Our Leadership

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Jason Harris

Senior Pastor

seniorpastor@centralchurchnyc.org
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Jason Harris is the Senior Pastor of Central Presbyterian Church and leads the staff, officers, and congregation in the pursuit of its shared vision. Jason’s primary responsibility is to lead Central Church and Resound Project, an initiative focused on strengthening the church for a changing world; to facilitate worship and prayer; and to preach and teach, especially through the development of sermons and other creative content with a particular focus on addressing the questions of interested skeptics and encouraging new believers in their faith.

Please contact Jason if you have questions about the claims of Christianity or if you would like to learn more about how to become a Christian or grow in your faith. Please also reach out to Jason if you would like to inquire about baptism at Central, either for yourself or for your child.

Jason joined Central as Director of Church Renewal in 2011 and was called to serve as Senior Pastor in 2013. Jason was raised in New Canaan, Connecticut and was educated at the Brunswick School. He graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Art and Archaeology and from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. Previously, Jason served as the founding Campus Minister for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Northwestern University and worked as an analyst for Morgan Stanley in New York City. 

Jason met his wife, Ashley, at Princeton University where she studied Economics and Japanese. Ashley subsequently received a J.D. degree from Columbia University Law School. Jason and Ashley have four children, Luke, Olivia, Eliza, and Charlotte, and they have worked in ministry together since 2005. Ashley plays an active role in the children’s ministry and leads the Thursday morning Women’s Bible Study in addition to meeting with women to help them explore their faith, navigate life’s struggles, and grow in their relationship with Jesus. 

Please reach out to Ashley if you would like to discuss matters of faith or the Thursday morning Women’s Bible Study.

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Leila Bragg

Director of Children's Ministry

lbragg@centralchurchnyc.org
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Leila joined Central's staff in June 2019 as the Director of Children's Ministry where she supports parents in the spiritual nurture and care of their children so that they might place their trust in Jesus, grow in their knowledge and love of God, and live in grateful response to his grace. Leila is responsible for overseeing and coordinating all Children's Ministry programming, managing and supporting volunteers, communicating and building relationships with families, and providing resources and opportunities for families to connect with one another and to the life of the church. 

Please contact Leila if you would like to learn more about the Children’s Ministry or if you have any questions about the nursery at Central.

Leila received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Secondary Education from Taylor University in 2019. During her four years at Taylor, she developed a passion for children and discipleship, and she devoted time to working as an elementary teacher, a discipleship assistant, and an admissions representative. While studying at Taylor, Leila met her husband Micah who is also a staff member at Central and serves as the Director of Youth Ministry.

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Lauren Brown

Director of Community Formation and Spiritual Care

lbrown@centralchurchnyc.org
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As the Director of Community Formation and Spiritual Care, Lauren oversees Central’s Community Groups and supports the Community Group leaders by providing leadership training, prayer, and encouragement. She also helps people identify the Community Group that is best-suited for them. Lauren leads the Tuesday morning Women’s Bible Study, and she makes herself available to meet with the women of Central for prayer and spiritual support. Lauren enjoys connecting with women who are new to Central and delights to share with them all the many ways they can become involved in the life of the church. 

Please contact Lauren if you are new to Central and would like to learn more about how to get involved, if you are in need of spiritual care or interested in discussing matters of faith, or if you have questions about Community Groups or the Women’s Ministry. 

Lauren and her husband, Kevin, have lived in New York City since 2015. They have three adult daughters, Emma, Blake and Lillian, who all live in New York.

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Twaambo Moyo

Director of Mission and Outreach

tmoyo@centralchurchnyc.org
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Twaambo Moyo is the Director of Mission and Outreach at Central and is responsible for equipping members of the Central community to participate in God’s mission to the world around us. Twaambo mobilizes and trains volunteers and coordinates with Central’s ministry partners, including the Bowery Mission, Safe Families for Children, and Reading Buddies, to serve friends and neighbors in the city. Twaambo also leads Central's College Ministry, which seeks to cultivate a strong community of students who are committed to encouraging one another to grow in their faith as they strive to explore and follow Jesus during their college years. Twaambo also supports the Sunday Service Teams by promoting a welcoming atmosphere and reaching out to new visitors. Twaambo enjoys connecting with newcomers to help them get involved in the life of the church. 

Please contact Twaambo if you are new to Central and would like to become more involved in the life of the church, if you have questions about the College Ministry, or if you would like to serve on one of our Sunday Service Teams or with one of our Ministry Partners, such as the Bowery Mission, Safe Families for Children, or Reading Buddies.

Twaambo was born in Zambia and moved to the United States as a teenager in 2008. He subsequently graduated from the City University of New York at Queens College with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design. Twaambo currently participates in City to City’s training program in urban ministry while pursuing a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies through Reformed Theological Seminary. Twaambo and his wife, Candice, live in Queens.

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Kathryn Thompson

Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor

kthompson@centralchurchnyc.org
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Kathryn Thompson is the Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor at Central Presbyterian Church where she provides administrative assistance to the pastor and works on a variety of projects for Central and Resound Project.

Please contact Kathryn if you have any questions about the process of baptism or membership at Central.

Before working at Central, Kathryn spent three years working as an elementary school educator at Ambleside School of Fredericksburg where she received training and experience in Charlotte Mason's teaching philosophy. Kathryn graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS, and participated in a nine-month graduate-level fellowship program focused on theology, spiritual disciplines, life together, and vocational discernment called Brazos Fellows in Waco, TX.

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Evie Toderic

Office Manager

etoderic@centralchurchnyc.org
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Evie Toderic is the Office Manager at Central Presbyterian Church where she provides operational and administrative support to Central’s staff while overseeing and coordinating events that occur throughout the week. She serves as a liaison between the church and external groups and tenants. 

Prior to working at Central, Evie spent five years as a Recruiter where she connected jobseekers and employers across various industries including architecture, interior design, luxury fashion, information technology & more. Evie received her Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design from Liberty University.

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Jamie Tulenko

Communications Manager

jtulenko@centralchurchnyc.org
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Jamie Tulenko is the Communications Manager for Central Presbyterian Church and Resound Project where she manages communications across departments and ministries. Her responsibilities include organizing and deploying assets, creating content and posting across multiple platforms, planning and ensuring the successful execution of the church-wide communications calendar, creating branding for events and strategic initiatives, helping maintain Central’s presence on social media, leading digital and print communications campaigns, and project managing ministry events from scheduling through completion.

Please contact Jamie if you have any questions related to Central or Resound communications, events, or initiatives.

Prior to working at Central, Jamie spent seven years working in other ministry capacities in the city, including supporting the diaconate ministry at Redeemer Presbyterian and serving as the Northeast regional administrative specialist for a national church planting network. Jamie graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts degree in Missiology in addition to receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Religious Studies from Western Kentucky University. 

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Sasha Blair

Youth Ministry Intern

sblair@centralchurchnyc.org
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Sasha holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and a minor in Psychology from Cleveland State University. He is currently a student at Reformed Theological Seminary New York City pursuing a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, Skyler, who is completing her Master of Music in Violin Performance at the Manhattan School of Music. Prior to joining Resound Project as a Ministry Intern, Sasha spent nearly three years with Amazon.com, Inc. In his role as a Ministry Intern Sasha assists with the Youth Ministry at Central Church, encouraging students to grow in their knowledge and experience of Christ’s love.

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Rafael Oliveira

Youth Ministry Intern

roliveira@centralchurchnyc.org
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Rafa is a missionary kid from Brazil who grew up in Southern Africa. He holds a Bachelors degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from The King’s College in New York City. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary, and he lives in Manhattan. Before coming to Resound, he worked as a reporter at the New York Sun and Religion Unplugged. He speaks Portuguese, English, and Spanish. In his role at Central, Rafa works with the Youth Ministry, teaching and equipping students to live a seamless Christian life in the city and beyond. Rafa is also an ardent Manchester United supporter.

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Makenzi Koyen

Women's and Youth Ministry Intern

mkoyen@centralchurchnyc.org
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Makenzi, a Seattle native, is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary in New York City. She has led Bible studies and retreats in both church and parachurch settings, and she is the founder of Abide, an online women’s ministry helping women embrace biblical truth for everyday life. Passionate about joyful discipleship and Bible literacy, Makenzi’s aspiration is to cultivate resources and community for women to grow as committed followers of Christ, grounded in the Word of God. As a ministry intern at Resound, she contributes to both the Women’s and Youth Ministries, assisting with Bible studies and events.

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Graeme Straughn

Pastoral Care Intern

gstraughn@centralchurchnyc.org
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Graeme grew up in the greater-Philadelphia region, but, as the son of Cru staff, he traveled throughout the U.S. while growing up. He moved to New York City in 2019 to attend The King’s College, where he graduated with a bachelor’s in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Prior to taking his internship with Resound, Graeme worked in retail, higher education, event operations, building maintenance, campus ministry, and third wave coffee. Graeme is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary NYC. As a ministry intern, Graeme supports Central’s Community Groups, Senior Care, and Reading Buddies — helping everyday New Yorkers tangibly experience the love of God. He and his wife Olivia live in Brooklyn.

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Andrew Smith

Program Director

asmith@resoundproject.org
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Andrew Smith is the Program Director of Resound Project and directly oversees the Emerging Leaders Programs. He is responsible for establishing relationships with key seminaries as we seek to recruit new candidates, in addition to providing direction to candidates through the application process. Andrew develops and implements the curriculum for the Emerging Leaders Programs and offers ongoing training, encouragement, and support to all residents and interns on a regular basis. 

Please contact Andrew if you would like to learn more about Resound Project and its various initiatives including the Emerging Leaders Programs for college students, prospective and current seminary students, and seminary graduates.

Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Andrew graduated from Middlebury College, Vermont and trained for ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Since then he has pastored churches in Massachusetts, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. Prior to joining Resound Project, Andrew served as the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Kennett Square in Pennsylvania for 14 years. He is an avid fan of Manchester United and the Ireland rugby team, and loves kayaking. Andrew is married to Tara and they have two grown children, Fiona (married to Randall, mother of their first grandchild, Nathan, and living in Boston) and Duncan (living in Scotland). 

 

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Emily Hawkins

Director of Events

ehawkins@resoundproject.org
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Emily Hawkins is the Director of Events for the Resound Project where she manages events and development opportunities to support the vision of the Resound Project. The purpose of Resound Project is to strengthen new and existing churches in light of the changing cultural context so that the gospel of Jesus Christ might resound to the next generation.

Prior to working for Resound, Emily spent 10 years organizing corporate events for Welltower, the world's largest healthcare real estate trust. Prior to Welltower, Emily served as Heart Walk Director for the American Heart Association coordinating large scale community events and fundraising campaigns. Emily received her Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Cincinnati.

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Elena Frattaroli

Program Administration Intern

efrattaroli@resoundproject.org
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Elena is a student at Reformed Theological Seminary New York City working toward a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. Elena was born and raised in Dallas, TX and received her undergraduate degree in Finance and International Business from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. After graduating, she moved back to Dallas and worked in Commercial Lending and in Real Estate Finance before she felt God leading her to seminary in New York City. In her role as a Ministry Intern Elena serves as the program administrator for Resound Project, assisting with operations and special projects.