Meet our Congregational Council
Congregational Council is composed of the Pastor, 3 Officers and nine individuals elected by the Church congregation.
These council members can serve as chairs and members of the committees set up to oversee all the interests of the church. The officers are elected by elected Council.
The Congregational Council meets every second Sunday of the month.
These council members can serve as chairs and members of the committees set up to oversee all the interests of the church. The officers are elected by elected Council.
The Congregational Council meets every second Sunday of the month.
Council Officers
COUNCIL PRESIDENT & MUTUAL MINISTRY
Jim Buell Jim has been a member of Holy Comforter since moving to Belmont in 2013. A retired executive, Jim sings tenor in Holy Comforter’s choir and often serves as lector during worship. Jim enjoys God’s amazing world when hiking the beautiful mountains of North Carolina and traveling. Jim has two grown sons living in Louisville and Charlotte. Favorite bible verse: Micah 6:8 
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Shelia Kelly Shelia and her husband Tim, joined Holy Comforter in 1991. She retired from a 35 year at Duke Energy. She has a bachelors in Accounting and enjoys her role at Holy Comforter. Throughout her years at Holy Comforter she has served the lord in many ways, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, leading the youth group, participating in mission trips, organizing the Christmas Angel program and handling the financial duties. All labors of love for God and Holy Comforter. Shelia and Tim have a son and a daughter and are blessed with three precious grandsons. Favorite Bible Verse: John 3:16 |
COUNCIL VICE-PRESIDENT
PASTOR Micah Kearney Pastor Micah has served at Holy Comforter since July of 2014. He continues to experience the work of the Holy Spirit in his life primarily through the people in it. As such, he has seen Holy Comforter as a community in which the Holy Spirit has been at work as he has come to love the people of the church. Pastor Micah believes we have a God of resurrection, of new life, who calls us to join in that work in order to make the Kingdom of God known to one another and to the world. We live into that call through our worship, our shared lives together, and through our service to others. 
CHURCH TREASURER
Warren Heller Warren joined Holy Comforter in 2003 and moved to Gastonia in 2004 when he and Faye were married. Both of them commuted to Washington, DC until he retired from the FDIC in 2007. He has three grown daughters, five grandchildren and has been blessed with careers as an engineering physicist, financial analyst and entrepreneur. Favorite Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30. |
Council
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Jill Cassel, Co-Chair Jill Cassel has been a member of Holy Comforter since 2014. Currently Jill is the chair for Christian Education and co-chair for Youth & Fellowship, and Worship & Music. She is also an active Sunday School and Children’s church teacher. Jill is a member Altar Guild and is a communion assistance. Jill loves NC State Wolfpack and other sports. She is the mom of two child Erin, 10, and Tyler, 7. Jill’s favorite scripture is My help comes from the Lord. He is the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2 
PROPERTY & CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Ellie Holloway, Chair Ellie is a life-long Lutheran and became a disciple of Holy Comforter in 2022. She worked in the hospitality industry for 12 years prior to moving to North Carolina. She retired in January of 2022, after serving 24 years as the Facility and Ministry Administrator at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Gastonia. Ellie met her husband Jimmy at Holy Trinity and they have been married for 24 years. Jennifer Hass Kearney is Ellie’s daughter. Ellie enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, gardening, and watching the Tarheels and Atlanta Braves. Ellie is enthusiastic about giving of her time and talents and looks forward to being a part of the ministries at HC. OUTREACH MINISTRY
Rianna Nance, Chair
WORSHIP & MUSIC
Anne Reese, Chair A lifelong music educator, Anne holds degrees in Music Education from Mars Hill University and a Masters degree in Middle Grades Education from Belmont Abbey College. Now retired from public school music, she spent her career working with middle and high school instrumental and choral musicians. A member of Holy Comforter for over 30 Years, Anne has been a member of the Chamber Choir and is still a member of the Choir, as well as teaching Sunday School for a time. She and her husband Mark have two daughters, Caitlan and Sarah, who live in Hickory and New York respectively. Her favorite verse is Matthew 28:20, “And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age.” |
EVANGELISM
William Charnock, Chair Will joined Holy Comforter in 2022 after moving to Mount Holly from Charlotte. William is a CPA who worked for Price Waterhouse Coopers before settling in as a Vice-President of Accounting and Lease Administration for Lincoln Property Company. Will enjoys volunteering as a lector and his favorite season is Advent – when we simultaneously celebrate Jesus’s birth, but also prepare for His second coming. Will’s favorite verse is Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say , Rejoice”. 
STEWARDSHIP, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Brad Moler, Co-chair Brad Moler has been a member of Holy comforter since 2023. He immediately fell in love with the sense of community and dedication to service that Holy Comforter embodies. Brad and his wife, Sarah, moved to Belmont in order to further their careers in physical therapy and spend time closer to family. He enjoys mountain biking through the mountains of North Carolina and playing board games with friends and family. His favorite scripture is First Corinthians 13:1-3. 
STEWARDSHIP & FINANCE
Matt Piscatelli, Co-Chair Raised in Gaston County, Matthew was always fascinated by the brick and brightly colored windows of the Belmont church: In 2019, along with wife Katie and sons Luca and Philip, he became a full-fledged member. Working through a career in personal finance with Truist Bank, he seeks to help individuals make sense of this ever-changing world, and now feels called to provide his abilities to his church family and surrounding community. 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest' Matthew 11:28 
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE & SOCIAL MINISTRY
Leslie Christ, Chair Leslie is a 1977 graduate of Lenoir Rhyne College with a degree in music education and a 1994 graduate of Winthrop University with a Master of Music in vocal performance degree. She has been a choir director for 25 years at Oakhill Methodist Church, Morganton, NC; Old St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Newton NC and Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Mt. Holly NC. She taught music appreciation at CPCC for 15 years. HCLC; Director of Hanging of the Green Service for the last 12 years. She currently serves on church council where she chairs the Social Ministry Committee, and is also a member of the Church Choir and Chamber Choir. |
