Meet our Staff
Pastor Jessica Dayson
Rev. Jessica Dayson was born in Richmond, VA, but moved to Charlotte as a baby, making the Queen City home for most of her life. She attended Appalachian State University, where she majored in Psychology and found a spiritual home at the Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist Campus Ministry. It was there that she grew in faith, discovered her call to ministry, and met her husband, Darryl.
Jessica attended Duke Divinity School, earning her Masters of Divinity. She is ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church in the Western North Carolina Conference. Jessica’s first appointment was serving two rural congregations in Candler, NC, followed by several meaningful years as the campus minister at the Wesley Foundation at UNC Asheville. She later served at Myers Park United Methodist Church as the Pastor of Lay Involvement. Jessica and Darryl have three children and are grateful to call the Charlotte area home once again. Darryl is also a pastor serving at South Tryon Community United Methodist Church.
Jessica is passionate about creating welcoming spaces where people feel safe to ask big questions, wrestle with faith, and explore what it means to follow Jesus in the world today. She especially enjoys deep theological conversations, engaging with those who are deconstructing or rebuilding their faith, and meeting people for coffee to hear their stories
Josh Parman
Accompanist
Originally from Nashville, Josh is a recent transplant to the Charlotte area to be closer to his family. He has previously worked for several churches and theaters in the Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Little Rock, and Nashville areas as a singer, pianist, organist, cellist, conductor, composer, arranger, and choir director. Josh holds two degrees in music composition from Middle Tennessee State University and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In his free time, Josh enjoys reading and has been known to fish.
2026 Lay Leadership
Lay Leader - Mike Lynch
Administrative Council Chair - Paul Claiborne
Recording Secretary - Beth Maher
Lay Member of Annual Conference - Gilda Bass
Reserve Lay Member of Annual Conference - Kelly Chiseck
Chair, Finance Committee - Rob Rose
Financial Secretary - Debbie Gafney
Church Treasurer - Dave Ogden
Contributions Secretary - Debbie Gafney
Membership Secretary - Elizabeth Hamilton
Chair, Trustees - Jeff Mills
Chair, Staff Parish Relations Committee - Mike Sloan
Chair, Discipleship Ministry Team - Bruce Heldman
Chair, Worship Ministry Team - Debbie Gafney
Chair, Congregational Care Ministry Team - Louise Hair
Chair, Community Engagement - Suzanne Gold
Stephen Ministry - Beth Maher and Mark Gafney
President, United Women in Faith - Linda LaRue
Chair, Scholarship Committee - Bill Maher
Website Coordinator - Stacy Hodes
