OUR HISTORY Home / About / Our History Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination Originally, the church was founded by Rev. A.W. Rodgers and 13 charter members as a congregation affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination. It was known at its inception as the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Amarillo. One of the church’s first deacons, Mr. W. F. Heller, was the builder of the first dugout home in Randall County. Fillmore Street Presbyterian Church The church met in Amarillo’s first schoolhouse until 1892, when members erected a building on a corner lot at 620 Fillmore, at which time it became popularly known as Fillmore Street Presbyterian Church. (By this time, Amarillo had another “First Presbyterian Church,” which was a member of the Southern Presbyterian denomination. That church eventually was renamed Covenant Presbyterian Church and is located at 1400 Wolflin.) Central Presbyterian Church In 1906, the church installed the first pipe organ owned by any church in Amarillo. In 1909, upon making plans to construct a new red brick building at 10th & Taylor streets, the church renamed itself “Central Presbyterian Church.” The church moved into the new building in June of 1910 with 191 people on its education rolls. Our Present Location In 1927, Central Presbyterian Church secured land at 11th & Harrison streets, then began construction of a 15th century English gothic revival style building—complete with flying buttresses and antique glass sanctuary windows. The first services there were held on Easter, April 17, 1927. First Presbyterian Church In March of 1943, Central Presbyterian Church changed its name to First Presbyterian Church. In 1983, First Pres joined the Presbyterian Church, USA (PCUSA) denomination. Prominent Pastors Prominent pastors over the years have included Rev. R. Thomsen (1910–1945), Rev. Robert Skinner (1954-1963), Rev. James Carroll (1964–1984), Rev. Alan John Meenan (1989–1997), Rev. Jim Bankhead (1999–2010), and Rev. Dr. Howard Griffin (2011-Present). The church has been a fixture in downtown Amarillo since first organizing on September 28, 1890. ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians In October of 2013, our church voted by a vote of 438:16 to join ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. With 96% of people in attendance voting to join ECO, we are excited to see what the Lord has in store as we join this new movement of God. ABOUT Becoming a Member Contact & News ECO Employment FAQs Mission Statement & Beliefs Our People Our Pipe Organ What We're About First Pres Amarillo App WORSHIP | GROW | CONNECT | SERVE

OUR DENOMINATION: ECO Home / About / ECO FIRST PRES TO CHANGE DENOMINATIONS Congregational Meeting Vote: 438 - 16 (96.5% to 3.5%) to Join ECO Bylaws/Articles Affirmed 438 - 14 with 2 Abstentions In a standing-room-only congregational meeting Wednesday evening, more than 500 attendees heard Rev. Howard Griffin summarize events of the past two weeks leading up to the historic vote to disaffiliate from the PC(USA) and join ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. Elder Cole Camp described his experience in attending an ECO gathering. Members in favor of joining ECO lined up to speak for two minutes each. No one spoke in favor of remaining in the PC(USA). Elder David Mullin explained the ballot, and the congregation voted. Elders gathered the ballots and several retired to count them. David Mullin also read a letter hand-delivered the day of the vote from Palo Duro Presbytery outlining Presbytery's objections to FPC's departure from the PC(USA). When Bonnie Rogers, clerk of session, read the vote tally, a cheer went up for the recommendation to join ECO. Learn more about ECO here . ​ WHAT IS ECO (COVENANT ORDER OF EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIANS)? ECO (COVENANT ORDER OF EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIANS) ESSENTIAL TENETS ABOUT Becoming a Member Contact & News Employment FAQs Mission Statement & Beliefs Our History Our People Our Pipe Organ What We're About First Pres Amarillo App WORSHIP | GROW | CONNECT | SERVE

Our Projects I'm a title. ​Click here to edit me.

Home / About / Our People / Staff STAFF Home / About / Our People / Staff Our staff is a great group of people who love the Lord and want to serve you. ABOUT Deacons Elders Who's Who Trustees Doyle Askew Operations Manager (806) 350-5206 Bio & Contact Info Stephanie Cargo Wedding Coordinator; Administrative Assistant for Worship & Senior Pastor (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Brady Clark Director of Urban Missions (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Heidi Corona Administrative Assistant for First Pres Kids (806) 350-5211 Bio & Contact Info Austin DeSpain Youth Associate (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Cara Dyas Director of Communications and Production (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Norman Goad Director of Music and Organist (806) 350-5215 Bio & Contact Info Anita Goodrum Administrative Assistant for Missions and Outreach (806) 350-5202 Bio & Contact Info Murray Gossett Associate Pastor (806) 350-5203 Bio & Contact Info Howard Griffin Senior Pastor and Head of Staff (806) 350-5201 Bio & Contact Info Jaci Hopkins Youth Associate ​ Bio & Contact Info Debbie Laur Director of Early Childhood Ministry (806) 350-5213 Bio & Contact Info Elisa Maher Women's Ministry Assistant (806) 350-4242 Bio & Contact Info Janie Navarrete Lead Custodian ​ Bio & Contact Info Amanda Olson Administrative Assistant for Youth (806) 350-5209 Bio & Contact Info Allison Silvertooth Receptionist (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Kasey Sims Director of Elementary Ministry (806) 350-5212 Bio & Contact Info Brandon Smith 1105 Worship Leader (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Jeff Smoot Technical Director ​ Bio & Contact Info Emily Wood Director of Women's Ministry (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info

Home / About / Our People / Staff STAFF Home / About / Our People / Staff Our staff is a great group of people who love the Lord and want to serve you. ABOUT Deacons Elders Who's Who Trustees Doyle Askew Operations Manager (806) 350-5206 Bio & Contact Info Stephanie Cargo Wedding Coordinator; Administrative Assistant for Worship & Senior Pastor (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Brady Clark Director of Urban Missions (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Heidi Corona Administrative Assistant for First Pres Kids (806) 350-5211 Bio & Contact Info Austin DeSpain Youth Associate (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Cara Dyas Director of Communications and Production (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Norman Goad Director of Music and Organist (806) 350-5215 Bio & Contact Info Anita Goodrum Administrative Assistant for Missions and Outreach (806) 350-5202 Bio & Contact Info Murray Gossett Associate Pastor (806) 350-5203 Bio & Contact Info Howard Griffin Senior Pastor and Head of Staff (806) 350-5201 Bio & Contact Info Jaci Hopkins Youth Associate ​ Bio & Contact Info Debbie Laur Director of Early Childhood Ministry (806) 350-5213 Bio & Contact Info Elisa Maher Women's Ministry Assistant (806) 350-4242 Bio & Contact Info Janie Navarrete Lead Custodian ​ Bio & Contact Info Amanda Olson Administrative Assistant for Youth (806) 350-5209 Bio & Contact Info Allison Silvertooth Receptionist (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Kasey Sims Director of Elementary Ministry (806) 350-5212 Bio & Contact Info Brandon Smith 1105 Worship Leader (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info Jeff Smoot Technical Director ​ Bio & Contact Info Emily Wood Director of Women's Ministry (806) 373-4242 Bio & Contact Info

Our Projects I'm a title. ​Click here to edit me.