about our leadership
At Southminster, our staff is unified in a collaborative effort and common mission, to equip and empower the members of our church, as we seek to REACH people with the love of Jesus, TRANSFORM lives with the word of God and SEND forth disciples to serve in Christ’s name!
Dan Oedy
Pastor
Pastor Dan and his wife Sarah have four children. Dan enjoys basketball, golf, woodworking and cooking, all with varying degrees of success. Dan received his Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Study from St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina and his Master of Divinity Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Prior to Southminster, Dan served churches in Red Springs, North Carolina; Memphis, Tennessee and Bonita Springs, Florida. At Southminster, Pastor Dan preaches most Sundays, teaches Wednesday night Bible Study, serves as the Head of Staff and works with the Elders and Deacons to discern the spiritual direction and health of the church while tending to the care of the members and friends of the church.
Office hours: Saturday – Wednesday 8:30am-1:00pm
Office: 704.868.2914 ext. 103
staff
Karen Knight
Worship Coordinator
Karen and her husband Danny have three sons, Brad, Cory and Michael and one grandson Tristan. Karen enjoys camping, farming and her fulltime job as an Elementary Music Specialist in Cherokee County Schools. Karen has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Appalachian State University with National Board Certification in Elementary Music Education.
Karen has served Southminster as a worship leader since 1995. Prior to that, she led worship and youth ministries at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Rockingham, North Carolina and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Harden, North Carolina.
Office hours: Wednesday 6:00pm-9:00pm
Office: 704.868.2914 ext. 105
Madison Guevara
Director of Faith Formation
Madison will continue to develop our ministries to children and families. Madison is married to Josue, and they have one daughter. Madison is a graduate of Flagler College where she earned a degree in education. After several years in the public classroom, she felt the call to ministry. She completed her Master’s degree in Christian Education at Union Theological Seminary. She comes to us from First Presbyterian Church in Cherryville.
Office: 704.868.2914 ext. 104
Dawn Cline
Weekday School Director
Dawn and her husband Lee have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. When not at work, Dawn enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with her family. Dawn studied Business and Accounting at Gaston College. She has been serving the families of Southminster and our community since 1998.
At Southminster, Dawn leads the Weekday School, where she is responsible for the daily operation of the preschool.
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am-12:30pm
Office: 704.868.3638 ext. 107
Amy Parker
Church Administrator
Amy and her husband Brewer have two daughters, Payton and Sloan. Amy enjoys spending time with family, woodworking, refinishing furniture, decorating and any type of crafting. Amy received her bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University in Elementary Education and her master’s in Middle Grades Education from Belmont Abbey.
Amy has been a member of Southminster since 2003 and has served several terms as an Elder and one term as a Deacon. Since 2015, she has been a part of the SEND ministry.
Prior to Southminster, Amy worked for Gaston County Schools and retired after 30 years of service.
Amy works with Pastor Dan and the Elders and volunteers that are establishing our new ENGAGE ministry.
Office: 704.868.2914 ext. 100
Clay Mull
Music and Ministry Assistant
Clay Mull has served as director of music and worship at churches in both Chester, and York SC, and continues to have a passion to lead others in praise and worship of our savior, Jesus Christ!
He has a strong desire to continue to grow in his walk with Jesus, and to serve through song, worship, discipleship, prayer, outreach, and other ministries within the church.
Clay has two children and enjoys spending ample quality time with them. Clay was a member of the 2006 US Olympic speed skating team.
In his free time, Clay enjoys coaching local speed skaters training for state, regional, and national competitions.
Clay works with Pastor Dan and the Elders and volunteers to support the efforts of our REACH and TRANSFORM ministry teams. He also works with Karen Knight and our praise team as they lead us in worship.
Stefanie Faith
Financial Administrator
Office hours: Monday – Thursday 8:00am – 1:00pm
Office: 704.868.2914 ext. 160
deacons
Deacons are recognized because of their spiritual maturity and their ability to follow God’s guidance as they demonstrate the love and support of Jesus. The Deacons at Southminster participate in the Befriender Ministry Model and cultivate caring relationships with members of the congregation which are further nurtured during times of particular need or crisis. Our Deacons assist the pastor and are the primary contact for prayer, care and nurture.
Bill Blalock
Brook Ensley
Cynthia Gaston
Cathy Glenn
Nancy Haynes
Lynne Hovis
Jane Ivester
Cindy Mauney*
Harland Moore
Pastor Dan Oedy*
Kelly Simmons
Susan Schenck
Chris Spangler
Olivia Williamson
Gayla Woody*
Kriss Yavelak*
*Deacon Leadership Team
elders
Elders are recognized because of their spiritual maturity and their ability to discern God’s guidance for the church. Elders know God’s word and provide Biblical guidance as they consider the health of Christ’s church and navigate the issues the church faces in the world today. Elders primarily serve as the visioning body of the church, as they prayerfully and faithfully seeks God’s will for Southminster. The Elders are charged with maintaining The Great Ends of the Church and assuring these ideals are realized through the ministries of Southminster.
Calvin Arrowood
Dewitt Black
Kathy Current
Garrett Driscoll
Amy Hurley
Jeff Lefler
Tyler Lewis
Dan McKenzie
Kendra Neal
Chase Prenzler
Rebecca Ritchie
Rachel Teague
Darry Withers
Katy Windell
Pastor Dan Oedy, Moderator
Amy Parker, Clerk of Session
Charles Johnson, Treasurer
Bill Woody, Accountant
