Staff
Cheri Kroon | Minister
Rev. Cheri Kroon is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC). She has spent 15 years centering food ministry and social justice, and the last 5 cultivating a close, inclusive church community at Old First that is healthy and growing.
Pastor Cheri’s pastoral call began in 1996 when she founded a choir at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis for men living with AIDS. A graduate of Union Theological Seminary, she also has a Master’s Degree in opera from the University of Maryland, and a BA in music from Concordia College in Minnesota.
Pastor Cheri leads with relationship. She knows that people come to church for many reasons; seeking deeper meaning in their lives, healing in many forms, answers for long-held questions. But beyond the welcome, Cheri knows that people return, when they have felt a genuine welcome, when they see and hear themselves in the readings, the music and the rituals and know that this is a place where they can give and receive and grow.
When Pastor Cheri tells someone, “I’m so glad you came,” she truly means it.
Aleeza Meir | Music Director
Organist Aleeza Meir is an active performer based in New York. Raised as a homeschooler, she pursued her musical studies independently with celebrated fortepianist Malcolm Bilson – who called her one of the most talented students he’d ever had – and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steven Stucky.
Her organ playing won her a prize at the Otto B. Schoepfle National Organ Competition in 1988. Her work with singers and choral groups in particular has established her as a sought-after accompanist and collaborator and, along with her skill on piano and harpsichord, gives her unusual scope in terms of repertoire, technique, perspective and interpretation. As a soloist, she has performed in North America, France and the Czech Republic, and her career has included performances in a wide variety of venues and capacities, ranging from concerto soloist to continuo player.
Besides playing and overseeing music at Old First, Ms. Meir performs regularly with John Rutter at Carnegie Hall, and is Principal Pianist for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.
Jack Holloway | Assistant Minister of Outreach & Learning
Jack Holloway is a writer, music producer, film director, activist, minister, and dog-sitter based in Brooklyn. They are the creator of Despair Sanctuary, a vigil for public grief at Old First, which provides space for holding negative emotions in community. They have a Master’s of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary (’18), and a BA in Bible & theology from Regent University (’13).
Jack is founder and Creative Director of Morbid Instinct, a film and music collective. They are also the author of Hands of Doom: The Apocalyptic Imagination of Black Sabbath.
Maureen Doyle | Finance & Operations Director
Maureen brings a wealth of experience to her new role as the Finance and Operations Director at Old First. Her background in finance, property management, and office operations, combined with her extensive experience in human resources and renovation oversight. Her tenure at a church in New York City for over 12 years shows she has a solid understanding of the unique challenges and needs of faith-based organizations.
Additionally, Maureen’s personal life, including being a grandmother, brings her with a unique perspective and a sense of balance and empathy. Her diverse skill set, and long-term experience will contribute to effective management and operations at Old First.
Email m.doyle@oldfirstbrooklyn.org
Lindsay Gavin | Office Coordinator
Office Coordinator Lindsay Gavin has been a member of the Old First congregation since 1998. She is a graduate of Skidmore College, and worked in retail planning in the metropolitan New York area for over 25 years before becoming a member of the Old First staff in late 2020. Lindsay is married and has one grown son.
The Consistory is the governing body of Old First. All are volunteer positions held by church members, each of whom serve a three year term. Persons who serve are elected by the congregation and ordained as Elders or Deacons in the manner of the Reformed Church in America.