The Lexington Church of Christ functions under the oversight of its elders, the definitive decision making body of the congregation. The Elders have ultimate responsibility for the direction of the congregation and all decisions that are made in that regard.
Deacons and Ministry Leaders serve the congregation. These are not honorary postions, but positions of service. Each deacon and ministry leader has a specific task or area over which they are in charge. They, as well as all of the church staff, work under the oversight of the Elders.
The Pulpit Minister at Lexington Church of Christ insures that each member of the congregation is growing in his or her faith through biblical teaching. The Youth Minister is responsible for the needs of our youth and their families. The Worship Minister organizes our assemblies, leads us in worship, and also oversees our Children's Ministry.
We are very fortunate to have leaders in all of these areas who are helping us make the vision for our church a reality. We'd like to introduce you to them.
Elder
Mr. Allan Whitacre
(with wife Carolyn)
Allan Whitacre and his wife, Carolyn, celebrated their 40th Anniversary in 2004. They have two adult children. Kathy and her husband, Tim Coble, graduated from David Lipscomb University in 1989. They have four daughters. Todd and his wife, Dee, graduated from David Lipscomb University in 1993. They have one son. Both families are actively involved serving the Lord where they live.
Allan attended Freed-Hardeman University, Harding University and received his BS degree and Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of South Carolina. He began his teaching career at Lower Richland High School and later became an Assistant Principal at C. A. Johnson High School. Since 1978, he has been an Assistant Principal at Lexington High School, Principal at White Knoll Middle School and Principal of Lexington High School. In June of 2002, Allan retired from public education after 35 years.
Allan has been an Elder of the Lexington Church of Christ since March of 1985. He and Carolyn have been involved in the teaching ministry and many other activities and ministries of the Lexington Church.
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E-mail Allan Whitacre
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Elder
Dr. Stephen Izard
(with wife Erma)
Dr. Stephen Izard and his wife, Erma, have lived in the Columbia, SC, area since 1978. They have four children ranging in age from 20 to 14 years of age. Dr. Izard has been an Elder of the Lexington Church of Christ since April 1995.
Dr. Izard has an active medical practice in the Northeast Columbia area. In addition to his M.D. degree, Dr. Izard also holds a MS degree and a Ph.D. degree. He is a member of the American Medical Association, The SC Medical Association, The Richland County Medical Society, and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and has a special interest in Occupational Medicine.
Dr. Izard and his wife, Erma, work closely in the many activities and ministries of the Lexington Church of Christ. Two of their children are in college, one at the University of South Carolina and one at Midlands Technical College. Their two daughters attend Lexington High School.
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E-mail Stephen Izard
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Elder
Mr. Phil Harrison
(with wife Miriam)
Phil and Miriam became Christians as adults in 1984. They have been part of the Lexington Church of Christ family since they moved here in 1987. Both were in the sales profession for many years. Phil continues in that field for NaturChem, Inc., while Miriam works in the home.
The Harrison's have two adult, married daughters and three grandchildren. Their hobbies are traveling and restoring historic homes.
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E-mail Phil Harrison
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Elder
Mr. Billy Mize
(with wife Lesley)
Billy Mize and his wife, Lesley, will celebrate their 50th Anniversary in 2005. They have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. The Sid Snyders are their family in Lexington. Billy has worked 50 years in ministry with churches and church related child & family services. His favorite ways to serve are teaching and counseling.
Billy received a BA in Bible from Abilene Christian College and a MA in Agency Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado. He is the Director of Development for Southeastern Children's Home of Duncan, SC. His hobbies are carpentry and gardening.
Lesley is active in many ministries at Lexington Church of Christ and also the owner of Interior Connections, a custom drapery workroom which fabricates window treatments and accessories for the home.
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E-mail Billy Mize
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Elder
Mr. Jack Close
(with wife Karen)
Jack and Karen Close were married in 1969 while Jack was in graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin with a six-year old son, Allen. After Jack graduated in 1973, they moved to Western Christian College in Canada. Over the next 29 years they served in a variety of capacities at the college. Jack served as Dean of Men, teacher, Principal of the High School and Dean of The College.
In addition to her responsibilities as wife and mother of three, Karen served as Dean of Women for thirteen years and later as Administrative Assistant to the Principal and the Dean of the College. During these years, Jack and Karen were both active in the local church. Jack and Karen served together when Jack was appointed a deacon and then later as an elder. Meanwhile, Karen regularly held Monday Night girls Bible studies and was active serving on various boards in the community.
In 2002, Jack and Karen moved to Lexington, South Carolina where Karen has earned Masters Degrees in both Christian Education and Pastoral Counseling at Columbia International University.
At present Jack and Karen serve in the eldership at The Lexington Church of Christ. Jack teaches science at the local high school and Karen works in teacher education at Columbia International University, provides a counseling ministry through the Lexington Church of Christ and teaches as an adjunct professor at Western Christian College in Canada.
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E-mail Jack Close
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Pulpit Minister
Mr. Allen Close
(with wife Laura, and Brianna, Ashley & Luke)
Allen was born in Dallas, Texas and lived in Texas for eleven years until he moved to Weyburn, Saskatchewan Canada. After high school, Allen attended Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas where he received his BA, MA and the Masters of Divinity in 1993.
While he was at ACU, Allen met and married his wife Laura. Laura was raised on the mission field of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) until her family moved to Lubbock, Texas when she was fourteen. After graduating in 1986, they moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where Allen worked as the Campus Minister and the Pulpit Minister for twelve years. While in Saskatoon, all three of their children—Luke, Ashley, and Brianna—were born.
In August, 1998 the Close's moved to Lexington where Allen is the Pulpit Minister at the Lexington Church of Christ and Laura teaches at Lake Murray Elementary school in Lexington. All three of their children attend school in Lexington.
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E-mail Allen Close
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Youth & Family Minister
Mr. Sid Snyder
(with wife Laurie, and Ben, Lacey & Emily)
Sid was born in Danville, Illinois in 1964 and lived there until he graduated from high school. He attended York College, a private Christian college in York, Nebraska and then Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where he received his Bachelor of Sciences degree with a major in Bible and Family Life in 1986.
Sid met his wife, Laurie, at York College, they married after graduation from York before beginning school at OCU. Laurie was born in Alaska, moved to Nebraska at age 8, and then to Denver, Colorado at age 13. Laurie also has a BS from OCU and recently received her Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina.
Sid and Laurie have three children, Ben, Lacey, and Emily all born in Tennessee. Sid has worked with teens and families for churches in Oak Ridge, Tennessee for eight years, and Shreveport, Louisiana for three years prior to moving to Lexington in 1997. Laurie is a kindergarten teacher at Lake Murray Elementary and all three children attend school in Lexington District 1 schools.
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E-mail Sid Snyder
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Worship Minister
Mr. Rick Castleman
(with wife Teresa and daughter Katie)
Rick Castleman, his wife Teresa and daughter Katie, joined the Lexington Church family in July of 2004. Rick serves as Worship Minister and Children’s Minister. Originally from St. Petersburg, FL, he attended Harding University and majored in art, later graduating from the Gemological Institute of America with the distinction of Graduate Gemologist. He worked for 9 years as a jeweler while leading worship at church part-time. Rick also traveled and performed for 10 years with a contemporary Christian music group, recording 7 albums, before being called into full time ministry with the Lexington Church.
Rick and Teresa met at Harding and married in 1995. As Rick began his career in jewelry, Teresa graduated with a degree in education. Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Teresa happily gave up the cold weather for hot and taught school in Arkansas until Katie joined the family in 2001.
Rick’s interests are many and include music, art, woodworking and fishing.
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E-mail Rick Castleman
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Counselor
Mrs. Karen Close
(with husband Jack)
Karen & Jack Close were married in 1969 while Jack was in graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin with a six-year old son, Allen. After Jack graduated in 1973, she moved to Western Christian College in Canada and over the next 29 years served in a variety of capacities at the college, including Dean of Women for thirteen years and later as Administrative Assistant to the Principal and the Dean of the College. During these years Jack and Karen were both active in the local church. Jack and Karen served together when Jack was appointed a deacon and then later as an elder, Meanwhile Karen regularly held Monday Night girls Bible studies and was active serving on various boards in the community.
In 2002 Jack and Karen moved to Lexington, South Carolina where Karen has earned Masters Degrees in both Christian Education and Pastoral Counseling at Columbia International University.
At present Jack and Karen serve in the eldership at The Lexington Church of Christ and Karen works in Teacher Education at Columbia International University, provides a counseling ministry through the church and teaches as an adjunct professor at Western Christian College in Canada.
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E-mail Karen Close
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