PASTORS/Staff
Pastor David Goetz - Associate Pastor
Pastor David leads our ministry to students, oversees all of our family ministry, helps to direct the staff, and regularly preaches and administers the sacraments.
David and his wife, Lindsey, met at Trinity International University and are the proud parents of five wonderful daughters: Eliana, Phoebe, Mercy, Willa, and Hilary. The Goetzes love family hikes, reading great books, inviting people into their home, playing board games, eating tasty food, and general nerdiness.
Email David: dgoetz@firstpresaurora.org
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation
to everyone who believes.”
Pastor Karen Roberts - Pastor of Disability Ministries
Karen provides pastoral support and care for individuals and families affected by disability in our congregation and community. Her passion is for First Pres to be a church where people of all abilities come to faith in Jesus Christ, worship, and serve together. She leads our Disability Ministry and seeks to equip our church so that people impacted by disability are welcomed, included, and become an integral part of our church family.
Karen and her husband Dale have three grown children, four grandchildren and have been part of First Pres. since the 70’s. She holds a Doctorate in Worship Studies from The Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies, a MWS from Northern Theological Seminary and a MME (Music Education for Special Learners) from Wichita State University.
Music is an important part of Karen’s life. She loves being involved with the worship and music ministry of FPC. Her most recent musical interest is learning to play the cello.
Email: kroberts@firstpresaurora.org
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”
Elizabeth Kapitaniuk - Director of Worship and Music
Elizabeth is our Director of Worship and Music. Elizabeth plans weekly worship services, directs the worship band and seasonal choirs, and oversees the Audio and Visual team as well as all other aspects of worship. She is committed to the church's Ancient-Future worship model, nurturing robust congregational worship and singing, and developing worship teams that involves all ages and abilities.
Elizabeth has degrees in Music Education and Clarinet Performance. In addition to her work at First Pres, she works as a professional clarinetist performing and teaching in the Chicagoland area.
When she has free time, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with close friends and family, playing board and card games, taking walks, listening to audiobooks or podcasts, or watching quality films and tv shows.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat
or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ”
Britta Wallbaum - Director of Children and Family Ministries
Britta oversees our ministries to children (birth-5th grade) and their parents. She has degrees in Christian Formation & Ministry and Architecture, and is passionate about involving kids in the worshiping life of the church, helping them know God and his gospel story, and resourcing parents in family discipleship. Many of the resources she has created, including The Gospel Story Hymnal, are available on her website, wordandwonder.org.
Britta has been a part of the First Pres family since 2004, but only just joined the staff in 2023. She's married to Jim, and they have four kids: Linnea, William, Anders, and Alijah (who is their foster son, and on the autism spectrum.) She has no spare time, because she has four kids and is always planning or creating something new, but loves to read, watercolor, and spend time adventuring in the woods when she can.
Email: britta@firstpresaurora.org
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Brenda Bustamante - Ministry Assistant
Brenda is our neighborhood after-school program, and Summer Day Camp ministry staff. Brenda is also the bilingual Hispanic Liaison for our church. At a young age she surrendered her life to Jesus and discovered her call to ministry through organizing and supervising Vacation Bible School for her home church in Monterrey, Mexico. Brenda has a desire to help children build a spiritual foundation through which they can come to know Jesus Christ personally and grow in their relationship with Him. Today she is married to Bernardo and a proud mother of Bella.
Brenda's hobbies include photography and watching movies.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go”
Melissa Beneke - Administrative Assistant
Melissa's many tasks as Administrative Assistant include: church contributions, Website design, Bulletin/ Newsletter editor and maintaining Church Records. She started working with First Pres in December of 2014. Melissa is passionate about working with others to communicate the mission and vision of First Pres. She has a BA in English and Communication from Aurora University. She was involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship during college.
Melissa’s hobbies include golfing, quilting, cooking, and traveling.
Email: mbeneke@firstpresaurora.org
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
Elders
As a Presbyterian Church, First Pres is lead by a team of elders, which means that major decisions are made by a team of godly men and women elected by the congregation. We call this team the "session". We currently have ten active elders: nine "ruling elders" (lay leaders from the congregation) and two "teaching elders" (ordained pastors). The session oversees our staff team, including our Associate Pastor David Goetz.
Here is a list of our current elders:
Rev. David Goetz
James Kinnard
Anne Miller
Katie Landers
Dale Roberts
Kathy Russell
Mary Faye Vasen
John Young