First Presbyterian Church Staff

Rev. Dr. William
Nottage-Tacey

Contact Rev. Bill

"The Continuing Conversion of the Church"
   by Darrell Guder

"The Church in the Power of the Spirit"
   by Jurgen Moltmann

"The Rapture Exposed"
  by Barbara R. Rossing

"A Book of Wales: Songs, Ballads and Poems"
   by D.M. Lloyd

"A Hidden Wholeness"
   by Parker Palmer

Pastor

  Dr. Nottage-Tacey is a fourth generation Nebraskan whose pioneering families were of English and German extraction. His first "preaching" experience was at the age of ten when he was chosen to give the sermon on Children's Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Osmond, Nebraska.

  Dr. Nottage-Tacey is a graduate of Hastings College (1972) where he double majored in English and History. He was awarded the Faculty Scholarship from San Francisco Theological Seminary (1975) to do advanced degree work. He was ordained by Niobrara Presbytery in Northeast Nebraska in the summer of 1975. With the exception of his ministry at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon, his ministry has been pursued here in the churches of Nebraska.

  Dr. Nottage-Tacey has served in many capacities and positions within the Presbyterian Church (USA) and currently serves on the Committee on Ministry of Central Nebraska Presbytery, the Board of Trustees of the Clark Jeary Manor, and the Board of Trustees of Hastings College. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Nebraska Christian College and serves as a faculty member at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies Synod School.

  Rev. Bill is an avid collector of historic American flags and regularly presents programs on the history and development of the American flag. Since the age of six, he has been collecting elephant figurines.

  Dr. Nottage-Tacey has been married to his wife Janey for thirty years and they are the parents of four children: Jeremy (deceased), Sarah, Matthew, and Nathaniel.

Rev. John H.G.
Curtiss

Associate Pastor

  Reverend Curtiss is passionate about working with youth and adults to find and express their calling in Christ's church. "Young people are asking the two most important questions: Who Am I? and What does God want me to do with my life? The church must help them find appropriate and faithful ways to answers."

  Reverend Curtiss was ordained in 2001 and served as Associate Pastor for Youth at First Presbyterian Church in Athens, Alabama. He received his Master of Divinity from Austin Seminary in 2000 and his B.A. in music from Hastings College in 1997. Reverend Curtiss is married to Meg and they have one son, Robby, and one daughter, Elizabeth Jean.

Rev. Dr. Silas G.
Kessler

Pastor Emeritus

  The Reverend Dr. Silas G. Kessler was born in St. Louis, MO. He received a B.A. degree from the University of Dubuque and a B.D. (now an obsolete degree elevated to the M.Div.) from Dubuque Theological Seminary. He served three Presbyterian churches in Farmington, IA, West Point, IA, and Fullerton, NE, before coming to Hastings in 1940. He was Pastor of First Presbyterian Church for 36 years before doing interim work in 15 Presbyterian churches in several states.

  Dr. Kessler received Honorary degrees from the University of Dubuque and Huron College. He received his highest honor when elected in 1963 as Moderator of the national Presbyterian Church. This year long position took him all over the country and to countries in Central and South America. Dr. Kessler also had a number of other appointments through the years at the National, Synod, and Presbytery levels of the church. He served on the Board of Trustees of Hastings College for 59 years.

Other Staff

Central to the reformed faith is the concept of education.  Not only are clergy expected to be educated but the laity is also encouraged to be educated.  In fact Calvin believed the goal of Christian education is to instruct people to live a life in keeping with Christian virtue and value.  It is through the Old and New Testament scriptures that we learn of God and what it means to live a life of virtue and value. This is the ministry to which Elizabeth Moses was called and has served since June 1988. Her passion is to encourage, support and train leaders to help in the educational ministry of the church.

Elizabeth Moses is a graduate of Eckerd College, St. Petersburg FL. (B.A. Major: Sociology, Minor: Religion) and The Presbyterian School of Christian Education ( M.A. Christian Education).  She has served as Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church West Palm Beach Fl, First Presbyterian Church Oklahoma City OK, First Presbyterian Church Aiken S.C. and First Presbyterian Church Racine, WI.  As an Elder in the church she has served in many roles at the Presbyterian level including Moderator of the Presbytery of Milwaukee.   She is the proud mother of Jennell.