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Susan has had a rather predictable
career track.
Originally
from Charlotte, North Carolina, Susan
received a BA from the University of
North Carolina where she was President
of her class. She then earned a Juris
Doctor from Wake Forest University and
began a career as a trial
lawyer. After ten years, she left the
practice and spent two years traveling
around the world, including volunteering
with Mother Teresa’s mission in
Calcutta, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and
training as a wilderness guide and
fly-fisherwoman in Alaska and the desert
southwest. Upon returning home, she
spent three years completing seminary at
Union Theological in New York City while
moonlighting as a standup comedian.
Unfortunately, even with honors in
seminary, Susan’s limited hair height
destroyed her hopes of becoming a TV
evangelist. Consequently, she found her
way to MABC, a non-televised (but
totally hip) congregation in midtown
Manhattan, where she was called as the
first woman Senior Pastor in its 160
year history.
This whacky career path has gotten
Susan featured in everything from the
New York Times and ABC News to being a
regular guest with country music
star Naomi Judd on Hallmark Channel's
"Naomi's New Morning." If you are
totally bored and looking to surf
further, check out
www.susansparks.com. |

PAUL STEPHAN
Minister of Music
Paul Stephan is a
graduate of Ithaca College, the
University of Utah, and the BMI –
Lehman Engle Musical Theater
Workshop. His one act musical A
Unicorn in the Garden, based on
the fable by James Thurber, was
performed at the Festival of
Musicals in Miniature at St. Paul’s
Church. He directed productions of
La Cenerentola, La
Clemenza di Tito, and La
Scala di Seta; musical direction
includes Free to Be You and Me,
Godspell, Brigadoon,
Stop the World I Want to Get Off,
and the New York premiere of
Heroes. He served as artistic
director for Cooper OperaWorks and
wrote English performing
translations for several
productions, including Le Astuzie
Femminili (The Crafty Women) by
Cimarosa, and Il Mondo della Luna
(The Man in the Moon) by
Haydn. His choral setting of the
23rd Psalm was sung
at the anniversary services
sponsored by the New York Annual
Conference of the UMC remembering
9/11, and he recently received a
Bistro award for his collaboration
on Three Tenors… In Search of an
Act. He works as a freelance
musician and teacher in New York
City and his first CD, Sue &
Edd's Fabulous Christmas, was
released in 2007.
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| PASTORAL
STAFF |
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Rev. Susan Sparks, Pastor
Paul Stephan, Minister of Music
Faith Grill, Moderator
Faith Grill, Chairperson, Trustees
Melvin Bell, Chairperson, Community Ministries
Chris
Shade, Chairperson, Deacons
Karissa Thacker, Chairperson, Christian Education
Melvin Bell, Coordinator, Shelter for the Homeless
Andrea
Bell, Clerk
Nancy Rivera, Treasurer
Hazel Cole, Financial Secretary
Brian Crowson, Administrative Assistant
Troy Gordon, Sexton |
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