As of October 1, 2020, Michael Yandell serves as the Senior Minister. Michael lives in Greensboro with his spouse Amy and their 2 dogs (Elsie and Snow).

Michael was brought up in the faith at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Union City, TN. He spent 4 years in the U.S. Army as an enlisted explosive ordnance disposal (E.O.D.) technician before returning home to west TN to go to college. He earned his Bachelor of Music (Music Education) at the University of Tennessee at Martin (2011); a Master of Divinity at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas (2015); and a Ph.D. in religious studies (theological studies) with a concentration in religion, conflict, and peace-building at Emory University (2020).

As a theologian and scholar, Michael is passionate about bridging the gap between the academy and the church. It was Michael’s experiences in war that prompted him to research moral injury; his most recent publication on the topic is War and Negative Revelation: A Theoethical Reflection on Moral Injury.

As a clergy person and a human being, Michael still believes that the gospel is a message of liberation – good news to the poor, the imprisoned, the sick, and the oppressed. The Disciples of Christ identity statement (We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us) means for Michael that the church presents a radically different reality than the one most often presented to us in our culture. Where the world shuts the doors of community in the faces of those longing for human connection, the church opens its doors in radical welcome and hospitality.

Michael’s interests include running, music, reading X-Men comic books, and baking sourdough bread.

Email: pastor@fccgreensboro.org

Phone: 3362734725

WOODSON E. FAULKNER, II is a graduate of Greensboro College with a Bachelor of Music degree subsequently attending UNCG for post-graduate study in choral conducting, voice training and music education. He was a featured soloist with the Bel Canto Company in their appearance at the Hinshaw Music Festival held in Raleigh August of 2014 and also in 2015 where he was again soloist in the 2nd Premier of John Rutter’s Six Canticles of Light. In 2007 Mr. Faulkner became the Choir Director/Organist at Wake Forest Baptist Church, Winston-Salem and on Sept. 11, 2011 in Wait Chapel, Mr. Faulkner conducted the premier performance of Angels and Fireflies written by Kevin Malone for solo flute and string orchestra for the 10th anniversary commemorating the tragic events of 9-11. The performance was simulcast to the Imperial War Museum in Manchester, England and radio broadcast live from Wake Forest on local NPR station WFDD. In addition, Mr. Faulkner serves as Accompanist, Assistant Director, and Vocal Coach for the Burlington Boys Choir since 1999, with tours to New York, Atlanta, Toronto, Mexico and Vienna.

Mr. Faulkner was Artistic Director and Founding Conductor of the Triad Pride Men’s Chorus from 1998 to 2012. His professional credits include appearances conducting TPMC at the International Festival of Gay and Lesbian Choruses (GALA) in Montreal, Miami, Denver, and at a regional conference in Cincinnati, OH. He has also sung professionally under the direction of the late Robert Shaw at Carnegie Hall and has performed as singer/assistant director of The Desert Chorale of Santa Fe, NM in four summer seasons.

Among his other artistic endeavors, Mr. Faulkner is a past Board President of Greensboro Opera and was recently a featured writer for the O.Henry Magazine in the July 2014 issue. He has been a presenter/speaker at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Didactic Seminar on Arts and Healing for Chaplaincy program May 25, 2012, a guest presenter at the SEA (Southern Entrepreneur in the Arts) Conference at UNCG in Feb. 2012, Music Director/Arranger/Actor for the Touring Theatre Ensemble of NC from 1995-2004. He sang with the Bel Canto Company of Greensboro for 20+ years appearing numerous times with the ensemble as soloist. Mr. Faulkner also holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University.

Mr. Faulkner has been with First Christian since 2017. He may be reached at woody@fccgreensboro.org

Pam is originally from Greensboro. She graduated from Rockingham Community College with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Administration with Accounting emphasis, and she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Guilford College.

For most of her career, Pam worked for Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., and its predecessor cooperatives. She retired as Director of Accounting and Analysis in 2012 after 24 years in the dairy industry. She and her husband, Jim, lived in Knoxville, TN for 17 of those years. They moved back to Greensboro in 2012 to live close to her family again.

Pam is a member of First Friends Meeting where she has served as Treasurer since 2013. She also serves on several committees there and volunteers with several organizations in the community. Pam began working at First Christian Church in February 2016.

She enjoys reading, cooking, attending sporting events, volunteering and spending time with family and friends.

Annette has a background in visual arts, and education. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a B.F.A. in art/art education, concentrating in oil painting. Since then, she worked as an artist and teacher.

Last spring, Annette joined First Christian Church Greensboro as the Office and Communications Manager. Gardening, writing, art, and reading are her passions. She also enjoys traveling.