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Rev. Dr. James Skimins - 1994 - Present

Senior Minister

Phone: 734-453-6464 ext. 112

Email:  jimskimins@fpcp.net

"The Christian faith is one of the many joyful responses to the God who challenges to faith in Jesus Christ, being open to the Spirit and being led to encourage others in faith."

 

Ministry:

Serving as the senior minister of a large congregation in Scotland he and his wife and children emigrated to the USA in 1982. He has a passion for people and faith in assisting everyone to reach their God given potential. 

 

Jim has led congregations through transitions with new building programs and moving from a weekend church to a seven day per week church. There should be something for everyone. In this congregation he has assisted the Church in building the most ambitious renovation and construction in its history. The congregation has retired the $3 million in just six years.

 

He has served churches in an industrial downtown setting, a college community and now in a thriving suburban setting. He has also preached on two separate occasions In Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C.

 

He has also served in various capacities in the wider Presbyterian Church (USA)

 

Education:

An honors graduate in both Economics and Theology. Educated in Glasgow, Scotland and in London, England. There he was a student in both political science and economics learning that craft at the world famous London School of Economics.  In Glasgow, Jim had the privilege of being taught New Testament by the eminent Professor William Barclay whose books are still widely available and read. He graduated with degree similar to Magna Cum Laude. He later completed a Doctoral program and graduated at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary as a Doctor in Ministry in the Reformed Focus track.

 

Family:

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Jim and wife Irene and have been married for 38 years.  They have two grown children, Gillian and Lesley. Jim and Irene also have two grandchildren, Alyssa and Emma.  All are active in church life.

 

Other Interests:

Beyond Church he is interested in travel, automobiles and photography with a latent interest in golf!

 

 

 

Rev. Emily Campbell   - 2006 - Present

Associate Minister

Phone: 734-453-6464 ext. 113

Email: emilycampbell@fpcp.net

Ministry:

Serving as Associate Minister, Emily’s role here at the church includes leading worship and pastoral care.  Her responsibilities also include New Member Classes, Deacons, Mission, Young Professionals Ministries, and acting as supervisor and pastoral support for the church’s youth director.  Emily also offers pastoral support for our Confirmation class.

 

Education:

Emily was born and brought up in Sewickley, Pennsylvania (a suburb of Pittsburgh).  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio.  Following that degree, Emily received her Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1996. 

For five years, Emily served as the Associate Pastor for St. Paul’s Parish Church in Milngavie (a suburb of Glasgow).

Family:

Emily met her husband Doug at seminary (he is also a Presbyterian minister and is a native of Plymouth).  Since their marriage in 1997, the couple have lived and worked in Scotland. Following the birth of their first child, Doug and Emily relocated to Edinburgh and Emily had four years at home ministering full-time to their two small children (Sarah, now age 5 and Hannah, now age 3).  

 

Other Interests:

Emily enjoys travel, cooking, movies, and, most importantly, spending time with her family. 

 

 

 

 

Rev. Mary Jean Bird   - 2003 - Present

Associate Minister for Parish Life

Phone: 734-453-6464 ext. 117

Email: mjbird@fpcp.net

Ministry:

When you see a crazy hat in the vicinity of First Presbyterian Church, it is very likely attached to Pastor Mary Jean.  Used once as an easy means of identification on the first week of Sunday school, crazy hats have become her trademark.  Mary Jean’s primary areas of responsibility include Sunday School for all ages, childcare and ministry with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families, LOGOS midweek ministry for Kindergarten through High School, Vacation Bible School, oversight of Christian Education Committee, and Life Long Learning (Adult Education).  Mary Jean also participates in general pastoral duties and worship responsibilities, preaching about six times a year.

 

Education:

Associate Minster for Parish Life, Mary Jean Bird, was born and raised on the Oregon Coast.  She graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon with a B.S. in Chemistry and from Oregon Health Sciences University with a B.S. in Medical Technology.  She worked in hospital laboratories at OHSU for fifteen years.  While serving in her home church as a deacon and director of the midweek children’s program (LOGOS), she began sensing a call to a different type of ministry.  She graduated from the Dual Degree program at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia and Presbyterian School of Christian Education (PSCE) in Richmond, Virginia with Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education degrees in 2000.  Mary Jean served as summer intern at South Trenton and Forestport Presbyterian Churches near Utica, New York.  Serving with Rev. Dennis Dewey helped her develop interest in Biblical Storytelling.  During her last year in seminary, Mary Jean served as summer student chaplain at Westminster-Canterbury continuing care retirement community in Richmond and Director of Christian Education at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Weems, Virginia.  She was a Theological Student Advisory Delegate to General Assembly in 1999 and served in student government during the Federation of Union-PSCE. 

Mary Jean served as Pastor of John Knox Presbyterian Church in Keizer, Oregon prior to coming to Plymouth.  While in Oregon, she served as a member of Cascades Presbytery’s Christian Education committee and participated in the Newly Ordained Pastors Support System.  She was a middle school camp dean and helped organize several Presbytery-wide nurture events related to Christian Education and officer training.  In Detroit Presbytery, she serves on the Christian Education and Faith Development workgroup.  Her focus is on encouraging educators, both professional and volunteer, to attend training and fellowship events with others throughout the Presbytery, Region, and Nation.

Family:

Mary Jean shares her apartment with a black cat, Sammi, and several dust bunnies.  Her Dad, Jim, two brothers, Mike and Jeff, and their children live in Oregon.  Her sister, Jamie, lives in Kansas City.  The new family tradition is for Mary Jean and Jamie to share a Christmas Eve meal with families in the congregation who spend most of the evening leading the variety of worship services.   

 

Other Interests:

Mary Jean’s passion includes ministry with children and those who share their lives of faith with younger generations.  She is especially passionate about events that bring God’s youngest and oldest children together in the community of faith.  She loves the ocean, camping, and spending time with her nephews Justin, Jason, Joshua, and Landry (all young adults) and niece Tucker Jean (teenager).  She enjoys music, movies, playing games, and many kinds of crafts.