Meet Our Staff
The ministerial staff of the First Baptist Church in Beverly operate in a Team Ministry, to the fullest extent. The Team Ministry concept is based on the theological principle that all ministries and all persons are of equal value and importance in the eyes of God. In the same way, all ministries and all persons are equally needed in order for the church to function fully and properly.
The model of ministry that Jesus offers us is one of mutuality, partnership, and servanthood. Practically speaking, this means that all the three ministers are on equal footing. All three ministers have been called by the congregation and are accountable and answerable to the congregation. The three ministers share worship leadership, preaching, and all pastoral care concerns as mutually agreed upon.
Who We Are
Rev. Julie Flowers is a 2001 graduate of Wellesley College, she received her M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School in 2007, where she was a finalist for the prestigious Billings Preaching Prize. Julie also served as chaplain intern at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton. She enjoys skiing and spending time with her son, Emmett and two dogs, George and Madeline.
Rev. Richard G. Harris, newest pastoral team member, is our Interim Minister. Rick has served churches in Massachusetts (Boston, Watertown and 26 years as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of North Oxford), as Executive Secretary of the Northern Baptist Education Society from 1989-1996, on the national staff of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies in Valley Forge, PA for thirteen years with the American Baptist Personnel Services from which he retired in 2009. Most recently Rick has been the Pastor of Visitation at Central Baptist Church, Wayne, PA. In 1967 he graduated with a BA (Honors in History) from Wake Forest University and with a BD from Andover Newton Theological School in 1970. Rick has been married to Anne for 41 years and they have a married daughter, Ericka, who lives in Huntington Beach, California.
Rev. Beth Loughhead joined the staff at First Baptist in August of 1989. Beth served at the First Baptist Church in Newton Centre, MA, at Harbor Me (services for battered women) and in the ABCUSA's Department of Ministry with Youth before coming to Beverly. She received her M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School. Beth is married to Dr. James P. Gubbins, who is an Assistant Professor at Salem State University. They love to travel, with their two favorite trips being to China to bring home their daughter, Anna Mei, and to Cambodia to bring home their son, Matthew.
Dr. Esther Chang Redington came to FBC in 1998 and is a native of Korea who grew up in Canada. She received her Masters Degree from Eastman School of Music, and her Doctorate Degree through a fellowship from the University of Illinois. Prior to her work with FBC, she served as a faculty member of the Canadian Institute of Performing Arts, and served several churches as Director of Music. In 1998, Esther won the Royal Canadian College of Organist National Organ Competition. Esther is married to Bruce Redington and they have a son, Ben.
John Thomson serves as Business Manager of FBC. He graduated from Yale College and received his law degree from Harvard Law. John has extensive experience in real estate law and has served on the City of Beverly Planning Board and the Beverly Historical Society Board of Directors. John lives in Beverly with his wife Loyce. Empty nesters, John and his wife Loyce enjoy visiting their son Dave and his wife Laura and their daughter Annsley in their respective Beverly homes.
