Greg McDonell, Co-Pastor

Greg has served as pastor from January 1997 until February 2010 and co-pastor since February 2010. He is a graduate of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Prior to moving to Austin, he served a church in Houston, Texas for 16 years. Greg is married to Celeste, and they have three children and four, six, seven, EIGHT grandchildren.

Asked what he likes most about being co-pastor at Central, Greg said: "The rich history, diverse community, and bright future most excite me. Being a pastor of a church that has served this community since 1839 is a humbling experience. I am proud to be a pastor of a congregation that continues its long-time ministry with the poor and its renewed commitment to include all of God's children."

Joseph Moore, Co-Pastor

 Joseph has served as Co-Pastor at Central since early 2010.  He was called to fill the newly-created role of co-pastor, with a focus on young adults, family ministry, and administration. He is a graduate of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he received a Master of Divinity degree as well as the Charles King Preaching Award, the highest award for preaching given at the seminary. Joseph is not a native Texan, and while he didn't get here as fast as he could...he thinks Austin is an amazing place to Live.  In his free time Joseph enjoys reading, working on his family's camper (which is perpetually broken), and running ultramarathons.  Joseph and his wife, Shelley, have two children. 

According to Joseph one of the great joys of working at Central comes from watching the way in which this community of faith truly believes that everyone is a child of God worthy of love.  He is humbled by Central's long committment to downtown, it's rich history, and it's inclusive theology.  And he is deeply excited that the best days of Central are still ahead of us. 

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Although he started working in the church office in 2004, Win has been a friend of CPC since he and his wife, Susan Richter, moved to Austin in 1996. In addition to working in the church office, he can occasionally be found providing music for Sunday morning services.

Win also enjoys – yes, enjoys! – computer programming and administration. [For example, this is PHP code.]

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Cindy has been the director of music at Central for almost twenty years. She has a master's degree in conducting and was a high school choir director for 30 years. Her high school choirs were widely recognized as some of the best in the state and Cindy received a state teaching award for excellence . She is the founder of the River City Pops, an adult community choir, which is one of the oldest continuous community choirs in Austin.

Cindy has performed with such groups as Aspen Music Festival choir, Chamber Singers from the University of Texas, the San Antonio Chorale, Houston Theater Under the Stars, Handel Haydn Society, Zachery Scott Theater, the State Theater, Austin Pro Chorus and Conspirare.
She has served as vocal chairman for region 18, as a presenter at state conventions, as a region choir director, and is active as a clinician, consultant, and adjudicator.

She will be leading the music for the Women's Conference at Mo Ranch in 2012.

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Nathan was raised in Plainfield, NJ, where he started learning to play the piano as soon as he learned to read. After college, Nathan moved back to New Jersey to pursue his career in architecture and played the organ as an intern for the United Presbyterian Church of Plainfield. Fortunately for us, he and his wife, Kiera, decided to relocate to Austin!

Carolina is a life-long Presbyterian and recently received her Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City.  She grew up in Austin and enjoys walking around Lady Bird Lake, perfecting her chili recipe, practicing Spanish, and will eventually fulfill her life-long desire to learn the fiddle.  Carolina thinks Christian Education is really fun and tries to make it fun for the kids at Central, too.

Kathi Thomas, PFCI, TMF, has been involved in the special event industry for over 30 years, including since 1983 here in Austin. She is a member of American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) and Professional Floral Commentators International (PFCI.) Kathi has extensive experience in working with couples and their families to help make their wedding or holy union go smoothly. She has a degree in music and is happy to assist couples in selecting music for their event. "Our goal at CPC", says Kathi, "is to assist you in having a smoothly operating wedding or holy union at Central Presbyterian Church, with things happening the way you want them for your special day."

Thursday Concert Coordinator

Kathi Thomas has loved music most of her life, from hearing Ferrante & Teicher  and Roger Williams as a child when her parents played their records, to Pete Seger & Peter, Paul & Mary when her sister played her albums, to piano lessons, band and a major in music. Kathi was a music major at Sam Houston State University on a full music scholarship, and then transferred & finished her degree at UT Austin, where she was a member of the Longhorn Band, Wind Ensemble, UT Orchestra, and Sigma Alpha Iota, (national music fraternity for women.) Following college, Kathi taught band for a year in SE Texas, and then left to go into her family’s florist business. Kathi is still in the floral business, but also enjoys music as an avocation. She plays in the Hill Country Community Band and Longhorn Alumni Band, and was formerly a member of the CPC Handbell Choir and the Austin Symphonic Band.

As volunteer Concert Coordinator, Kathi is responsible for booking musicians for 49-50 Thursday concerts each year. She considers these concerts a gift to the city of Austin and has volunteered for this program since 2003. She is appreciative of the generosity of the musicians of the greater Austin in helping these concerts survive and thrive since their beginning in 1980.