Staff & Leadership

The Role of the Church Council

The Church Council serves as a place and a forum for representatives from all of the church’s Committees and Boards to come together along with staff and the Moderator and Church Clerk to do long-term planning, focus on ideas about church growth, to do some work with the budget process, and to help implement ideas that come from the church at large, as well as to send ideas along for the consideration of the wider congregational body at the Mid-Year and Annual Meetings.

Who We Are

Rev. Julie Flowers, Senior Minister

Dr. Daniel Johnson, Associate Minister

Dr. Esther Chang, Director of Music

John Thomson, Treasurer

Abby Johnstone, Childcare Coordinator

Pat Haight, Office Manager

Jeremy Weir, Facilities Manager

Sherri Kohley, Communications Associate

Rev. Julie Flowers, Senior Minister

Rev. Julie Flowers (she, her, hers) graduated in 2001 from Wellesley College; she holds a BA in English and Spanish. She received her M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School in 2007, where she was a finalist for the prestigious Billings Preaching Prize. Julie has also served as chaplain intern at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton. She is a member of the Beverly Rotary Club, through which she is able to meet with many other community members and to be engaged in active and lively community service, like that practiced and valued by the church. In her free time she enjoys skiing and sailing (depending on the season!), reading, going to local Farmers’ Markets, and spending time with her son, Emmett, and their dog, Genevieve.

To connect with Rev. Julie regarding ministerial concerns, youth programming or anything else FBC Beverly-related, please email her at jflowers@fbcbeverly.org or you can call her directly at 978-922-3295 ext. 109.

Dr. Daniel Johnson, Associate Minister

Dr. Daniel Johnson (he, him, his) was born and raised outside of Pittsburgh, PA, and received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Virginia in 1996. He spent twenty-two years on the faculty of Gordon College, during which time he oversaw the development of new academic programs in Gender Studies, Sustainable Development, and Peace and Conflict Studies. He was also the founding director of the Initiative for the Study and Practice of Peace. His current research focuses on the significance of hope, understood as an essentially communal good, in communities that are seeking to reconstitute themselves in the wake of violent conflict. Daniel is an avid cyclist, a die-hard fan of all major Pittsburgh sports franchises, and a crossword puzzle addict. He and his wife Susan have three children—Samuel, Timothy, and Catherine.

You can contact Daniel via email on ways to get involved with his programs at djohnson@fbcbeverly.org or dial him at 978-922-3295 ext. 103.

Dr. Esther Chang, Director of Music

Dr. Esther Chang (she, her, hers) came to FBC in 1998 and is a native of Korea who grew up in Canada. She received her Master’s 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 lives in Beverly with her son, Ben.

To learn more about music at FBC Beverly, email Dr. Esther Change at echang@fbcbeverly.org or at 978-922-3295 ext. 107.

John Thomson, Treasurer

John Thomson (he, him, his) serves as Treasurer of FBC and as such, oversees all financial matters. 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 provides staff support to the Finance Committee, the Church Home Committee and the Trustees of Endowment, and work with our Financial Secretary and with our team who count our weekly collections. He would be happy to try to answer any and all questions about how the financial side of the church works, from pledges and donations, to budgets and accounting.

John lives in Beverly with his wife Loyce. As empty nesters, John and his wife Loyce enjoy spending time with their children and granddaughter who still live locally, travelling, and playing in the church’s bell choirs. He also has side interests in both Beverly and church history, travel, archaeology, reading, painting, evolution and dinosaurs!

To connect with John, please email him at jcthomson@fbcbeverly.org or you can connect by phone at 978-922-3295 ext. 105.

Abby Johnstone, Childcare Coordinator

Abby Johnstone (she/her/hers) is a lifelong member of First Baptist Church, and joined the FBC team as Childcare Coordinator in 2018. A Pre-Kindergarten teacher at Glen Urquhart School in Beverly, Abby holds a BA in American Studies and Government from Connecticut College and an M.Ed in Elementary Education from Endicott College. Passionate about fostering joyful learning, Abby loves to be with children as they ask curious questions, explore creatively, and make connections with one another and the world around them. In her free time she enjoys reading at the beach, baking cookies, and learning to quilt.

To connect with Abby, please email her anytime with childcare or children’s programming-related questions!

Pat Haight, Office Manager

Pat Haight (she, her, hers) joined the First Baptist Church in Beverly in 1989 as a Part-Time Office Assistant. Over the years, Pat’s career at FBC has evolved into the Office Administrator/Financial Secretary role(s). She provides support to the ministers and members of the church and also works closely with the church Treasurer, John Thomson. Pat is always happy to answer questions regarding pledges and any financial donations.

Another important part of Pat’s role is managing the church building usage. If you need a room for a meeting or gym time she will gladly assist you, and find time and space to accommodate you!

Pat lives in Danvers and enjoys spending time with her family. She loves to travel whenever possible and enjoys playing golf as much as can during the spring, summer and fall.

To connect with Pat, email her at phaight@fbcbeverly.org or call the church office at 978-922-3295, ext. 101.

Jeremy Weir, Facilities Manager

Jeremy Weir (he, him, his) has served as FBC Beverly’s Facility Manager since 2017. He’s the person to call regarding any needed repair, property enhancement, or access to the building. During his tenure with FBC Beverly he’s been involved with the painting of the steeple, and removal and replacement of the steeple finial. Next he’ll be coordinating the replacement of the nursery school windows and during the pandemic he oversaw an air purification system for the church.

Jeremy and his wife bought their first home in 1981 in Beverly and never looked back! For most of his career Jeremy was in banking but interestingly enough, also a cast member of the Le Grand David Magic Company at the Cabot Street Theatre.

You can reach Jeremy with any questions you have regarding the church building via email at jweir@fbcbeverly.org or by phone/text at 617-957-4793.

Sherri Kohley, Communications Associate

Sherri Kohley (she, her, hers) joined the team at FBC Beverly in June 2021 as a Communications Lead to coordinate all marketing and public relations efforts for the church internally & externally. Sherri graduated with a BA in Public Relations from Westminster College located in New Wilmington, PA. She then gained 10+ years of experience working across industries which include a creative agency, financial advisory firm, and top-tier higher ed institution. Although Sherri is a remote employee, she’s found herself right at “home” with the folks of Beverly! She presently lives outside of Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two girls, (who are the apple-of-her-eye!)

If you have any media, website, social media or newsletter-related questions or requests, shoot Sherri an email anytime!