Our Leadership

Central Church

Jason Harris

Jason Harris

Senior Pastor

seniorpastor@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

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.

Chris Hildebrand

Chris Hildebrand

Senior Associate Pastor

childebrand@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

Chris Hildebrand is the Senior Associate Pastor at Central Presbyterian Church where he supports the ongoing pastoral ministry of the church and guides the Central staff to help all of the ministries of Central flourish. 

Please reach out to Chris if you have questions about any of Central’s ministries, if you are in need of pastoral care, or if you would like to inquire about Central’s approach to weddings and marriage counseling, both for those preparing for marriage and those who may be struggling in their marriages.

Prior to joining Central in 2021, Chris led Resurrection Park Slope in Brooklyn as the Senior Pastor. Previously, Chris was Executive Pastor of Resurrection Brooklyn, a multi-congregational church, and Director of its church planting residency program. Chris received his Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida and participated in the church planting fellows program at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Chris graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and prior to seminary worked in marketing and sales in the chemical industry. Chris and Jeannie have four children, Owen, Evie, Jacob, and Wells.

Dan Miracola

Dan Miracola

Senior Director of Finance and Operations

dmiracola@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext. 104

Dan is the Senior Director of Finance and Operations at Central where he oversees the church’s assets and physical property. Dan manages the budget, cash flows, financial reporting, and the building operations that support Central’s growing ministries. Dan also supervises and coordinates the various construction projects currently underway as we seek to restore our historic building to serve its Christ-centered mission in New York City. 

Please contact Dan if you have any questions about Central’s budget and financial giving, Central’s facilities and the renovations underway, or any other items related to building operations.  

Dan grew up in eastern Long Island and moved to New York in 2006 after graduating from Cornell University to pursue a career on Wall Street. After working in finance for nearly nine years, Dan joined Central’s staff in 2015. Dan met his wife, Hannah, through FOCUS (Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools), in which they are both actively involved. Dan and Hannah have three children: Caleb, Ben, and Lily.

Mary-Catherine McKee

Mary-Catherine McKee

Senior Director of Strategic Development and Communications

mmckee@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext. 105

Mary-Catherine McKee is the Senior Director of Strategic Development and Communications where she oversees the communications department and Central’s creative content, implements consistent and targeted communication plans for a wide range of audiences in alignment with Central’s vision and values, fosters strategic partnerships with donors, supporters, and partners, and develops strategic communication channels to extend Central’s visibility, participation, and reach. 

Please contact Mary-Catherine if you have any questions related to Central’s communications and development efforts.

Prior to working at Central, Mary-Catherine spent five years working in development for Mannes College of Music and Parsons School of Design. Mary-Catherine graduated with a Master of Music degree in bassoon performance from Mannes College of Music in New York City and a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Mary-Catherine met her husband, Austin, at Furman University where he studied Accounting and subsequently received a Master of Science in Accountancy from Wake Forest University. Mary-Catherine and Austin have two daughters, Hayden and Cate.

Leila Bragg

Leila Bragg

Director of Children's Ministry

lbragg@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

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.

Lauren Brown

Lauren Brown

Director of Community Formation and Spiritual Care

lbrown@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext. 105

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.

Twaambo Moyo

Twaambo Moyo

Director of Mission and Outreach

tmoyo@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

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.

Parmida Schahhosseini

Parmida Schahhosseini

Communications Manager

pscha@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

Parmida Schahhosseini is the Communications Manager at Central where she manages Central’s various communications platforms including the website, app, social media, and print materials. She also collaborates with ministry directors to help plan and communicate the events and initiatives taking place at the church. In addition, Parmida provides support for one-off special campaigns and oversees communications for the Central Chamber Series. 

Please contact Parmida if you have any questions related to upcoming events, ministry communications, and initiatives taking place at the church.

Prior to working at Central, Parmida spent six years at various public relations agencies where she supported global corporate communications campaigns for technology and financial services firms, led the execution of media relations programs, spearheaded executive visibility programs for C-suite executives, and produced social media content for various Fortune 500 clients and nonprofits. Parmida received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, Public Relations and New Media from Baylor University.

Kathryn Thompson

Kathryn Thompson

Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor

kthompson@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

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 its newly launched initiative, Resound Project. 

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.

Evie Toderic

Evie Toderic

Office Manager

etoderic@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

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.

Jamie Tulenko

Jamie Tulenko

Communications Coordinator

jtulenko@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

Jamie Tulenko is the Communications Coordinator for Central Presbyterian Church and Resound Project where she coordinates communications across departments and ministries. Her responsibilities include organizing and deploying assets, creating content and posting across multiple platforms, creating branding for events and strategic initiatives, and helping maintain Central and Resound Project’s presence on social media.

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. 

Resound Project

Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith

Program Director

asmith@resoundproject.org
Ext.

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). 

 

Emily Hawkins

Emily Hawkins

Director of Events

ehawkins@resoundproject.org
Ext.

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.

Abhishikth Babu

Abhishikth Babu

Pastoral Resident

ababu@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

Abhishikth Babu is a Pastoral Resident at Central through the Emerging Leaders program of Resound Project. He assists in the formation, development, and oversight of Community Groups. In addition, Abhishikth meets with newcomers to help them find their place within the church and incorporate them into the life of Central. 

Please contact Abhishkth if you are new to Central and would like to get more involved in the life of the church or if you have questions about Community Groups. 

Originally from Bangalore, India, Abhishikth received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Devaraj Urs College of Nursing, and Master of Divinity degree from Reformed Theological Seminary. Abhishikth has most recently served as the interim pastor of Grace Bible Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Before moving to the United States, Abhishikth worked for ten years as neuro-surgical intensive care unit, and psychiatric care nurse.

Alan Charnock

Alan Charnock

Pastoral Resident

acharnock@centralchurchnyc.org
Ext.

Alan Charnock is a Pastoral Resident at Central Church as part of Resound Project's Emerging Leaders Programs. He assists with Community Groups and teaches the Communicants’ Class.

Please contact Alan if you have any questions about Community Groups or Communicants’ Class, or would like to get more connected here at Central.

Alan grew up in Dallas, Texas, and attended the University of Dallas where he double-majored in Drama and English. He moved to New York City in 2011 to pursue playwriting, received a Master of Arts degree from Reformed Theological Seminary, and worked at Redeemer Presbyterian Church West Side as a Faith and Work intern. Prior to working at Central, Alan spent 10 years at an educational-technology startup focused on math curricula. He is married to Amy and they have four young boys.

 

Central Church's Elders and Trustees

Brian Brenberg

Jacques Hacquebord

Sarah Howell

Wilma Jordan

Jamie Baker Knauss M.D.

Peter Milligan

John Moon

Carolyn Portwood

Trey Rallis

Scott Stephenson

Central Church's Deacons

Chandler Anthony

Nathan Brown

Pamela Brumley

Yvette King

Meredith Long

Walker Ranson

Elizabeth Robinson

Jon Thorson