Cliff has been a member of FCC for more than 20 years. He has served as Deacon, Elder, Vice-Moderator, Men’s Ministries Chair, Property Committee Chair, and Leader of the A/V Team.

Rev. Louis Vetri ( Age 53) was born and raised in south Philadelphia, PA in a Roman Catholic, Sicilian
family and neighborhood. He attended catholic schools up through higher education at Alvernia College,
where he received his Bachelors in Psychology degree in 1988. His early work in the helping professions
in alternative education and drug and alcohol rehabilitation developed a broader appreciation and
compassion to help whole family systems. Subsequently, he attended Hahnemann Hospital University
Marriage and family Therapy Program in Philadelphia and graduated with an MFT in 1996. Working with
families increased his awareness in issues of class, race, gender, religious and educational inequalities and
disparities in the larger cultural and institutional systems. He felt called to leave the therapy field and
work with social justice education , advocacy and activism initiatives including community organizing.
This led to appreciation for more open and civil discourse, interfaith and ecumenical efforts, peace
literacy and community coalition building to reduce prejudice and conflict and prevent violence
Much of this work in and in government funded agencies and grassroots organizations were often
dismissive and suspicious of faith driven efforts. Lou began developing partnerships between community
efforts and churches to forge better neighbor driven efforts of solutions. During this time and process, he
was encouraged and supported to consider his gifts in / for ministry. His lifelong efforts and interests to
be a servant for God and good in the world were able to be integrated within his faith journey , which
over the years has spanned Roman Catholic, Quaker, assembly of God, Lutheran .
He concluded he could not do further discernment without attending seminary and committed his heart to
study and formation at Lancaster Theological seminary in Lancaster, Pa. From where he graduated in
2014. During that time, Rev. Vetri found a home in the UCC with its polity, practices and deep
convictions and commitments to justice, covenant, a unifying and reconciling Christ, a God who is still
speaking who holds radical welcome for all and a true belief in the work of the Spirit leading local
churches to do relevant missions at home and abroad. With education and deep ecumenical partnerships
forming, the UCC has held the core matching values he holds, that in essential things there be unity, and
in non-essential things, flexibility, diversity and creativity while holding that all things be done in charity.
Lou met his wife while working at a hospital as an Associate Chaplain following his CPE training.
Through mutual friends they developed a tight and loving bond and married in 2015, having just recently
celebrated their 3rd year anniversary. Lou’s older sister and 91 yr old father still live in Philadelphia. His
mother passed in 2010. Linda’s children from a former marriage are all adults and live in Utah, Texas and
Washington State. Lou and Linda moved from Mt. Joy, PA and now live in Middletown, Ohio where they
purchased a home off Manchester Blvd and are slowly enjoying learning about the area and meeting
others. She began working at Trinity Community at Beaver Creek ( United Church Homes) back in April
2018. Lou was finishing up his work as Pastor of Trinity UCC in Rehrersburg, PA ( Berks Co.) where he
served the last 4 years.

Rev. Dr. Pamela Barnes Jackson is a member of First United Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Xenia, Ohio and an Associate Pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church of Dayton, Ohio. She has been a pastor for 10 years. Although she was born in Dayton,Ohio, Pastor Jackson is proud to call herself a Kentucky native as her roots go deep into the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Her father, the late William E. Guy hailed from Midway, Ky., mother, the late Lucy Lewis Guy, was born in Flemingsburg, Ky. Her mother-in-law is Wanda M. Anderson from Paris, Ky. and father-in-law, the late Alfred C. Anderson, from Mt. Sterling, Ky.

Pastor Pamela was baptized at the age of 13 by the late Rev. Eli Wilbert of Summit Christian Church. She was reared in a Christian home and participated in many ministries at the church included singing with her family “The Guy Family” who has a legacy of the William and Lucy J. Guy Family Scholarship Fund that has given college scholarships to many high school students over the past 19 years.

She accepted her call to ministry September 2009, her first sermon was on Christmas Sunday December 2009. Dr. Barnes-Jackson received her license on October 13, 2010 and was ordained on April 29, 2011. Rev. Barnes-Jackson and her husband, Rev. Willie Barnes-Jackson are New Church Planters for the Christian Church Disciples of Christ.

Pastor Jackson matriculated through Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio receiving her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degree’s graduating with Cum Laude honors. She was conferred with a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary on May 20, 2016. She has traveled extensively, God blessed her to live in Izmir, Turkey where she visited the last home of Jesus Mother, Mary in the ancient city of Korressos near the city of Ephesus. While in Ephesus she walked and sat in the Grand Theater/ amphitheater where Paul preached. She also visited the seven original churches. Currently Dr. Barnes-Jackson is the Student Billing Coordinator at United Theological Seminary. She was the HR Employment Manager at Central State University and the CLIMB Coordinator at Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio both universities are HBCU’s. She is married to her pastor, best friend, and mentor, Rev. Dr. Willie Barnes-Jackson and have been married for over 32 years, and have (6) children, and (14) grandchildren.

Above all of this, Pastor Barnes-Jackson believes it is only what you do for Christ that lasts, and when you live your life for Christ, every second counts! She strives daily to walk in spiritual excellence. 1 John 4:16 conveys “Whoever lives in love, lives in God and God in them.” Her favorite scripture is 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind.” To God be the glory for all He has done! Amen!

Rev. Louis Vetri

Rev. Louis Vetri ( Age 53) was born and raised in south Philadelphia, PA in a Roman Catholic, Sicilian
family and neighborhood. He attended catholic schools up through higher education at Alvernia College,
where he received his Bachelors in Psychology degree in 1988. His early work in the helping professions
in alternative education and drug and alcohol rehabilitation developed a broader appreciation and
compassion to help whole family systems. Subsequently, he attended Hahnemann Hospital University
Marriage and family Therapy Program in Philadelphia and graduated with an MFT in 1996. Working with
families increased his awareness in issues of class, race, gender, religious and educational inequalities and
disparities in the larger cultural and institutional systems. He felt called to leave the therapy field and
work with social justice education , advocacy and activism initiatives including community organizing.
This led to appreciation for more open and civil discourse, interfaith and ecumenical efforts, peace
literacy and community coalition building to reduce prejudice and conflict and prevent violence
Much of this work in and in government funded agencies and grassroots organizations were often
dismissive and suspicious of faith driven efforts. Lou began developing partnerships between community
efforts and churches to forge better neighbor driven efforts of solutions. During this time and process, he
was encouraged and supported to consider his gifts in / for ministry. His lifelong efforts and interests to
be a servant for God and good in the world were able to be integrated within his faith journey , which
over the years has spanned Roman Catholic, Quaker, assembly of God, Lutheran .
He concluded he could not do further discernment without attending seminary and committed his heart to
study and formation at Lancaster Theological seminary in Lancaster, Pa. From where he graduated in
2014. During that time, Rev. Vetri found a home in the UCC with its polity, practices and deep
convictions and commitments to justice, covenant, a unifying and reconciling Christ, a God who is still
speaking who holds radical welcome for all and a true belief in the work of the Spirit leading local
churches to do relevant missions at home and abroad. With education and deep ecumenical partnerships
forming, the UCC has held the core matching values he holds, that in essential things there be unity, and
in non-essential things, flexibility, diversity and creativity while holding that all things be done in charity.
Lou met his wife while working at a hospital as an Associate Chaplain following his CPE training.
Through mutual friends they developed a tight and loving bond and married in 2015, having just recently
celebrated their 3rd

year anniversary. Lou’s older sister and 91 yr old father still live in Philadelphia. His
mother passed in 2010. Linda’s children from a former marriage are all adults and live in Utah, Texas and
Washington State. Lou and Linda moved from Mt. Joy, PA and now live in Middletown, Ohio where they
purchased a home off Manchester Blvd and are slowly enjoying learning about the area and meeting
others. She began working at Trinity Community at Beaver Creek ( United Church Homes) back in April
2018. Lou was finishing up his work as Pastor of Trinity UCC in Rehrersburg, PA ( Berks Co.) where he
served the last 4 years.

The Rev. John Dick

The Reverend John Dick is a retired ordained minister in the American Baptist Church. John is a resident of Middletown. John has served American Baptist Congregations in Midland, MI; Haddonfield, NJ; Wyoming, OH; Middletown, OH and Worcester, MA.

 Bob Gambrell, Uncle to our own Cliff Thompson, was born and
raised just South of here in Hamilton. Following graduation from
Taft High School, Bob enlisted into the United States Air Force.
After 10 years and 9 base changes, he concluded his service at
Wright-Patterson AFB. Eventually Dayton Pepsi-Cola got a hold of
him in which he retired in 2016 with 28 year of employment. Bob
and his wife Shirley have been married for 28 years. He claims his
sense of humor is a family trait and feels at home in the pulpit where
he loves to share the Good News of the Bible. He appreciates the
opportunity once again to present a message here at FCC.