This document contains summaries of several Central Presbyterian Church members and their involvement in the church community. It discusses how Claudette Gallman finds worship and community at Central to be an important part of her week. It also profiles Brenda Spruell, who was ordained as a deacon in recognition of her gifts for caring, and volunteers extensively. The document also summarizes the experiences of Zoe Iatridis and her family in joining and becoming involved in the youth group at Central, as well as profiles of several other church members and their contributions.

1. LENS INTO CENTRAL
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Through Central’s Lens: Claudette Gallman
It is 10:45 am on a
typical Sunday at Central.
The sanctuary is quiet.
The choir is warmed up,
the sound checks have
cleared, and all is ready
for worship. Claudette
and Max Gallman have
just arrived after a long
trip up Interstate 75 from
Jackson. They walk in to their
usual pew toward the back
of the middle section
and wait in silence.
“I come early and sit
in the quietness to
get ready for worship
to start,” reflects
Claudette. “But wor-
ship is more than just
walking in the door
and sitting in a pew.”

2. October 2015
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On Claudette and Max’s first Sun-
day in 1996, Margaret and Howard
Montgomery met them at the same
door to welcome them. When they
arrived home that afternoon, Howard
had already left a message on their answering machine to
thank them again for visiting. “I drive almost an hour to
worship at Central because of Mr. and Mrs. Central, Howard
and Margaret Montgomery,” Claudette says, “and because
of everyone I now get to greet on Sunday mornings.”
The time is now 10:55 am on this Central Sunday. As con-
gregants make their way from Adult Education to the sanc-
tuary, Claudette greets newcomers and seasoned members
alike before the opening voluntary begins. For Claudette,
worship on Sundays is the highlight of her week. The music
and the choir inspire her. The scripture and prayers nourish
her. But it’s the people, she says, that make Sundays at Cen-
tral only one part of her worship throughout the rest of
week. “Worship to me is the friendship and family I’ve
made at Central, the cards, the phone calls, and the little
things we do for one another. It’s the contact between
members and the ways we care for one another.”
“That’s why I don’t mind coming up to church. Church is
what’s in your heart. It’s easy for me to get up and get in
the car and ride up to Central, because Central is home.”
For Claudette Gallman, the gift of Central is ONE BODY,
MANY GIFTS.
Through Central’s Lens:
Brenda Spruell
On Sundays her mother, a life-long
Baptist, got her dressed and then Aline Clay-
ton, Central’s visitor, came by to hold her hand
as they walked up the hill from Capitol Homes
to Central. Brenda Spruell was baptized by Dr. Oglesby
during the year before he retired. Her mother was called
upon to introduce new pastor Fred Stair to the PTA at Cook
School where many Central members were volunteers.
Brenda’s active engagement in Central’s ministry continues
to this day.

3. LENS INTO CENTRAL
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When the Spruells moved from Capitol Homes
Brenda decided that “if I could ride the bus to school I could
ride the bus to my church.” Pins recognizing Brenda’s 14
years of perfect attendance are among those on display in
the Parlor, part of the memorabilia of the Study Class of
which she became a member.
Brenda loves people. “Sharing joys and sorrows is
what you do. It’s how you can be close to people,” she
affirms. She lives that out as a volunteer at Presbyterian
Village, near her home in Mableton, and at Northside Hospi-
tal, where she has logged over 3,000 hours of service.
Recognizing these gifts for caring, in 2014 Brenda
was ordained as a Deacon. She enjoys helping with the Dea-
cons’ BBQ and Christmas Tea for our senior members. Her
greatest joy comes from her ministry in her parish. Taking
communion to at home members, many of whom she has
known and loved all her life is especially meaningful. For
Deacon Brenda Spruell, for all her life, Central has been ONE
BODY, MANY GIFTS.
Through Central’s Lens:
The Iatridis Family
Orange paint dripped on the
dusty courtyard of a church in Pejach,
Guatemala, while 23 Central youth and
adults alternated painting church pews
and playing with the crowd of eager children
tugging at their hearts and hands. Among those in the group
were high school junior Zoe Iatridis and her father, Aris Iat-
ridis, who travelled with the
Central youth group to
Guatemala in June of 2015
for nine days of cultural
exploration, service, and
relationship building. “The trip helped develop me in my
faith and as a human being,” Zoe said of her experience in
Guatemala. She described the trip as the culmination of
what she has learned about God and faith at Central, and
she was especially moved by the generosity of the people
and the joy of the children. Zoe noted that the people of
Guatemala gave her so much on the trip, and she was grate-
ful for the opportunity to learn from them.
Zoe, her parents, Aris and Teresa, and her younger
sister, Nia, joined Central in 2014. Aris described their search
for a church family in this way: “We wanted something that
was good for adults and good for kids, and at Central we got
both.” “It was really scary coming into a church that was so
tight knit,” Zoe said of her first experiences at Central. “Most
of the kids I met had been there for years. I was scared and
didn't’ think I would fit in. I was amazed that I made so many
friends and was immediately accepted.” Zoe
quickly became an active and important
part of the youth group. Along with 13
other youth, Zoe participated in Central’s
confirmation class this year. Over the
course of the year, the group went on
three retreats together, learned about
worship, spirituality, and the practice of
faith, and wrote personal statements of
faith.
When asked about his family’s practice of steward-
ship, Aris said, “We give because we believe in the mission of
the church.” The vital youth ministries at Central are made
possible by the faith of God, the dedication of volunteers,
and the faithful giving of Central members.
“I found a home,” Zoe said of her experience at
Central, “and that’s what keeps bringing me back.” Through

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youth and children’s ministries, Central is able to provide a
home for Central’s young people seeking to explore their
faith in a safe and affirming environment: another vision of
ONE BODY, MANY GIFTS.
Through Central’s Lens: Emil Runge
“We need to
raise our children
here.” Those were
the words that Emil
Runge and Julie
Swann said to each
other in November
of 2009, when
they decided to
join Central.
It was clear to Emil and Julie that
Central was a nurturing, spiritual congrega-
tion, and they have been a vital part of the
community ever since they joined. Their chil-
dren, Theodore and Isabella, look forward to
Sunday school and the children’s choir each week.
Through the vibrant children’s ministry, Theodore and Isabel-
la can actively participate in the life of the church, and they
feel connected to other families in the congregation.
Emil has been particularly involved in the Music and
Liturgical Arts committee, currently serving as the chair. The
Music and Liturgical Arts
committee is engaged
in worship planning,
music ministry, and
creating opportunities
for spiritual practices.
Together, the com-
mittee creates sacred
art like the Advent origami
stars, the Ordinary Time
paper lace banners,
and the congrega-
tional art exhibit on
display in Tull Hall.
“The committee is
so different from
what I do on a day-in-
day-out basis,” Emil
said. There is a creative
spirit about the committee and
the work itself and, though Emil says music is not his gift, he
enjoys being a part of the ministry. “The committee works to
make Central a more welcoming place through our music
and art,” Emil said.
For Emil, one of the most meaningful events in the
past year was the Advent Text Talk, led by
Kathleen O’Connor and hosted by Mark and
Marilyn Borst. Through the exploration of
scripture in community, Emil said, “we expe-
rienced God together outside these four
walls.”
Emil also served on Central’s Vision
Team, which was charged with discerning
and communicating a direction for Central’s
ministries over the next few years. “The pro-
cess was
an oppor-
tunity to
remember
what we’re doing well and
think about how we can
be even better,” Emil said
of his experience on the
vision team. He has hopes
for more events like the
Text Talk in the future:
where Central can be the
church beyond the walls
of our building and experi-
ence God together in new
ways.

5. LENS INTO CENTRAL
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“We give to Central because it is important,” Emil
said of his family’s practice of stewardship. “There is so
much that our church does in the community. If not our
church, then who? If not us funding the church, then who?”
Ministries like Central’s Music and Liturgical Arts would not
be possible without the faithful giving of Central members,
using their MANY GIFTS FOR ONE BODY.
Through Central’s Lens: Michael Lloyd
Michael and Phyllis Lloyd first worshipped at Cen-
tral in 1976 at the suggestion of the wife of a Methodist
minister with whom she worked. They were both working
on Capitol hill and were looking for a church that offered
strong preaching and a ministry that related to the inner
city. That first sermon brought them back, and they soon
become active members engaged in the “socially involved”
ministries of their new church family.
Michael was especially concerned with the peo-
ple experiencing homelessness he encountered who lacked
direct services and resources to get them back on
their feet. In 2009 Mike lost his job. “I realized
that except for the community around me I
too could be one of the homeless.” Look-
ing for a place to volunteer his time and
talent, he turned to the Central Outreach
and Advocacy Center (OAC). The OAC
needed someone to help further develop
the fledgling Main Frame program.
“That’s what I had done for years, designing
training programs,” Michael reflected.
It gave Michael the opportunity to work per-
sonally with the OAC guests, demonstrating that there
was someone “who took interest in them without any
agenda.” This allowed Mike to reach back to his experi-
ences with the Catholic social justice pioneer Dorothy Day
who had taught him, “If you don’t get involved, don’t
expect change.” Michael’s efforts have transformed the
Main Frame into a comprehensive job readiness program
with an increasingly successful record of helping guests find
and maintain employment.
Michael also recently
contributed his leadership
skills to Central’s life
through the Adult Educa-
tion Summer Studies ex-
ploration of Central’s history.
Early in their vocational journeys Michael and John Huss
both attended the same Roman Catholic Seminary. It was
John’s invitation that engaged Michael in adult education at
Central. “It was another experience of the time being right”,
Mike said. Another example of ONE BODY, MANY
GIFTS.

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Through Central’s Lens: Elizabeth Sudduth
The sidewalks along Peachtree Street were crowded, and
the air was warm, especially for October. In the mere hour since
worship ended on Washington Street, a community of Centralites
had gathered just outside the Peachtree Center Marta station
along Atlanta’s Pride Parade route.
They wore custom tye dye T-shirts,
held rainbow flags, and waved tall streamers
painted by our own Berta Irwin. Among
Central’s contingent was member
Elizabeth Sudduth. She held a Marriage
Equality sign in one hand and one end
of the Central Presbyterian Church parade banner
in the other.
“It was the most amazing and life-affirming experience,”
Elizabeth remembers. “People all along the parade route
thanked us for being there representing a faith community.
The Pride parade is a concrete way we can be involved in
the community and work for change in the world.”
Elizabeth first became involved with the parade through
the Congregational Events committee. “I think the Invitation committee came
up with the idea and realized they probably couldn’t do it all themselves, so they asked to
partner with other committees,” she said. In the end, the effort was a collaboration between the Invita-
tion, Congregational Events, Local Mission, and Music and Liturgical Arts committees.
After Elizabeth Sudduth first visited Central in June of 2011, she knew there was no need to visit another church. She
loved Central’s sense of community and emphasis on social justice, and she soon enjoyed singing in the choir each Sunday. Over the
past four years at Central, Elizabeth has not only served on the Congregational Events committee, but she’s also been an active
member of the All Church Retreat planning
committee and the Xs & Ys fellowship group.
“I have made amazing friends at Central, and I know
I can always count on them. Making good friends
can be really hard, but not at Central,” says
Elizabeth.
Elizabeth now serves on Session as a
Ruling Elder and emphasizes the important role
that session members play in setting the church
budget and making financial decisions. “We really
do work hard to be good stewards of the congrega-
tion’s funds,” she reflects. “The more gifts the
congregation is able to give, the more great things
we can do with them!” Another example of ONE
BODY, MANY GIFTS at Central.

7. LENS INTO CENTRAL
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MANY GIFTS, ONE PURPOSE
In expressing gratitude to God for their many gifts, Central members make financial gifts to
support and extend the congregation’s mission and ministry. These MANY GIFTS are for ONE PUR-
POSE, to provide adequate resources to meet our commitments to our staff and our mission part-
ners and to maintain our facilities and undergird our programs and services.
Each fall during Stewardship Season, we ask you, Central’s members, to plan your giving for
next year so that our congregational leaders can plan our mission and ministry for 2016. From mid-
September to mid-November you will have many opportunities to learn and respond. The diversity
of our MANY GIFTS and their apportionment to our ONE PURPOSE are shown in the graphs below.
Mission
Worship
Pastoral Care & Congregational Life
Learning
Core Administration
Under $500
$501-$1,000
$1,001-$2,000
$2,001-$5,000
$5,001-$10,000
$10,001 and above
This graph shows the distribution of pledge
amounts to Central in 2015.
It takes MANY GIFTS.
This graph shows the distribution of
funds to various ministry areas within
Central’s budget.
We have ONE PURPOSE.
Mark your calendar!
Soup, Selfies and Sharing
Sunday, October 18th at 5:45 pm in Tull Hall
Come share stories and selfies at this
fun-filled congregational event!
Sign up to attend at cpcatlanta.org
In preparation for this event, send your very own
selfie to Quin Hicks at qhicks@cpcatlanta.org.

8. October 2015
8 | visit us at www.cpcatlanta.org