Ministry Staff
First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh is fortunate to have a full-time ministry staff that is assisted by pastoral interns and other church officials.
Pastor Tracy Cox
pastortracy@fumcpittsburgh.org
412.681.8222 ext. 101
For over 20 years as a pastor in the Western PA Conference, Tracy’s ministry and leadership has lived into the divine truth that we are not alone. God is with us. In fact, God is with all people and all of creation at all times. She has encouraged not only a wide look at faith, but also a deep dive into the faith that shapes, sustains and moves us forward.
A graduate of Duke Divinity School, Pastor Tracy is married to Rev. Greg Cox, and is mom to three daughters: Sarah, Rebekah, and Elisabeth. She joins First Church Pittsburgh after previous appointments in Blooming Valley, Ingomar, New Brighton, and Coraopolis United Methodist Churches.
“Life is for service. We human beings are meant to be helpers.
In fact, the greatest thing we can do in life is to help our neighbors
come to know that they are lovable and capable of loving.
Anyone who truly knows this will not lose hope.”
~ Fred Rogers
Timothy D. Coles,
Director of Music and Community timcoles@fumcpittsburgh.org
412.681.8222 ext. 110
Tim Coles joined our church in the summer of 1998 and serves the church as the conductor of the Chancel Choir, the organist, and coordinator of special music events and offerings. Educated in the areas of performance and education at Ithaca College, Tim sought to make deep meaning of his music and finds the church’s spiritual congregation a wonderful place to honor great music and enrich his faith. Tim also co-creates new worship experiences every week at Worship Jam and believes that creativity, when allowed to blossom, can be one of the most powerful worship experiences of all.
Joe Smith,
Director of Spiritual Formation joe@fumcpittsburgh.org
412.681.8222 ext. 102
Joe Smith joined our church team as Director of Spiritual Formation in 2019. Informed by cutting-edge research in faith formation and rooted in the historic traditions of Christian spirituality, Joe leads teams to co-create communal spiritual practices that structure the rhythms of our daily lives and generate and sustain missional life among the least of these.
Before coming to First Church Pittsburgh, Joe served several congregations from various mainline protestant denominations as a director of Christian education and youth ministry. He has degrees in theology and philosophy from Eastern University and The University of Nottingham. He is currently a PhD candidate and Graduate Teaching Fellow in the department of theology at Duquesne University.
Joe is dad to Cosby, Adelaide, and Orion. He is a practitioner of aiki jujitsu, an avid Texas hold ‘em player, and a bluegrass enthusiast.
Digital Tech Engagement Specialist: Michael Dodin michael@fumcpittsburgh.org
Office Administrator: Gwendolen Jackson office@fumcpittsburgh.org
Office Assistant/Offering Steward: Sherry Kaiser
Building Maintenance Manager: Nelson Viola nelson@fumcpittsburgh.org
Custodians: Tacoma Woods and Freddie Griffin
Youth and Community Intern: Rudeene Jackson