they have two adult children, Melissa and Gregory.

Pam Ray

Strategic Planning Director

Pam joins the FPC team after pursuing a life-long career in education as a teacher and an administrator.  She and her husband, Tom, raised their family at FPC and now enjoy fun family time with their five grandchildren.  She values the generational relationships and community within the multiple facets of the church.  She is on a journey of discipleship, and looks forward to seeking collective obedience of His Lordship through our shared strategic plan.

Whit Anderson, MDiv.

Director of Church Planting

FPC welcomes our new Director of Church Planting, Rev. Whit Anderson.  His career began as a founding pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Georgetown Texas. He came to faith in Christ during his years at Southwestern University.  Whit realized that Georgetown was a city in need of a Christ-centered, Gospel-driven church. After college, Whit spent his early years of ministry on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. He then earned a degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando before becoming an associate pastor at CrossPointe Church in Austin, TX.  During his ministry at CrossPointe, the seed God had planted in Whit’s heart grew into a full-fledged mission to reach Georgetown and its neighbors with the message that Jesus Christ saves sinners.