FPCO Ministers and Program Staff

Rebecca Bedell
Minister of Worship
Rebecca moved to Orlando in 1999 and joined the FPCO staff in 2002. A Mississippi native, she received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi and immediately began work in the collegiate and professional music fields. Sensing a call into full-time ministry, Rebecca now serves in her current role at FPCO. As Minister of Worship, Rebecca oversees the Worship Arts Ministry, provides worship education for the congregation and leadership, and works to expand the fine and performing arts area of the church into the downtown cultural community. She leads the worship design team which creates weekly worship experiences in styles ranging from traditional to contemporary/post-modern/contemplative. She continues using her musical gifts by conducting the Chancel Choir, the professional choral ensemble Canticum Novum and assisting with the Chamber Orchestra. Rebecca and her husband Mike have three children, Wil (24), Ann Kallyn (18) and Dylan (7).
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Rev. Sam Knight
Associate Pastor of Congregational Life
Sam Knight comes to FPCO from Pontypool, Wales via Texas. After graduating from the University of Oxford, Sam was ordained and began his ministry in Orange, Texas and eventually served as Senior Pastor at the Presbyterian Church. Sam volunteered as the Fire Chaplain for the City of Orange and worked closely with other law enforcement agencies and emergency services. Sam has served the wider church through various mission experiences, on the New Covenant Presbytery’s Examinations Committee and as a member of the PFR youth ministries planning team. All of this is combined with a passionate heart for God’s children facing all types of life situations and a desire to love people into a relationship with Christ. God’s grace enabled him to marry a beautiful Texan, Jennifer, and they have two daughters, Cinnone and Gwyneth, and a son Gethin.
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Kathy Mangascle
Director of Early Childhood Ministry
Kathy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up with three brothers. She moved to Orlando in 1967 and joined FPCO at the age of 16. At the age of 17, Kathy knelt at the foot of her bed and accepted Christ (largely due to a Campus Crusade for Christ Bible Study). Kathy began working at FPCO in 1993 as administrative assistant in WDS. Kathy then taught WDS for five years and accepted her current position as Director of Early Childhood Ministry in 1998. Kathy is married to her college sweetheart, Joe, and have two wonderful children, Joseph Tyler, and Bethany Blair.
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Rev. Donna McClellan
Associate Pastor of Discipleship & Spiritual Formation
Donna McClellan joined the pastoral staff in September of 2005. A graduate of Fuller Seminary, Donna spent several years on the Young Life staff but most recently served as Associate Pastor of Christian Discipleship at First Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, NC Donna heads up the Discipleship department and oversees ministries to men and women, Bible Studies, Adult Sunday School classes and Small Groups. Donna enjoys the relational side of ministry and would be more than happy to meet with or talk to you about how to get connected with others at the church. She would love to help you find your place to serve as well as a place to nurture your faith alongside other followers of Christ.
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Sue Pollock
Director of the William E. Alexander Infant Child Care Center
Born in California and raised in Colorado and Florida, Sue Pollock has always had a keen appreciation of the beauty God bestowed on America. Sue married her childhood, Sunday School buddy and together they have two sons, daughters in law and three precious grandchildren. She has an AA and a BA in Early Childhood Education, and Human Services, and holds the Child Development Associate, Advanced Level, Director’s Credential also. She has devoted her career to uplifting the care and education children receive. Relocating to central Florida in 2007, she found a special home at First Presbyterian Church and is honored to serve in the capacity as the Director of the William E. Alexander Infant Child Care Center.
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Morna Sanoy
Director of Human Resources
Morna brings over 14 years of Human Resources experience to her duties at FPCO. She relocated to Orlando from Southern California in 2005 to be able to spend more time with her family living here. A year's service in the Campus Crusade's national office in New Zealand is one of her most treasured experiences.
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Tammas Smith
Director of Pastoral Care
Tammas Smith joined the Pastoral Care staff at FPCO in 1998 with a passion to bring Christ's love and care to our church family and community. She is a Stephen Ministry leader and a facilitator in grief programs. She attended the University of Florida and has a degree in interior design. She is active in the local Gator club. She is married to Gilbert Smith.
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Donna Speer
Director of Weekday School
Donna has been an active member of FPCO since 1974. She has been involved with the nursery, children's and youth ministry and currently serves as the Director of the Weekday School. Donna has a BA in elementary education with a specialty in early childhood. Donna has been married to her husband John for more than 30 years and is a mother and grandmother.
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Dr. David Swanson
Senior Pastor
The Rev. Dr. David D. Swanson is the Senior Pastor and Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Born and raised in Dallas, TX, Dr. Swanson received his Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Prior to his arrival in Orlando, he served two pastorates: the first in Signal Mountain, TN as an Associate for both youth ministry and discipleship; the second in Ft. Myers, FL as Senior Pastor and Head of Staff. Dr. Swanson has been active in the PC(USA) through service to the Presbytery as well as through the ministries of Presbyterians For Renewal and the Presbyterian Coalition. He and his wife, Leigh, have three children: John David, Alex, and Kaylee.
Click Here to See Dr. Swanson's Bio
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Dr. Charles S. “Case” Thorp III
Associate Pastor for Mission & Evangelism
Case leads FPCO’s local and global mission work as well as evangelism and outreach initiatives. Originally from Atlanta, Case previously served for five years at the First Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he met and married Jodi Tomlinson. They have two beautiful blonde children, Alexandra and Charles. He has preached internationally from Madagascar to Ukraine, revival’s stateside, and enjoys contributing editorials to various publications on a wide range of topics from homelessness to the emerging church. Case teaches weekly in the Couples Class on Scripture as it applies to marriage and family life. Case's educational background includes Oxford College of Emory University, Emory University and Princeton Theological Seminary. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, in missional ecclesiology. He enjoys time with his family, other people, engaging the arts, community development, politics, and a newspaper in Starbucks.
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Jack Walston
Director of Facilities and Technology
Jack most recently served five years as the Business Administrator of Northside Baptist Church, West Columbia, SC. As an Orlando resident since 1955, his career has taken varied directions. He served as an FAA Air Traffic Controller at Orlando International Airport for seven  years and the Operations Manager Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center for 12 years. Jack was called to Christian service as the Head Administrator of Pine Castle Christian Academy and United Methodist Church for seven years. Jack is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School and the University of Central Florida. He holds two Bachelor degrees, is a member of the National Association of Business Administrators and the National Association of Facility Managers.
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Carol Welker
Director of Childrens Ministry
With a background in recreation and sports entertainment, Carol first joined the FPCO staff as the Director of Recreation Ministry. In June 2002 Carol assumed her current position as Director of Children’s Ministry. She attended UNC-Chapel Hill and Carol received her Bachelor’s degree in Community Recreation from Mars Hill College. Carol has always been a kid a heart and spent 10 years working for Young Life on their property in the North Carolina mountains called Windy Gap.
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