About CUC

Christ United Church

Our History

On Pentecost Sunday of 2016, the congregations of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and First Congregational United Church of Christ of Berea merged to become Christ United Church. Since that day, we have been working to become a place that all kinds of people can comfortably call “home.” Whether that home is found through worshiping together on Sunday mornings, attending one of our study groups, sharing fellowship together, finding support through one of our local missions, or simply through the shared space that we provide for a variety of local organizations, we hope you can find your “home” at Christ United!

About Us

Following Jesus’ example and teaching, we seek to provide a safe space in which you are accepted and can share your hopes and fears, joys and troubles.

We welcome you, regardless of your skin color, ethnicity, or nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or family status, education, employment status, or income, abilities and limitations, health or addictions, political persuasion or legal status, religion, beliefs, uncertainty, or skepticism.

We treasure God’s gift of diversity and welcome you to our community of faith in which we celebrate our common traits and the precious differences that make each of us unique.

Mission

With Christ as our heart and God’s love as our fire, we learn, we love, we care for all people.

Staff Members

Rev. Janis Montgomery

Lead Pastor

Rev Janis is a 2013 Masters graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Her ministry is with the people of the community. Her passions include children in worship, education on racism, LGBTQAI+, women’s rights. She is serving as the Committee for Preparation on Ministry (CPM) moderator and works closely with the North Presbyterian Church in Cleveland. Janis has worked hard to build an ecumenical relationship with the Berea Methodist Church. She has participated in CLEPride the last two years to show support for the LGBTQAI+ community.

Rev. Joel Montgomery

Associate Pastor for Church Vitality and Faith Formation

Rev. Joel earned his Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2013. He found his calling into ministry through years of work in camp and conference settings, greatly influencing his sense of community, spirituality, worship, faith formation, evangelism, and leadership. He and Pastor Janis have four children and a bearded dragon. When he’s not engaged in ministry in the community, Pastor Joel waves his “geek” flag proudly (take a peek into his office at the Star Wars tree!), playing tabletop roleplaying games, geocaching, crocheting, and more.

Bryan Bowser

Director of Music

Bryan is the Director of Music at Christ United Church; previously he served as Minister of Music for First Congregational United Church of Christ, Berea for 17 years. He is also the Associate Dean for Theatre Arts & Entrepreneurship and Program Director & Associate Professor for Arts Management & Entrepreneurship at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Performing Arts; he was Associate Director of the Conservatory for External Affairs at BW previously. Bowser spent three seasons as Director of Operations and Development with Lyric Opera Cleveland before returning to his alma mater Baldwin Wallace as Director of the Conservatory Outreach Department. He has been seen in many local theaters, colleges and universities as a music director and conductor. Bowser previously served as president of the board for the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, an advisory board member of Brecksville Theater on the Square and Chair of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts’ Central Great Lakes Region. He holds an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship and B.M.E. from BW. He has been invited to present at numerous professional meetings including those of the College Music Society, National Association of Schools of Music, National Guild for Community Arts Education and Ohio Music Teachers Association. Bryan leads the Christ United Church Adult Choir and oversees the entire music ministry of the church.

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Associate Director of Music

Betsy Clark

Office Manager

Betsy first served as the Office Manager of the former First Congregational UCC, Berea beginning in March of 2005. Since 2016, she has served in that position with Christ United Church. Hers is the first voice and face you will encounter when calling or visiting the church office. A graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University), she holds a B.A. degree in music and a business minor. Although music is now mostly a hobby, Betsy enjoys singing and playing piano and does both at Southwest Unitarian Universalist Church where she is a member. Betsy has two adult children, Taylor, a middle school teacher in Meadville, PA married to Ian and Nick, a graduate of Miami University now living and working in Huntsville, AL. She also has a granddog, Misha and a grandcat, Ranger.

Your generosity helps us spread love, hope, and support to those who need it most.

When you donate to Christ United Church, you contribute to our mission of providing a safe, inclusive space and essential support for our community. Together, we can make a lasting impact.