First Presbyterian Church’s leadership equips members and friends to pursue and nurture a life-changing relationship with God in Christ. Our staff members reflect the diversity of background, faith histories, and Christian church experience typical of our Cranford and northern New Jersey communities, as well as this congregation of professionals, young families, retirees, teenagers and children.

In partnership with elders and other elected church leaders, our Senior Pastor and Head of Staff, the Rev. Gregory Horn, guides our worship life and oversees the congregation’s mission as a caring, learning community of faith. Our Associate Pastor of Family Ministries and Pastoral Care, the Rev. Valencia B. Norman, leads our Deacons in their ministries of visitation and hospitality, maintains supportive relationships with the entire community of First Pres. friends and members, and works closely with church leaders and programs serving children and families. Together with a staff of dedicated and gifted church professionals, our pastors work to establish this congregation as a welcoming ministry that values and serves families, individuals and children alike.  

Gregory A. Horn, Senior Pastor and Head of Staff

The Rev. Gregory (Greg) Horn became Senior Pastor and Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church in September of 2002. Greg is a graduate of Stanford University and The Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree. At Union Seminary, he focused his studies on Biblical Theology, while gaining preaching and pastoral experience at Rutgers Presbyterian Church on Manhattan's Upper West Side and at Central Presbyterian Church in Montclair, New Jersey. Upon graduation from Union, Greg received Auburn Theological Seminary’s Maxwell Fellowship for promise of future excellence in parish ministry, as well as the Kneeland Award for exegetically-based (biblical research) preaching.

Greg's first call to parish ministry was as Pastor from 1991 to 1995 of the Fewsmith Memorial Presbyterian Church in the ethnically and culturally-transitioning community of Belleville, New Jersey. At Fewsmith Church he began developing an approach to congregational  revitalization grounded in valuing diverse voices while focusing together on Jesus Christ's redemptive love and call to a new and different way of living.  In 1995, Greg became Pastor of the Englewood First Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado, where he served during a sustained, six-year resurgence of growth, commitment and vitality.  While at Englewood First Church, Greg worked with and supervised several seminarians who are now ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA), while chairing the Presbytery of Denver's Committee on Preparation for Ministry and its Urban Covenant Community.  From 2000 to 2002, he carried out a specialized ministry in the New York City Presbytery as Director of Operations for a New York City agency that houses homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS while employing men and women with histories of felony incarceration.  

Greg grounds his approach to pastoral ministry in “gracious, life-giving person of Jesus Christ,” and in the biblical texts that “always move me into today's world, today's real joys and real problems, where God in Christ is already at work.” Along with a commitment to dynamic worship and creative Christian education for all age groups, Greg's ministry has emphasized service to the homeless and hungry, a commitment that provides church members and friends life-changing opportunities for "hands-on" discovery of Jesus Christ, and themselves, as they meet and serve others.  

Greg's focus as a pastor has been on partnering with urban- and town-based Presbyterian (PCUSA) congregations dedicated to revitalizing their ministries by building on strong traditions, faithfully exploring new possibilities, and serving God in Christ courageously in their increasingly diverse settings.  As the source of personal and community renewal, he is committed to the biblical vision of an inclusive, Christ-centered community where everyone, of any age or perspective, is welcomed and challenged to the abundant life God makes possible.  Greg and his wife, Sarah, Editor-in-Chief of the Arts (fine arts, religion, music and philosphy) at Prentice Hall, have a son, William, who was born in July of 2003, and a daughter, Margaret (Maggie), born in February of 2006.

Greg currently serves on the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of Elizabeth, and he also is on staff at Auburn Theological Seminary as lecturer and Advisor to Presbyterian Students at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York.

Valencia B. Norman, Associate Pastor for Family Ministries and Pastoral Care

Valencia Norman is Associate Pastor for Family Ministries and Pastoral Care. She was ordained and installed at First Pres. Cranford in 1998, after a successful career in business. Valencia brings to this congregation a wide variety of experiences gained from the lay community of the Presbyterian Church (she is an ordained elder) as well as counseling experience as a certified Marriage and Family Therapist. As a pastor, counselor, teacher and pastor, she makes effective use of her skills and knowledge to equip children and adults to live out the Gospel of their faith.  

Valencia received a master's degree in business from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA in 1987. After completing her degree, Valencia joined General Foods USA as a human resources specialist and college recruiter. She later joined Exxon Chemical Company as both a labor relations specialist and management development analyst. Valencia and her husband, Neal Hill, live in Maplewood, NJ with their son Andrew, who was born in July, 2003. After their marriage, Valencia and Neal joined the Prospect Presbyterian Church in Maplewood, where they worked together as facilitators for family home devotional groups and were members of the Chancel Choir. Valencia credits her experiences within the life of the congregation as an ordained deacon and elder with helping her discern a call to ministry.  

In 1994, she entered Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York and graduated with distinction in 1997. As a seminarian, Valencia completed Clinical Pastoral Education at the University Hospital of Medicine & Dentistry in Newark, NJ. She also served as a Theological Student Advisory Delegate to the 208th General Assembly in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Post-seminary activities included serving as a team supervisor for a Vacation Bible School Mission trip to Jamaica, serving as Advisor to the 2000 PCUSA Youth Triennium Conference, and completing a residency in Pastoral Psychotherapy at Blanton Peale Graduate Institute in New York City. Valencia continues as a Staff Therapist at Blanton Peale Counseling Center.  

Valencia uses the term a   ministry of identity   to define her role as Minister of Word and Sacrament.   My favorite bible story is the picture of God walking through the garden seeking the man and woman. I believe God's question, 'Where are you?' (Genesis 3:9) is a comfort to us, and at the same time a challenge and call to action. In my role as church educator, I have the opportunity to help others answer this question as faithfully as possible, wherever they are--in the Sunday school classroom, in fellowship events, or adult education opportunities. I feel as though we strengthen our faith as individuals and as a congregation when we are able to translate our response into acts of justice and service to our community. Moreover, in worship--whether I'm officiating at a funeral or presiding at the Lord's Table--I am passionate in my belief that God cares for us because of our unique histories, not in spite of ourselves. It is a great privilege for me to be intimately involved in the life of this congregation.

Valencia and her husband, Neal Hill, live in Maplewood, New Jersey and have two children, Andrew and Valerie.

 Mary Beckhusen, Director of Christian Education

Mary became Director of Christian Education in March of 2007.  In November, 2005, she became a Certified Associate Christian Educator through the PCUSA’s Christian Education Certification Program.

The required coursework includes classes in Biblical Interpretation, Reformed Theology, Christian Education Theory and Practice, Faith and Human Development, Presbyterian Polity, Program and Mission, and Worship and Sacraments.  There are currently three levels of certification in the PCUSA program: Educational Assistant, Certified Associate Christian Educator, and  Certified Christian Educator.  Mary has completed two of the required courses, Worship and Sacraments and Biblical Interpretation for the Certified Christian Educator level.  

Mary says, “If anyone were to ask me five years ago if this is where I would be, I would have been highly skeptical.  However, I believe that God has called me to be a Christian educator.  When I received the initial packet from PCUSA regarding the certification program, I was skeptical of my abilities.  It was the Monmouth Presbytery' educational consultant, Patty Williams, who spoke to me and said, 'Mary, you can do this.'  I have been on an amazing adventure ever since I began the certification process.  The love and support that I have received from the people of this denomination has, at times, overwhelmed me.  The Holy Spirit has guided me in ways that I never thought imaginable.  My faith has been strengthened and my talents enhanced through this process.  I am excited about the work that I do.  My family has also been amazingly supportive from eating boxed macaroni and cheese during exam time to saying, 'Have you written your paper yet, Mom?'  No one knows exactly how God will call them, but I feel blessed to have the opportunity to share the love of God with God’s children and in return receive God’s love over and over.”   

Mary and her husband, John Beckhusen, have been married for twenty-two years and have two children, Christine, a student at Drew University majoring in psychology, and Matthew, who is in the eighth grade and enjoys roller hockey, playing the trumpet and video games.  Mary is an ordained elder and currently serves as the Christian education elder at the First Presbyterian Church, Sayreville.

Jennifer R. Randolph, Minister of Music

Jennifer is in her first year as Director of Music Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Cranford where she directs the Chancel Choir and Westminster Choir (7th-12th grade), along with supervising and coordinating the overall music program.

Jennifer received her Bachelor’s of Music from Arizona State University and her Master’s of Music from University of Colorado at Boulder. Jennifer studied opera performance in school and has performed in several community and professional performances in Arizona and Colorado. Church music has always been a huge part of her life as her mother has been a Director of Music Ministries in Scottsdale for 33 years. She never thought she’d follow in her mother’s footsteps, yet here she is happier than ever directing music here at First Pres. Now, she can’t imagine her life without this rewarding, fulfilling job.  

Previously, Jennifer was Director of Music Ministries at Englewood First Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado. There, she directed the adult choir, children’s choir, and handbell choirs. Before that, she was the Assistant Music Director/Handbell Director at Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, AZ (her mother’s church). Jennifer feels blessed to have been called to First Pres Cranford. She is doing what she loves to do best. She is thrilled to be part of such a growing, thriving church. Jennifer resides in Queens, NY with her brother and continues to pursue her dream of being on the Broadway stage.  

Supporting leaders in Music Ministry include Elsa Hahn (Caroler and Crusader children’s choirs), Ann Weeks (Jubilee Bells) and Laura Philip (Cherub Choir).

Robert Grube, Organist

Robert is a native of Cranford. He graduated from Cranford High School and received a Musical Club of Westfield Scholarship. He graduated from Rutgers University and received his Master’s degree from NYU. His organ teachers were Walter Reinhold and David Drinkwater. He has been a virtuoso organist at First Presbyterian Church for thirty-three years.

Gail Clauer, Church Administrator

Our church office is run by Gail Clauer, Church Administrator.  She supports the efforts of the church's committees, professional staff and membership.  Gail spent 34 years in the communications industry holding various management positions in finance, commercial, human resources, and operations before retiring. She then joined a non-profit staff when she had previously volunteered for 6 years. She worked for them in various assignments including coordinator of volunteer activities, scheduling and training functions for 7 years.  

 In July 2004, she joined the staff at First Pres where she has been a member for about 20 years. She has chaired youth ministries as a elder and has served as president of the trustees. She has also served on mission studies and on a pastor nominating committee. As Chair of Finance for the Elizabeth Presbytery she was responsible for the administration of the budget and presbytery financial programs.

 The responsibilities of a Church Administrator are to provide Christian administrative support to the staff, congregation and community through prayer, attentiveness to the needs of visitors, members and the community at large, as well as the development of computer and administrative systems and staffing support to fill those needs.