westminster staff

Westminster staff

Rev. Dr. Todd E. Leach

Senior Pastor

The Reverend Dr. Todd Leach began serving as Senior Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in September of 2021. Previously, Todd served for thirteen years as the Associate Pastor for Mission of Shadyside Presbyterian Church (Pittsburgh, PA). He has also served as Director of Mission and Deacon ministries at Media Presbyterian Church (suburban Philadelphia), Executive Director of Delaware County Housing Coalition (Chester, PA) and taught middle school in Columbus, Ohio. Todd brings a wealth of diverse educational and career experiences to Westminster. ​ He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Public Theology from Drew University, a Master of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Ohio University. ​ He and his wife, Linda, and their teenage daughters, Nadia and Vinodhini (Dhini), along with their well-behaved dog and not-so-well-behaved puppy, are excited to be a part of the Buffalo community.

Rev. Katelyn nutter dowling

associate pastor for christian Education

716.884.9440 x311

Rev. Beth hennessy

Pastoral Care associate

Rev. Beth Hennessy has been with Westminster as the part-time Pastoral Care Associate since April 2013. She provides pastoral visits to our senior members both at home and in long term care facilities, as well as doing hospital calling. She also provides pastoral support for members struggling with personal and life challenges as well as end of life issues. Beth is originally from Indiana and earned her Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, working on family genealogy, spending time with her husband and 2 adult children, and spoiling her dog, Scotty.

Garrett F. martin

organist and director of music ministries

Garrett has served Westminster since 2013; he directs and oversees the church's choirs, plans worship and liturgy, sees to the maintenance of the two Aeolian-Skinner organs and 5 Steinway grand pianos, coordinates Westminster Presents and visiting artists, and conducts and plays all worship and special services. For five years, he served as Artistic Director of the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus and is an artist for the Rodgers Organ Company with more than 40 video recordings available online. A native of Tennessee, Garrett has previously served churches in Tennessee, Florida, and Texas. The American Organist wrote “…impressively played…masterfully improvised…” he holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, Vanderbilt University, and Carson-Newman University. His major teachers include Gerre and Judith Hancock, Peter Fyfe, Carl Smith, and J. Ryan Garber. Garrett and his partner, Chris, live in the city of Buffalo with Godfrey, a long-haired dachshund.

Sawrie Becker

director of Development

Sawrie has served as the Director of Development since 2016 and is responsible for the church’s advancement efforts including annual, planned and memorial giving, special campaigns, and events. Sawrie also leads efforts to welcome visitors and new members to the church. As a trained life coach, she has worked with individuals and small business owners to achieve personal and business success and as a dedicated community leader Sawrie has led successful advocacy efforts on behalf of women in the areas of pay equity and domestic violence awareness. Sawrie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being creative, and taking walks with her dog, Dolly.

Julie brooks

director of finaNce

Julie joined Westminster in the Spring of 2022 as the Director of Finance. She is responsible for the financial affairs of the church and early childhood programs. She has extensive experience in the non-profit sector. Julie is on the steering committee for the Make Lemon Aide Foundation for Cerebral Palsy and enjoys cooking and gardening. She is married and has two children.

Rev. Micah Nutter Dowling

Director of Community Engagement
Director of Youth ministries

Micah joined Westminster in 2019 as Director of Youth Ministry where he works with students in grades 6–12. In 2022, Micah took on the additional role of Director of Community Engagement. This role seeks to connect the congregation to service opportunities and nonprofits in Buffalo and ensure the lived mission of the church. An ordained pastor, Micah serves in various congregations and committees in the Presbytery of WNY. Also, as a private music instructor, Micah teaches guitar and ukulele lessons at Music and Arts in Orchard Park.

Jamie Adamczyk

administrative assistant

Jamie joined Westminster in 1987 as a teacher assistant over at the early childhood program and moved over to the Church in 2011. She has quite a few responsibilities, from answering phones to helping with accounts payable, and more. Outside of work she loves to spend time with her family and friends. She has 3 children who are all alumni of WECP.

Austin Becker

facilities

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Jeff Kaczmarek

facilities

716.884.9440 x326

Lindsay mcguire

human resources

Lindsay joined Westminster in 2019 as Human Resources Manager for WPC and WECP employees. Lindsay is responsible for managing day-to-day human resources in the following areas: onboarding, benefits, compensation, leave of absence, training and development, performance management, employee relations, and policy administration. After a decade of living in New York City with her husband, Patrick, they returned to Lindsay’s roots to start a family (and convert Patrick from a Jets fan to a Bills fan). When not spending time with her two small children, Lindsay enjoys skiing, playing golf, and dinners out with family and friends.

Lulzim Sylejmani

facilities

716.884.9440 x326

Aaron Vivian

facilities supervisor

716.504.7308 (cell)

724 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209

7168849437

724 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209

716.884.9437

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Photos by David Ray, Erin Feuerstein,Jessica Ahrens,Julie Kracke, Lisa Grisanti and Mike Shriver