Staff
The Reverend John R. Davis, Pastor
Rev. John R. Davis was born, raised and
educated in Richmond, Virginia. He received a Bachelor's of Arts in
Philosophy from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master's of
Divinity at Union Theological Seminary. Over the years, he has
worked as a painter, a bartender, a cook, a rock-n-roll Musician,
and a salesman. He has known times of plenty and times of want. Most
recently, Rev. Davis was the pastor of Leland Presbyterian Church in
Leland, Mississippi. There he learned the fine art of frying catfish
and jalapeno hushpuppies.
Service to the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination is an aspect
of ministry which John takes very seriously. He has served as the
adult representative to The National Presbyterian Youth Ministry
Council for the Synod of Living Waters. He was selected as the
keynote speaker for St. Andrew Presbytery’s Senior High and
Collegiate Retreats. And, John was served a two year term as
moderator for The Committee on Preparation for Ministry in the
Presbytery of St. Andrew.
Although a Virginia native, John grew up spending summers and
holidays in South Charleston where his grandparents lived.
Consequently, moving to the Kanawha Valley is, in many ways, a
homecoming. So far, both in Richmond and in Mississippi, John’s
ministry has been centered around the twofold task of spreading the
good news of God’s love while displaying a commitment to social
justice. "One without the other", he says, "presents an incomplete
picture of what Jesus was all about." John enjoys playing guitar,
reading, spending time with family, good conversation, and fishing.
Ron Neal, Music Director, Administrative
Assistant
Ron Neal was born in Charleston, has a
Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Organ from Concord College,
and a Master's degree in Church Music, Organ and Conducting from
Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. He formerly served as
music director and organist at Central Presbyterian in Lafayette,
IN, Woods Memorial Presbyterian in Severna Park, MD (the largest
congregation in the Baltimore Presbytery) and Second Presbyterian in
Richmond, VA. Ron's original hymn-tune Artists' Procession appears
in Rejoice in the Lord, the hymnal of the Reformed Church in
America, and in publications of the Gregorian Institute of America.
He has also studied at the Royal School of Church Music in Croydon,
England, and with SKS, the educational department of the state
Lutheran Church of Sweden, and privately with Marie-Claire Alain and
the late Jean Langlais in Paris. He has also served as adjunct
faculty for the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Anne Arundel
Community College, (MD), and WV Institute of Technology.
Chris Rogillio, Director of Christian
Education
Chris Rogillio joined the staff of Kanawha United Presbyterian
Church on June 1, 2006. She has been employed within the Presbytery
of West Virginia as a Church Educator since 1988. She is a
life-long Presbyterian and is married to Ron Rogillio. They have
three grown children.
Over the years Chris has been active in the
work of the Presbytery through the Christian Education Committee,
the Resource Center sub-Committee, Youth Council and the Presbytery
Council.
Christian Education and Mission are Chris's
passions. Her joy is seeing young people grow in relationship
with God and the church as they are impacted by Mission. She has
led numerous Sr. High and Young Adult Mission Groups including trips
to Ghost Ranch, Montreat, Youth Action Days in Washington DC,
Appalachian Service Project, and to Kenya. She has great Mission
and service dreams for KUPC.
As well as church activities, Chris enjoys
spending time with her children, reading and movies.
