Revs. Janis & Joel Montgomery, Co-Pastors
Rev. Janis Montgomery is a 2013 graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Her
ministry is with the people. Her passions include youth in
worship, books and her kids. Rev. Janis come to us from Curryville Presbyterian
Church in Curryville, MO where she was a Stated Supply Pastor beginning in
2015. In addition, she has worked as a
youth director and Stated Supply since 2006.
Rev. Joel Montgomery is a 2013 graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. While his calling is to ministry, his passions are wide-ranging including archery,
comic books, Scouting, gaming, Star Wars, music and reading on many
topics. Joel served at First Presbyterian Church in Vandalia, MO since
2013 and he also served as a youth pastor, various pulpit supplies and student
pastor during his seminary years. Pastor@ChristUnited.Church.
Bryan Bowser, Director of Music
Bryan Bowser previously served as
Minister of Music for First Congregational United Church of Christ, Berea for
17 years. He is also the Program Director for Arts Management &
Entrepreneurship and Assistant Professor at the Baldwin Wallace University
Conservatory of Music; he was Associate Director of the Conservatory for
External Affairs at BW previously. Bowser spent three seasons as Director
of Operations and Development with Lyric Opera Cleveland before returning to
his alma mater Baldwin Wallace as Director of the Conservatory Outreach
Department. He has been seen in many local theaters, colleges and universities
as a music director and conductor. Bowser is president of the board for the
LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, an advisory board member of Brecksville
Theater on the Square and previous Chair of the National Guild of Community
Schools of the Arts’ Central Great Lakes Region. He holds an M.B.A. in
Entrepreneurship and B.M.E. from BW. He has been invited to present at
numerous professional meetings including those of the College Music Society,
National Association of Schools of Music, National Guild for Community Arts
Education and Ohio Music Teachers Association. Bryan leads
the Christ United Church Adult Choir and oversees the entire music
ministry of the church. bbowser@bw.edu
Nichole Fehrman, Associate Director of Music
Nichole Fehrman is an accompanist,
flutist, educator, and arts administrator. Most recently, she served as
organist and choir/praise band accompanist at Trinity United Church of Christ
in Wooster, OH where she enjoyed the opportunity to accompany local musicians
as well as members of the Ohio Light Opera every summer. In addition to
teaching privately, she led vocal music classes through the Children’s Arts at
Trinity (CAT) Program and has performed with the Elegance Trio, WCA Arts
Quartet, Canton Concert Band, Orrville Community Theater, Lakeland Civic Band,
Lakeland Flute Choir, Celebrations Flute Choir, Hillcrest Concert Band, and Donauschwäbische
Blaskapelle. Nichole is a member of the Ohio Music Teachers Association, the
Ohio Music Educators Association, Brahms Allegro Music Club, and the National
Association for Music Education. Her undergraduate degree is from the
University of Dayton and prior to accompanying and private teaching full time, she
taught elementary and middle school music for Clear Fork Valley Local Schools
in Bellville, OH, and St. Mary Elementary in Chardon, OH. Nichole is originally from St. Mary’s,
PA., and began studying organ at the age of nine. She currently lives in Fairview
Park, OH with her husband and two cats.
nichole.fehrman@gmail.com
Betsy Clark, Office Manager
Betsy Clark began her church office career in March of 2005 at First Congregational UCC, Berea. She continues her adventure in church office management with Christ United Church. Hers is the first voice and face you will encounter when calling
or visiting the church office. A graduate of Baldwin-Wallace
College (now Baldwin Wallace University), she holds a B.A. in Music and
a business minor. Although music is now mostly a hobby, Betsy enjoys singing
and playing piano and does both occasionally at Southwest Unitarian
Universalist Church in N. Royalton where she and Bernie, her partner who she believes is her
happily ever after, are members. Betsy raised her two
children, Taylor & Nick, in Berea but now resides in Cleveland. Taylor is a graduate of Allegheny College and Nick is a Miami University, OH graduate. office@christunited.church