our staff
Rev. Blake Brinegar became the Stated Clerk effective October 1, 2022. He has been serving churches in Arkansas for the last 6 years. Before that he served a congregation in Pennsylvania. He served churches in Texas before that. Originally from Oregon, he made his way to the South for Seminary, but has not made his way back to Oregon for any length of time. He married a Native Arkansan, so he doesn’t imagine relocating to the Northwest is going to happen anytime soon. He is married to the Rev. Elizabeth Brinegar who serves in the Presbytery and also as the Director of Operations for Solar Under the Sun, a mission of the Synod.
In his spare time, he likes to fish, hunt, hike, camp, bike, basically anything outdoors. He also enjoys spending time with his dog Maisie and his cat Snape. He is excited to serve as your Stated Clerk and looks forward to working with the congregations of this presbytery. If you have any questions, feel free to contact him.
Dr. Sarah Leer (she/her) is a native Arkansan who has served non-profits for over a decade including Presbyterian Church (USA) churches in Austin, Dallas, and Northwest Arkansas. Sarah is a graduate of Wake Forest University, Columbia Theological Seminary, and the Clinton School of Public Service. She is a practical theologian who is living into her call to deconstruct systems and disrupt the status quo in order to seek liberation, justice, and belonging in solidarity with those living on the margins. A lifelong Presbyterian, Sarah has served as a Young Adult Volunteer in New Orleans, as the Moderator of the Young Adult Volunteer Alumni Council, as the Adult Co-Moderator for the Youth Advisory Team and on CPM for the Presbytery of Arkansas, and on the board of the Presbyterian Youth Workers’ Association. Sarah enjoys singing Broadway songs in her car, random road trips and adventures, geeking out over pop culture, traveling the world with friends, hanging out with her family, board games, watching SEC college football, and attending youth conferences that include energizers.
Kimberly Palmer Kimberly Palmer joined the Presbytery of Arkansas staff in 2019 and serves as the Presbytery Administrator/Connector, providing administrative, financial, communications, and connectional support to churches, leaders, and ministries across the Presbytery of Arkansas. She enjoys serving others, finding practical solutions, improving processes, and working behind the scenes to support the ministry and mission of the Presbytery of Arkansas.
With more than 30 years of experience in accounting and nonprofit administration, Kimberly's background includes payroll, accounts payable and receivable, financial reporting, tax preparation, account reconciliation, budgeting, and audit support. Prior to joining the Presbytery of Arkansas, she and her late husband owned and operated two community newspapers in Texas, an experience that strengthened her skills in communications, publishing, and small business management.
After nearly two decades in Texas, Kimberly returned to her home state of Arkansas, where she has continued her career serving churches and nonprofit organizations with a commitment to dependable service, thoughtful communication, and sound financial stewardship.
Outside of work, Kimberly enjoys reading, genealogy, exploring Arkansas's natural beauty,
spending time with family, and sharing her home with her daughter and their three cats—Bell,
Penny, and Pilgrim.
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Dr, Jane Webb was born in New Orleans, LA and grew up in Houston, TX. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Deaf Education, a Master of Elementary Education; and a Doctor of Education in School Leadership and Administration, all from the University of Arkansas. Her career in education spanned 38 years as a teacher of the deaf in Fayetteville, elementary teacher in Springdale and Rogers, elementary principal in Rogers, and the final seventeen years as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in the Rogers Public Schools. She retired in 2011.
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Jane has served as Clerk of Session at First, Rogers for the past fourteen years. She also serves as a Worship Leader, sings in the choir, and occasionally substitutes as organist/pianist. She previously served on the Committee on Ministry, helping several churches in their pastoral searches. She is a current board member of United Campus Ministries.
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Jane is married to David, and they have two grown and married children, two grandsons, and one grand-dog. She enjoys travel, live theater (acting as well as watching), singing karaoke, and reading. She is an active volunteer at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville.
Rev. Maggie Alsup lives on ice coffee, believes that Disney movies are for all ages, is obsessed with hippos, and hails from the great state of Oklahoma. She loves to try new baking recipes when she isn't traveling and exploring new places across the US and world. She is convinced that if she could give up her love of bacon she could become a vegetarian.
Maggie has served as a youth director in Arkansas and Alaska, which sparked her love to work with young adults in the church. After earning her Masters of Divinity at Columbia Theological Seminary (2014), she served as the campus ministry intern with college students at Clemson University (2014-2016). She remained in Clemson working as a supply preacher for Foothills Presbytery until arriving at Lyon to serve as the interim campus chaplain. She became the "official" chaplain in spring 2017 and spends her days providing pastoral care, vocational discernment, and building meaningful programming for Lyon students. Her passion in life is helping empower and equip students for life and ministry in God's changing world.
Rev. Judi McMillan was ordained in the Presbytery of Arkansas as the Campus Minister at United Campus Ministry in Fayetteville in 1998. She has since served congregations in Nebraska and Michigan. Her longest pastorate was in Troy, Michigan. Her ministry has also included four interim or transitional ministries in the Presbytery of Detroit.
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Judi has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from James Madison University (Go Dukes!), an M.Div. from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Missional Leadership. Her children, McKayla and Caleb, live with their partners in Michigan. McKayla and Jordan married in 2023 and live in Grand Rapids. Caleb and Emme have made their home in Kalamazoo. Judi’s parents, Tom and Linda, live in Bryant, Arkansas. If you’ve been in this Presbytery a while, you may know Linda from her time serving the Presbytery of Arkansas and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs.
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Bella Vista is a wonderful church to serve, the congregation enjoys creative worship, deepening relationships in service to God, and learning through bible studies and current authors and theologians. Transplants from all over come to Bella Vista to retire, but also to fully live out new callings to serve. If you want to have a fun conversation, ask her about Holy Humor Sunday!
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Judi also enjoys live music, art, painting, woodworking and last but not least, flying on her road bike. We have amazing roads and trails in lovely Arkansas. She looks forward to serving the Presbytery of Arkansas and getting to know you better.
Tom Verdery was the Moderator of the Committee on Administration for 2020 & 2021 and has been a member for many years on this committee (and a previous moderator) within the Presbytery. He is an Elder and current Treasurer at First United Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville where he has been a member since 1989. Tom was born in Fort Worth, Texas, yet was raised both in Texas and New York where his father’s career moved him.
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Tom has over 34 years of experience working with Procter & Gamble, of which his last 14 years were spent working exclusively outside the US. After retirement from P&G, he was Executive in Residence at the Soderquist Center for Leadership & Ethics and Professor in Business at John Brown University specializing in Leadership & International Studies until his retirement in July 2018. Since then, Tom does part-time Executive Coaching and adjunct teaching at JBU’s Graduate School in Marketing Strategy.
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Tom holds an MBA from The University of Dallas and a BBA from Texas Tech University. Tom enjoys spending his free time traveling with his wife of 43 years, Barbara along with fishing both locally and across the US. They have two sons, Christopher, and Scott, who is married to Allie with their grandchild Zelda.