Pastor: Rev. Alissa Conner
Rev. Alissa Conner was born in Plano Tx. Her childhood was in Jakarta, Indonesia and then the Plano area. Her early church life was at First Presbyterian Church of Garland. She was a Ruling Elder as a youth, served on Presbytery committees, and traveled regularly. She went to Austin College in Sherman, Tx and majored in Psychology. She served as a Young Adult Volunteer in Huanta, Peru at Radio Amauta.
She attended Louisville Presbyterian Theological seminary and worked as an intern at University of Louisville Hospital, James Brown Cancer Center, and Beulah Presbyterian Church. She entered her first call at St. Philip Presbyterian Church in Hurst, Tx as an Associate Pastor and served there for 8 years. She married her husband Jay in 2016 and had her son in 2020. She was trained as a Digital Marketer by Catelyte and worked for DAA Media + Marketing. She is blessed to join the ministry that Grace Presbyterian Church is doing. She started at Grace Arlington on March 30th 2025. What a wondrous journey it continues to be.
Music Director: Gehlin Menti
Gehlin was born in Oklahoma but raised in Kentucky. He has spent more decades of his life in Texas now than anywhere else. He began studying music as a small child with piano lessons. He participated in music at his church beginning as a young person, singing and doing a little conducting, and also through the high school band where he played the clarinet and the saxophone. He holds music degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University’s Angell College of Fine Arts, Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth and SMU in Dallas.
Gehlin was called to Grace first as a pianist while the new congregation was still meeting in an elementary school and before it had built its current home. Later he was asked to take on the responsibilities of Music Director for Grace. God’s Spirit moving through the warm and supportive congregation of Grace has allowed Gehlin to present a wide array of music both ensemble and solo, instrumental and vocal, through his time at Grace. This fills him with gratitude and enthusiasm.
Volunteer Praise Team Music Coordinator: Julie Bayless
Julie was born into a musical family and has been singing all of her life. Piano was the first instrument she learned, then she began playing the flute in 4th grade. Julie learned guitar as an adult so she could play around the campfire when camping. Julie grew up singing and playing at church and has continued. Julie and husband Jerry began attending Grace in 1998 with their four young children and it wasn’t long before she began playing in the service. When Grace began talking about adding a contemporary worship service Julie was eager to have a part. Music is a huge part of her life and she’s thankful for the opportunity to play and sing at both services at Grace.
Secretary: Cynthia Tucker – (office@gpcarlington.org)
Financial Clerk : Bonnie Schuler
