The Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, Pastor RESUME HIGHLIGHTS
Transformational Preaching
Music & Worship Leadership
Social Media & Technology
Pastor & Head of Staff in Lexington, KY 2018-2022
Pastor & Head of Staff, Shelter Island, NY 2014-2018
Doctorate of Ministry Candidate, New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Practical Theology, 2014
Presbyterian College, Bachelor of Arts in Religion and History, 2010
After graduating high school, I attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina (Go Blue Hose!).I majored in religion and it was during this time in my life that I discerned God’s call to be a pastor. I grew up in Dalton, Georgia where I was raised in the faith at First Presbyterian Church. It was these people who first taught me the meaning of God’s love and how to be a disciple of Jesus. Growing up, music was a very important part of my life and faith journey. I played piano, guitar, trumpet, and handbells and sang in the choir. Though I’ve never chosen music as a career, it continues to be an important part of my ministry and life. After graduating in 2010, I moved to Atlanta to attend Columbia Theological Seminary. It was there that my wife, Tricia, and I fell in love. In 2014, we moved to Long Island where I began my ordained ministry as the pastor of Shelter Island Presbyterian Church. Then, in 2018, we moved to Lexington, Kentucky where I became the Head of Staff of Beaumont Presbyterian Church. I’m looking forward to beginning my ministry at Guilford Park and building upon the strong foundation of this congregation. My highest priority and commitment is to be a loving pastor to everyone, regardless of political affiliation, theological belief, or personal ideology. Though it won’t always be easy, I truly believe that Guilford Park Presbyterian Church can be a place where we are uncompromising in our commitment to justice and Gospel-work while simultaneously holding a space where people of different viewpoints can be treated with respect, dignity, and kindness. My goal as your next pastor is to do my best to keep us laser-focused on what the Gospel demands of us in these difficult and divisive times. At the end of the day, the Gospel is really nothing more or less than a clarion call to radical neighborliness. I look forward to the privilege of exploring that with you in the years to come. The challenges are many, but none are so great as to keep us from God’s guidance and providence for the living of these days!
Dr. Bill Allred, Director Music Ministries Bill Allred joined GPPC August 2009 following long-time organist-choir director Dr. David Pinnix and interim director Loretta James. Bill began his church music career in 1989 and has served three other Greensboro churches; Saint Paul Presbyterian, Centenary United Methodist, and Buffalo Presbyterian.
Bill holds degrees from Westminster Choir College; BM, The North Carolina School of the Arts; MM, and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; DMA. He is the Artistic Director of The Burlington Boys Choir and is a founding board member of Burlington-Alamance Sister Cities. Bill is active in Greensboro music organizations, currently serving on the board of the Greensboro Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and formerly on the board of the North Carolina United Methodist All-State Youth Chorus and as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Boy Choirs for the North Carolina American Choral Directors Association. For over fifteen years he has been the volunteer director of the Friends Homes Ringers, the residents’ handbell choir at Friends Homes at Guilford.
Bill and his wife, Alicia, live in Haw River.
Susan Smith, Congregational Nurse Susan was born and raised in Charlotte, NC and attended Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing. She also attended UNC-Charlotte where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She has worked at several hospitals in the Charlotte area as well as Wake Forest, Bowman Grey School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, and Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro in the Kids Path program. She has lived in Greensboro since 2003. Susan and her husband, Van, have a daughter, Taylor, who is married and lives in Washington, NC. Taylor and her husband, Greg, have two sons, Wells and Myers. Susan and Van also have a son, Tanner, who lives and works in Charleston, SC. The Smiths enjoy fishing, boating, and vacationing at the NC coast, and spending time with friends, family, and especially their grandchildren. They have two dogs, a golden retriever and a black lab. Susan will have office hours on Tuesdays from 10:30-12:00. Please come by and introduce yourself.
Kim Row, Christian Educator for Children and Youth Kim joined our staff in July of 2005. Kim was born in Missouri and raised in Arkansas. She has worked in Catholic, Presbyterian U.S.A. and United Methodist churches in Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina. Kim has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Arkansas Tech University and a Master’s Degree in Christian Education from Pfieffer University in Charlotte, NC.
Kim and her husband, Gary, moved to Guilford County in 2000. They have three children, David, Katie, and Amanda. Kim enjoys music, adventure and the out-of-doors, especially around water. Her mission and her calling is for teaching!
Brian Fitts, Director of YES Music for Casual Worship Brian is the YES music director for the casual service at Guilford Park. He has a B.S. degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where his primary instrument was percussion. Brian has participated in numerous musical groups ranging from jazz bands to orchestras, traditional choirs to praise bands, and he is frequently requested as a guest musician in Greensboro and the surrounding area.
Brian is an IT technician at Elon University. He enjoys restoring old cars and enjoys participating in the NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage.
Jordan Hart, Accompanist for the Casual Worship Service Jordan Hart is the accompanist for the YES casual service at Guilford Park. He graduated from University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, with piano as his principal.
Jordan and his wife, Abigail, live in Greensboro, where he has lived all his life. His home church is Lindley Park Baptist, where he organizes and hosts a monthly coffeehouse/variety show fundraiser called That Friday Night Thing! He also serves as the accompanist for the Gate City Young Singers, and often fills in at Lindley Park, Trinity Church, and Parkwood Baptist. He is a veteran member of the Chariots, UNCG's premiere co-ed a cappella group, and he enjoys reading, writing, and film.
Jane Sharpe,Church Administrator Jane joined the staff of Guilford Park in November 2012 as our part-time Financial Administrator. In October 2016 she added the full-time duties of the Church Administrator to her position as well. She says every day is a learning experience as she hones her computer, web, and financial skills at GPPC. She has become the wearer of many hats in her role as point of first contact.
Jane has lived and worked in and around Greensboro most of her life, but recently moved to Asheboro. She and her husband, Tim, built their dream home in the Uwharrie mountains in Randolph county. Jane's interests include reading, gardening, and knitting.