From the Nominating Committee: Meet your church leaders.
The following members are currently serving as Ruling Elders on Session. Next month we will share information about the current members on the Board of Deacons.
Class of 2028:
Steve Raymond is serving his first 3-year term as a Ruling Elder. He’s been a member of Caz First Presbyterian Church for over 20 years. His wife, Amy just completed a 3-year term on the Board of Deacons and together, Steve and Amy are coordinating the monthly food preparations for the Syracuse Ronald McDonald House. Steve’s three children, Allison, Madelyn and Daniel are all former or current members of our congregation. He grew up in Rockland County and moved to the Binghamton area during high school. He attended a non-denominational protestant church that had a significant influence on his spiritual journey. Steve is a Supply Chain Manager for TTM Technologies in East Syracuse. He previously served the church as a Trustee, including as Trustee President. He looks forward to helping Caz First Presbyterian Church grow and stabilize.
Arlen Denny joined Caz First Presbyterian Church in 2017 through membership transfer from the Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church in Chenequa, WI. He is serving his first 3-year term as a Ruling Elder. Arlen is married to Jane Stevens-Denny and has grown children John, who is married, and Claire Denny. Organized religion has been a part of Arlen’s life since his early years and he has attended or been a member of numerous churches. A retired craniofacial surgeon, Arlen participated in over 40 surgical missions to the Dominican Republic and Colombia since 1971. He looks forward to working with fellow Elders to improve and move the church forward.
Carol Buckhout is starting her second 3-year term as a Ruling Elder. She has been the Session representative to the Worship and Music committee, and she sings in the Senior Choir. Carol and her husband, Craig, moved to Cazenovia in 1984 and joined Caz First Presbyterian Church at that time when Ben Lake was the pastor. They have 2 grown daughters, Emma and Ellie, who both attended Caz Pres during their youth. Carol grew up in Canandaigua, NY, and attended the Canandaigua United Church which is a combined Baptist and Presbyterian congregation. She was active in her church youth group and sang in the choir. Carol’s professional and personal life has always included horses. She taught equine science courses at both SUNY Morrisville and Cazenovia College, and she continues to be active in the local equestrian community. Her goals as a church leader include bringing people together to find common ground and to encourage members and friends to share their talents and energies to enhance what we offer to others.
Class of 2027
Joan DeFrees is in her second term as a Ruling Elder. She joined Caz First Presbyterian Church in 1991 just before her son Derek was born. She has been married to her husband, John, for 38 years. She grew up in Palmyra, NY and was a member of the Western Presbyterian Church in Palmyra where she attended Sunday School, sang in the choirs. Eventually she taught Sunday School and was a Jr High Youth Group leader. Joan currently
works as the Payroll/Benefits Administrator for Sutton Real Estate Company, LLC in Syracuse. She is the Session representative for the Christian Education committee and her goal is to keep the Christian Education of our children informative and fun. In addition, Joan is a member of the Handbell Choir and the Adult Choir, and she’s been known to play piano during the services when Vince takes a vacation.
Beth Freedman is back on Session as a Ruling Elder to fill an open 2-year position created by an early resignation. She joined the church 38 years ago and she served as the Sunday School Coordinator for 10 years. Her four children, Grant, Whitney, Hilary and Reid all grew up attending Sunday School and singing in the youth choir. She is a retired teacher, but for many years, she was a substitute teacher in the Cazenovia school district. Beth is married to Mike Freedman and between them they have 8 children/stepchildren and 18 grandchildren. Beth grew up in the Hudson Valley town of Hurley, NY where she attended a Dutch Reform church. Her goals include uniting our congregation and maintaining our traditions while growing and adapting to change.
Carla Kinney has also returned to Session as a ruling Elder to fill a second 2-year vacancy and once again, she has accepted the position as Clerk. She has 3 adult daughters: Allyson and Tori, who both live in the local area, and Erin who lives in Northlake Texas.
Her husband, Gabe, a retired Captain in the US Coast Guard, passed away suddenly several years ago. Carla served as an officer in the US Coast Guard Reserve and together she and Gabe lived in cities across the US and traveled to numerous countries. Carla grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she belonged to a Christian Reformed church, and she attended Christian school through 12th grade. Church was an important part of her youth because she attended school and church with the same friends. Carla joined Caz First Presbyterian in 2008, and she has been active in Senior Choir and Handbell Choir ever since. She also currently serves as president of CAVAC. Her goals include to encourage everyone in their walk with God and to help this community heal.
Class of 2026
Hilda Chappell is serving in her second term as a Ruling Elder. She has been the Session representative to several committees, including Outreach and Worship and Music. Hilda and her husband, William (Bill) joined Caz First Presbyterian Church in 2011. She is a member of the Senior Choir, and she is the current president of the Alice Edwards Circle. Both Hilda and Bill serve as liturgists and on occasion, Bill also sings with the Senior Choir. Hilda, a retired pharmacist, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where she attended a Baptist church. Her goal is to help the church to unite and work together to serve Christ.
Raquel Huckans is completing the third year of her current term as a Ruling Elder. She started attending Caz First Presbyterian church when Steve Thomas was the pastor, and she sings soprano in the Senior Choir. Raquel was born in Cuba and, along with her brother, she attended a Presbyterian Church, which was highly unusual at the time. At age 17, Raquel received a scholarship that enabled her to move to Connecticut to attend Hartford College for Women where she received a two-year degree. She then moved to Syracuse
and graduated from Syracuse University in 1961. While at SU, she met her husband, John, who was pursuing his master’s degree. They moved to Cazenovia in 1963 and for most of her professional career, Raquel taught Spanish as a substitute teacher in numerous districts, including Cazenovia and Morrisville. She and John have four grown children: Maricela, a retired music teacher, Johnny, a physicist, Margaret, who is self-employed in the hospitality business and Paul who lives in Ecuador. Raquel’s life goals are to be truthful and set a positive example; to be a peacemaker and to always look for the good in people. For Raquel, church is special, and we need to emphasize the human factor for why we attend and to always reach out to others, especially those that are new.