Pastor Transition Updates


This page is dedicated to keeping you up to date on the Pastoral Transition at First Baptist Park Street. Revisit this page for updates and subscribe to our weekly newsletter The Tie for notifications during this transition period.


May 7 Update: Dr. Fitzgerald was introduced and taught at the Family Night of Worship.

May 11 Update:  The time period for receiving Pastoral Search Committee nominations ended.

May 14 Update: Dr. Fitzgerald was affirmed as the Interim Teaching Pastor by a 99% church vote.

June 8 Update: Dr. Fitzgerald preached his first sermon as Interim Teaching Pastor. 



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Pastor Transition Timeline

Sunday, June 22: A Special Business Meeting will be held to affirm Pastor Search Committee candidates. 

Pastor Search Committee Candidates

  • Amanda Bitler

    Amanda is married to Bret, they have three married children and three grandchildren. She works part-time at Sexton and Associates, PLC. Amanda joined FBC Park Street in December 1993 and has served with VBS, GA's, Choir, Passion Play, Library Ministry, Preschool Sunday School, Preschool Committee, Helping Hands, Soup Kitchen, High School Sunday School Teacher, PSYM, Pastor Search Committee, and Mom to Mom mentoring.

  • Glenn Hahn

    Glenn has been married to Debby for 48 years, they have two adult children and eight grandchildren. Glenn and Debby were members at First Baptist in 1978 until called out of state for a job in insurance. They rejoined the church in 1998 and as of today have been members for approximately 37 years. Glenn retired as the Operations Manager from State Farm Insurance after 40 years of service and currently works part-time at the Hill & Wood Funeral Home. During his time at FBC Glenn has served with the Personnel Committee, Leadership Council, Deacons, Baptismal Committee, Unity Committee, Decorating Committee, Pickleball Host, and member of the Senior Adult Bible Study. 

  • Moe Lescault

    Moe has been married to Dianne Hawksley Lescault since June, 1984. They have two adult children. He is the Associate Dean for The Judge Advocate General’s School and has served in the US Army for 41 years, 21 of which were active duty before moving to Civil Service. Moe attended FBC under watch care from 1995-1999, and then joined the church as a member in 2003. He has served with AWANA, Sunday school, Youth Ministry, Deacons, Unity Team, Children’s Choir, and the Pastor Search Committee that called Pastor Rob Pochek. 

  • Carla Light

    Carla Light was born and raised on a farm and ranch in Texas. She received a Bachelor’s of Education at Hardin Simmons University and went on to teach in the public school system for 11 years, and then homeschooled her own two children.  She is married to Drew Light, a retired commander in the US Coast Guard. After moving to 13 different duty stations, their family retired and settled here in Charlottesville.  They became members of FBC Park Street in 2020.  She is serving on the Personnel Team, the Hospitality Team, the Women’s Prayer Team, and alongside her husband as a deacon’s wife.  Carla has a love for women’s Bible study and helps facilitate groups and prayer in that ministry.  She and Drew help teach the Single Young Adult class, where she is able to use her gifts of teaching, encouragement, and hospitality to help build relationships and encourage others to grow deeper in their faith.

  • Sally Nisley

    Sally has been married to Roger Nisley for 55 years, they have three children and three grandchildren with another grandchild due in November. Sally and Roger joined FBC Park Street in 2012. She has served in Women's Ministry, the nursery, and as a leader for Precept Bible Studies. She writes: “In 2021 after suffering an acute illness, I have continued to experience health challenges until the present time. But the Lord has been preparing my heart to serve again even in my weakness. The Bible conference in January, 2025 confirmed this to me on the second night of teaching, which was from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Those same verses God had used in 1986 to cause me to be born again to a living hope. It would be a sacred honor to serve in this capacity and search for the man that God has already chosen to be the senior pastor at First Baptist.”

  • Larry Sides

    Larry came to Christ at an early age, but grasped the meaning of salvation in college. While serving on the African mission field Larry was called toward Biblical counseling, where he has been working with individuals for 40 years to develop relationships that glorify God. He has served as Director of Counseling and Seminar Development at Christian Family Life, co-authored the devotional Time Out, helped establish admissions and counseling protocols for Youth for Tomorrow, and served local churches as a deacon, elder, ordained minister, and seminar speaker. Larry has been married to Norma for 48 years, they have four adult sons, three daughter-in-loves and ten grandloves. Larry and Norma began attending FBC Park Street in 2016 and became members shortly after. Larry has served as deacon, Sunday School teacher, and Life University instructor at First Baptist

  • Reid Young

    Reid has been married to Tracey for 30 years, they have two daughters, two son-in-laws and three grandchildren. He has 30 years of banking experience and has worked as the Senior Vice President-Chief Commercial Lending Officer for Pioneer Bank since 2012. Reid and Tracey became members at FBC Park Street in 2003. He has served as an Adult and Youth Sunday School teacher, Deacon, Deacon Chair, Stewardship Committee member, Leadership Council member, and Biblical Finance teacher. 

  • Phillip Riese

    Alternate candidate

    Phillip is married to Miracle Riese, they have three children. He works as the owner of Unlocked History Escape Rooms. Phillip has been a member at FBC Park Street since 2017 and has served in Pathways, Men’s Ministry Leadership, Park Street Youth Ministry, the Deacon Team, Leadership Council, Preschool Committee, Capital Campaign Team, and the Stewardship Committee. 

Dr. Michael Fitzgerald, Interim Teaching Pastor at FBC

Interim Teaching Pastor: 

Dr. Michael Fitzgerald

Michael R. Fitzgerald was born and raised in Staunton, VA.  He graduated from Wilson Memorial High School (1975); James Madison University with a B.A. degree in Philosophy and Religion (1979); and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity (1982).  In 1982, he married the former Gwendolyn Foster, and began as Senior Pastor of Clifford Baptist Church in Amherst County.  He earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in 1988.  Mike remained as Pastor of Clifford Baptist Church for 40 years, stepping down to pursue other avenues of ministry in June, 2022.  He has served on the Executive Board of the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia, and currently works with SBCV pastors in Church Revitalization.  Mike and Gwen have two married children, CariJoy and Gabriel, and four exceptional grandchildren.  


VIEW PAST SERMONS, CURRENT TEACHING, AND AN ARTICLE ABOUT DR. FITZGERALD HERE

Frequently Asked Questions

  •      Pastor Rob has provided the following statement: “In our family, we have been wrestling with how we should serve, love and pray for those closest to us. As many of you know, we are set to become grandparents in just a few weeks. For the past five years we have been wrestling with, if, or when the Lord may call us back to the Midwest to be near family. In that time, we have had multiple opportunities to take pastorates in the St Louis area. Each time we did not feel a freedom to do so. In fact, I can remember telling Susy that every time I thought of pastoring a different church, I felt jealousy for the man who would serve here. But, now, the Lord has opened a different door, one we did not expect or anticipate or see coming. I have been invited to join the executive staff at the Missouri Baptist Convention as the Director of Evangelism and Prayer. This invitation was not something we pursued, but rather, was opened to us in an unexpected way. Ultimately, we have felt the Lord make it clear that this is his next step for us, as I shared with the Leadership Council nearly a month ago. I feel called to use whatever gifts the Lord has entrusted to me to help a state convention refocus its efforts on evangelism and prayer. So, we have accepted that call. ” 


  •      Based on the FBC Constitution, the members of FBC are responsible for nominating a Pastor Search Committee (PSC) consisting of 7 members and up to 2 alternates. To that end, the Leadership Council has received PSC nominations from Sunday, May 4 through Sunday, May 11. Nominations can be submitted online or by a paper form delivered to the Church Office. Once church members have submitted nominations, the Leadership Council will review all nominations and recommend a PSC to the church on June 8 for a vote on June 22.

  •      A pastor search process usually lasts between 12-18 months.

  •      The Leadership Council selected Dr. Michael Fitzgerald as our Interim Teaching Pastor candidate. He was presented to the church on Wednesday, May 7 when church members had an opportunity to meet him at a dessert reception that evening. Additionally, church members voted for the Interim Teaching Pastor during the Ministry Conference on Wednesday, May 14. The Interim Teaching Pastor will be responsible for preaching on Sundays and for assisting with teaching opportunities, as deemed necessary by the Leadership Council. The Interim Teaching Pastor will not be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the church. Furthermore, the Interim Teaching Pastor will not be a candidate to be the next Senior Pastor. 

  •      FBC will continue to operate within its current organizational structure, being governed by the Leadership Council and led by its current executive committees (e.g. Deacons, Personnel Team, Stewardship Team, and Facility Team). The budget will continue to be managed by the Stewardship Team, who will provide monthly reports to the Leadership Council.

  •      Pastors Dale and Benji will assume many of FBC’s pastoral tasks (preaching, teaching, leading Discovering FBC, facilitating counseling, etc.) Bill Fulkerson, our Church Administrator, will be working with our communications team to facilitate regular communication to the church through the “Tie” newsletter and Sunday bulletin.

  •      Future plans for the Fournier Renovation Project are currently being evaluated, though much of the consulting that has already taken place has effectively identified structural improvements needed to our breezeways.

  •      As decisions are made regarding the pastoral transition, the Leadership Council will provide the church with regular updates through the weekly “Tie” newsletter, on the pastoral transition website (fbcps.com/transition), and during Sunday worship service announcements.