Our Pastoral Staff

Rev. Dr. Charles Baier
Interim Senior Pastor

Charles was confirmed in the Lutheran Church, but became a Presbyterian when his family moved from Long Island to Hightstown, New Jersey. During his senior year of college he met Sharyn, a member of the Andover Baptist Church. They were married in 1971 and Charles will tell you that the support and love of Sharyn is the secret behind all and everything that he has ever done well. They have two children, Cheryl and Joel. Their first grandchild, Daphne, was born to Cheryl and her husband Peter who live in Menlo Park, California; and Joel and Karyn live in Lake Tahoe, California.

His B.A. is from Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts, and his Master's of Divinity is from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Massachusetts. In 1990 he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois. After serving as a called pastor for over 25 years, he began serving as an Interim Pastor in 2001; this is his fifth interim position.

In addition to his training as an Interim Pastor, Charles is recognized as a First Response Minister. First Response Ministers are equipped to move quickly into congregations needing seasoned and experienced leadership. The usual term of service is 6 months, which allows the session time to seek an interim who can serve up to two years. From May 1, 2010 to October 31, 2010, Charles served our congregation in this capacity.

After leaving on October 31, 2010 as First Response Minister, the Session requested that Pastor Charles return as Interim Senior Pastor. He gladly accepted the invitation and became Interim Senior Pastor on January 1, 2011, with a renewable contract at the end of the year.

Charles wants you to know that he has found Central Presbyterian Church to be a place where the Spirit of Christ is alive, where gratitude and forgiveness are part of daily life, and where God’s amazing grace gives us hope and courage. He encourages us to pray for him, Pastor John Illian and Pastor Cynthia Betz-Bogoly so that God would give them the wisdom to lead us in the way of Christ who alone is the Head of the Church.

Reverend John C. Illian
Associate Pastor for Christian Community

John is a life-long Presbyterian who grew up in Burbank, California where his parents were members of First Presbyterian Church. It was here that he said, "YES!" to Jesus Christ and where his faith was nurtured by a loving, supportive congregation.

After completing high school, he attended the University of California at Los Angeles and received a B.A. in History and a Secondary Teaching Credential. After this, he became a junior high school teacher, coach, and student activities director in Solana Beach, California.

During this time, John married Connie Parrish - a graduate of the University of California at San Diego, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Burbank. They like to say that their life together has been an "adventure" for God. Connie says that they have never had a dull moment.

Those adventures have taken place in the context of...going to seminary while starting a family...serving as an associate pastor in three communities: Springfield, Ohio; Malibu, California, and Greeley, Colorado...Connie working part-time and now full-time as a teacher.

Connie and John have four daughters and five grandchildren.

John is a person who has a life-long call to serve in the Presbyterian Church USA as an associate pastor. A graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, he is an experienced professional who was ordained in July 1983, a trained Stephen Leader, a founding member of the Association of Presbyterian Mission Pastors, and a person whose gifts, passion, and experience are in the areas of caring and outreach.

Reverend Cynthia Betz-Bogoly
Interim Associate Pastor for Families, Youth and Children

Cynthia grew up in Mendham Township, NJ where she attended the 1st Presbyterian Church from birth through adulthood. She spent her youth being highly active on swim team, marching band, as well as her church's youth group, and she spent her summers at the Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center in Johnsonburg, NJ.

When Cynthia was a sophomore in high school, she attended a National Presbyterian Youth Connection event at the University of Maryland. It was at this event that a former camp counselor of Cynthia's was giving the key note address. In his address, he commented how he was at a crossroads and he was asked by a church friend what he would do with his life. It was at this point that Cynthia started to consider that question for herself. The keynote speaker said that he was asked a follow-up question from the parishioner, "How about you become a pastor." Cynthia then realized, "Wait a second maybe I could be a pastor, I could make my service to God my priority rather than fitting it in after the rest of my interests and obligations." And so God had put things in motion.

Cynthia became the youngest Inquirer in the history of Newton Presbytery and went on to earn a BA in Religion and Electronic Media at Lycoming College. She then earned her M. Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. During her time in seminary she interned at Kirkpatrick Memorial Presbyterian Church in Ringoes, NJ, then as a chaplain at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ, and finally interned at the 1st Presbyterian Church of Freehold, NJ.

After seminary Cynthia served as the Christian Education Director for the 1st Presbyterian Church of Mendham until receiving her call to be ordained as the Solo Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Phillipsburg, NJ. She served Westminster for 3 years before coming to Summit.

During her time in Phillipsburg, Cynthia also served as the Outdoor Pools Director on behalf of the YMCA for the city of Easton, PA and as a volunteer EMT for her local emergency squad.

Cynthia lives in Summit with her husband, Russell, and their daughter, Natalie. She has been serving as the Interim Associate Pastor for Family, Youth, and Children at Central Presbyterian Church since August 1, 2011.