Rev. Bruce A. Greer
Interim Senior Minister
bgreer@fbcnewton.org
A graduate of Andover Newton Theological School, Bruce earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Alderson Broaddus College in West Virginia and Master of Theology in Church Growth Theory at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky. He later earned a Master of Arts in Sociology at UMass Amherst where he also completed extensive graduate coursework and pursued research on Baby Boomer spirituality. As a research associate with Hartford Seminary and Christian Theological Seminary, Bruce studied the growth and decline of mainline Protestant churches and published chapters in Church and Denominational Growth and A Case Study of Mainstream Protestantism.
An ordained American Baptist minister since 1977, Bruce has served three senior pastorates in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and multiple interim pastorates in three different denominations. Before his 2008 return to New England, he was the Interim Senior Minister at Calvary Baptist Church in Denver for two years. While in Denver, he also completed a year-long full-time Chaplain Residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at the University of Colorado Hospital. Immediately prior to joining us Bruce served as the Mission Director for Seafarer's Friend, a Chelsea-based organization that ministers to the maritime community.
Rev. Linda C. Moore
Minister of Christian Education
lmoore@fbcnewton.org
Linda Moore grew up in Richmond, Virginia before moving to Newton, Massachusetts in July of 2006 to become our new Minister of Christian Education. In May of 2006, Linda received her Master of Divinity Degree in Christian Education from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Linda has her Bachelor of Science from Longwood College, in Farmville, Virginia and an Associate's Degree from Chowan College, in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, where she earned the Award of the Silver Feather for leadership and community service. Her ministries have included serving New Highland Baptist Church as Interim Children/Youth Director and Glen Allen Baptist Church as Youth Minister and Pastoral Assistant.
Before entering seminary, Linda was a first-grade elementary school teacher and a corporate trainer for customer service, team building, and leadership development. She is a Certified National Trainer for the US Junior Chamber of Commerce and is a Life Member of the Tuckahoe Junior Chamber of Commerce. Linda has also served on the Alumni Board of Directors for Chowan College. In her spare time, Linda collects lighthouses, is an avid photographer, takes care of her two cats, Gracie and Jelly Bean, and is a devoted fan of Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils.
Sean Redrow, DMA
Director of Music
spredrow@aol.com
Sean Redrow has enjoyed an active performance career. He has performed throughout New England and New York City both as a soloist, and with the early music ensemble, Ensemble Abendmusik. In 1998, Mr. Redrow was a featured artist at the national convention of the American Guild of Organists in Denver, Colorado.
Performance engagements have included solo recitals at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall; on the noted mean-tone Fisk organ at Wellesley College for the National Convention of the American Institute of Organbuilders; in Boston at the historic King’s Chapel and Trinity Church, Copley Square; in New York City at St. Peter's Church (Citicorp Center), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and at the Church of the Transfiguration; and in Worcester at St. Paul's Cathedral, Mechanics' Hall, Holy Cross and Assumption Colleges, First Baptist Church, All Saints', and St. Joseph's Church; and in Gary, Indiana, at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels. He assisted James David Christie in performances of Bach's Art of Fugue in New York, Boston, Worcester, and Antwerp, Belgium.
Mr. Redrow graduated cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross in 1998, where he held the prestigious position of Liturgical Music and Organ Scholar. He received his Master of Music degree from the Boston Conservatory in 2000. His teachers have included Luke Richard and Barclay Wood. In addition, he has performed in public masterclasses with noted early music specialist Harald Vogel, internationally acclaimed organist Marie-Claire Alain, John Scott (formerly organist of St. Paul's, London), Jean-Pierre Leguay and Olivier Latry (Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris). He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance at Boston University in 2009, where he was a student of James David Christie and the recipient of the highly coveted Dean's Scholar Award.
The American Guild of Organists has honored Mr. Redrow with first place awards, both as the winner of the Boston Chapter competition, and as winner of the New England Regional Competition in 1997. He is a past dean of the Worcester Chapter of the A.G.O.
He is currently on the organ faculty of the Boston Conservatory, where he teaches applied students as well as the Organ History and Literature class. He also holds the positions of Choir Director and Organist at the First Baptist Church in Newton and Director of Music and Organist for the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Worcester.
Katherine Baltrush
Program Associate for Arts and Music with Children and Youth
katherinebaltrush@gmail.com
Katherine (Katie) Baltrush, mezzo-soprano, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance from Boston University, where she studied voice under Phyllis Hoffman. During her years as an undergraduate, Katherine worked as the Music Program Administrator for and member of the Marsh Chapel Choir, whose Sunday morning services are broadcast on Boston NPR station, WBUR, and who perform extra concerts of sacred music and oratorios throughout the liturgical year. Katherine went on to earn a Masters of Music in Musicology from Boston University. Her thesis, entitled The Magic of Metamorphosis: Character Development in Thomas Adès’ The Tempest , discussed issue of treatment of Shakespeare’s original play in the libretto, musical characterization, Adès’ musical language, and the state of modern opera. This work is in keeping with Katherine’s commitment to contemporary classical music. This summer, Katherine attended the Neil Semer Vocal Institute in Germany to further her performance education. Currently, Katherine writes music reviews and profiles artistic events at Boston University for several online publications and continues as the Alto Section Leader for FBC’s choir. She grew up singing in the Wesley United Methodist Church in Worchester, MA, an experience that influenced her decision to pursue a career in music and the arts.
Amy Clark Feldman
Director of Communications
amyelizabethclark@yahoo.com
Amy first came to First Baptist Church in Newton as a member in 2007 and is pleased to now be joining the FBCN staff as Director of Communications. She graduated from the University of Miami(FL) in 2003 with her MBA and subsequently worked for the US Hispanic and Media practices of the global communications firm, Burson-Marsteller. There she developed and implemented strategic communications plans for a wide range of clients, specializing in work with the nonprofit sector. Before beginning her MBA, Amy worked at the American Red Cross, the University of Connecticut, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Institutes for Higher Education, where she managed professional development programs and policy institutes for education leaders across the US and Latin America. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with two Bachelors' degrees - one in Nonprofit Administration, and the other in Spanish – and attended high school at Phillips Academy, Andover (where she lived in ‘America House,’ the former home of FBCN minister, Samuel Francis Smith).
She lives in Natick with her husband, Greg, and their two energetic boys, Ben and Sam. She tends to do her best praying and thinking on her daily morning run and loves spending as much time as possible in the great outdoors.
Donna Vello
Office and Financial Administrator
dvello@fbcnewton.org
Donna has been a member of the FBC staff since July of 2004. Hired as the Financial Administrator, she is now also the Office Administrator. Donna lives in Needham with her husband, Bill, and two sons, Brian (23) and Michael (20). She is an active participant at her own church, Christ Episcopal in Needham, serving as a member of the Vestry. She also volunteers throughout the Needham community, serving on outreach committees including the Needham Interfaith Habitat for Humanity.
Robert Close
Steward of Building & Grounds