Our Staff
Rev. Elizabeth Whitney - Senior Pastor
Pastor Elizabeth Whitney joined us here at First Covenant Church in March 2024 along with her husband and three children. She comes to us from a Presbyterian Church in Connecticut where she served as Pastor of Christian Education and Discipleship. Her past experience includes work in several churches as Minister of Outreach and Discipleship, Discipleship Pastor, Women’s Ministry Co-Director, Children’s Church Teacher, Deacon, Nursery Program Coordinator, and Youth Co-Director. She holds an Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies from Liberty University and a Masters in Divinity from Sioux Falls Seminary. Pastor Liz is ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church. In addition, she possess training in CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), from Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut. This training combines professional education with hands-on experience, providing spiritual care to patients, families and staff in a multi-faith clinical setting. Email: Office@firstcov.church
Rev. Julie Challingsworth - Youth Pastor
Pastor Julie Anderson has been with First Covenant since June 2015. She is the Pastor of Youth and Adult Ministry. She can often be found teaching confirmation, leading high school small group, making a fool of herself playing games with the youth group, going to visit members of the church, helping to lead worship or having fun around the community. She has a passion for building relationships with students, adults and families in our church and in our community. She loves art museums, coffee, cupcakes and being creative. Julie believes very strongly that God has placed beauty everywhere and it is our joy to find it in all things.
Amy Dallas - Office Administrator
Amy joined the First Covenant staff in September 2024. She is from Panama, New York, and lived in North Carolina for twenty-two years before returning to New York in 2018. Amy has an associate's degree in business administration and has furthered her studies in healthcare administration and marketing. She lives in Kennedy with her husband Steve and their two children. Amy enjoys cooking, being outdoors, crafting, spending time with friends and family, and traveling to West Virginia and North Carolina whenever possible.
Favorites: Colorful barn boots, Phil Wickham, the word "Eucharisteo," the smell of eucalyptus, and spoiling her dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks.
Favorite Bible Verses:
Proverbs 21:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so one friend sharpens another."
Isaiah 43:19: "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness."