Our Leadership

A congregation, like any other group of people needs leadership! Our shared ministry here at First Congregational UCC relies heavily on the work of dedicated volunteers and professional staff. As a congregational church, we essentially fuction like a democracy in many ways. Key decisions are made by the members of our congregation - sometimes in congregational meetings where we all have a voice and vote and sometimes by those we have delegated to work on our behalf (officers, boards, committees, and staff).

Click here to learn about our elected leadership (boards and committees).

View our org chart here.

Pastors & Staff

The Rev. Caela Simmons Wood was called as our pastor in 2014. As our pastor, Caela (pronounced "Kayla") works with the leadership of the church to serve our community, seek justice, care for people wherever they find themselves on life's journey. Pastor Caela leads worship weekly and you can find her sermons online (video and manuscripts).

Pastor Caela is originally from Kansas and a graduate of K-State with a B.A. in History. Caela also completed a Master of Theological Studies at Perkins School of Theology at Dallas and a Master of Divinity at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Before returning to Kansas, Caela and her family lived in Bloomington, Indiana where Caela was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 2010 and served as an Associate Pastor for seven years. Caela is passionate about understanding and confronting systemic injustices, especially relating to race, sexuality and gender, economic inequality, and environmental stewardship. Caela enjoys cycling, hiking, cooking, and reading everything she can get her hands on. Caela and her husband David are parents to two children.

If you'd like to meet with Pastor Caela, please e-mail her to request an appointment. Mondays through Wednesdays are typically best for routine meetings, as Thursdays are used for sermon and worship preparation and Friday-Saturday are her days off.
E-mail Pastor Caela.

Sue Zschoche was called as our part-time, volunteer Pastoral Associate in 2017. As Pastoral Associate, Sue participates in all aspects of worship as well as providing leadership in adult education. She is currently pursuing authorization as a licensed minister in the United Church of Christ.

Sue is a native Kansan, growing up in Atchison and graduating from Emporia State. She earned a master’s degree in counseling at East Texas State University, and then moved back to Kansas where she earned a doctorate in American Studies at the University of Kansas. She then joined the Kansas State faculty as a history professor, a position from which she retired in 2016. Sue discovered an abiding passion for biblical studies after she joined First Congregational Church and was given the privilege of delivering an occasional sermon.

Sue is the mother of two grown daughters, and she and her partner Anne Fredrickson are the very happy grandmothers of five. She also loves to play golf, albeit very badly.
E-mail Sue.

Sandy Nelson is our Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper, which means she is the friendly face or voice you encounter when you contact the church office on weekdays. She is responsible for maintaining the church database and records, publishing the bulletins and newsletters, tracking financial contributions, and holding the loose ends together. So if you have a question, give her a call - if she doesn’t have the answer, she will try to put you in touch with someone who does.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sandy has lived in Manhattan for more than 35 years. She comes to First Congregational UCC after retiring as Publications Director for the International Association for Jazz Education. She has a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from K-State and enjoys interacting with people from all walks of life. Sandy and her husband Dave Colburn have three very active daughters.
E-mail Sandy.

Brandy McDonald joined our staff in 2018 and serves as our part-time Director of Children's Ministries. Brandy provides administrative, programmatic, and spiritual leadership for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, elementary-aged children and their families. She is responsible for coordinating our caring childcare staff as well as our dedicated Sunday School teachers and other passionate Children's Ministry volunteers.

Brandy was born and raised in Manhattan. She graduated from Manhattan High and earned her degree in Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University. Brandy has always felt drawn to working with children within the church. At her previous church she enjoyed staffing her church nursery, teaching Sunday School, and being their children’s ministry director. She is excited for this next chapter within the First Congregational UCC. Brandy is passionate about volunteering, among which includes being a La Leche League Leader, PTA officer and carnival chair, and enjoys working with people who love working with children! She feels that church is a place where all, especially children, should feel loved and accepted for being exactly the person God created them to be and strives to help children feel that when they’re attending.

Brandy and her husband Shaun have three children, who always continue to challenge her “theories” on working with children! Brandy enjoys exercise, listening to podcasts, hiking, and camping with her family.
E-mail Brandy.

Brittani Frost-Shank joined our staff in 2018 as our part-time Director of Youth Ministry. Brittani coordinates our ministry with middle and high school youth. She strives to allow youth to be who they are while still providing insight and knowledge along the journey.

Brittani earned her degree in Family Studies and Human Services from Kansas State University in 2013 and has been in Manhattan ever since. She worked with youth and teens during an internship in college, and has felt a continued pull to be involved since then. Brittani believes her experiences and hardships during that age help her connect in ways that are beneficial to the lives of the students she works with.

Brittani and her wife, Holly, came to First Congregational at a time when they were ready to start looking for a church community again, and have felt at home since the first day. They are an active part of the Manhattan LGBTQ community, and Brittani works full-time for CivicPlus. She enjoys photography, reading, and anything to do with Harry Potter.
E-mail Brittani.

Gretchen Lewis is our Choir Director and describes her role at First Congregational UCC as a music and fellowship facilitator. She directs the church choir for Sunday and special services and serves as the co-pianist for Taizé services. She is always glad to welcome new members to the choir—no auditions required!

Gretchen claims no hometown. As the daughter of an American Baptist pastor, the family moved several times while she was growing up. She did her undergraduate work at Oberlin and received her Masters of Music from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Gretchen is a retired instructor from Barton County Community College at Ft. Riley. She and her husband Jim have two adult children, a violinist and a historian. Four years spent living and working in Japan gave their family a new world perspective. In addition to music, Gretchen enjoys reading, vegetable gardening, and baking bread.
E-mail Gretchen

Dr. Bob Edwards and Dr. Mary Ellen Sutton serve as our church co-organists and provide organ and piano music in worship services as well as accompanying the choir.

Dr. Mary Ellen Sutton, co-organist since June of 2012, is retired from the Kansas State University Department of Music. She was on the K-State faculty from 1974-2010. She has been the organist at First Presbyterian Church for two Years and First United Methodist Church for 35 years. Her doctor of Musical Arts degree is from the University of Kansas. She is an active member of the American Guild of Organists as well as other professional music organizations.