CHURCH ADVOCACY GROUP

WHAT IS THE CHURCH ADVOCACY GROUP?

At Redeemer Presbyterian Church, members are organized into Shepherding Groups led by appointed Elders who serve as trusted, godly contacts for those within their groups. Recognizing that certain circumstances may require a trusted alternative contact, the Church Advocacy Group provides an impartial avenue for addressing concerns. By upholding biblical restoration practices (as found in Matthew 18:15–17 and Galatians 6:1), especially in times of crisis, extraordinary situations, or potential abuse, this group helps promote the purity and peace of our Church while offering an extra layer of accountability between the Session and the congregation.

As a member, if you are in crisis, please follow these steps:

1. Contact Your Elder: Reach out to your appointed Elder first as your primary and trusted contact.

2. Contact a Member of the Advocacy Group: If your Elder is unavailable, or you are uncomfortable for any reason and require additional support, please contact a member of the Church Advocacy Group.

 

Redeemer’s Church Advocacy Group Members

Abigal Borron

Abigail is an associate professor of agricultural and science communication at the University of Georgia and has over 20 years of experience in community engaged research and outreach in areas such as the translation of science, risk perception, and disaster management. She and her husband, Earl, and their daughter have been part of the Redeemer community since 2016.

Leigh Koski

Leigh has been a part of the Redeemer community for almost 25 years. She has 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren. She has been involved in educating elementary school-aged children for about 4 decades, including teaching in Clarke County public schools and working at Downtown Academy in numerous ways. Through his great love and grace, God has used multiple trials, especially involving family, to help her grow, to know and love him more deeply, and to move toward others. He continues to work in her a desire to come alongside others as they struggle through trials and pain, so that they have hope and are drawn to biblical truth and a deeper relationship with himself.

James Chafin

James came to Redeemer in 2008 and serves the church as an elder. He and his wife Patricia live in Athens with their two daughters. James has worked with survivors of various forms of abuse for nearly 20 years as a prosecutor in Clarke, Oconee and Jackson County.

Conor McCullough

Conor is a lawyer for a transactional and estate planning firm and is a registered neutral with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. He and his wife Katie have been members at Redeemer since 2015. They have three children. Prior to going to law school, Conor worked for Young Life.

Jessica Farriba

Jessica is local to the Athens area. She has two young kids and a husband who teaches and coaches at a local high school. Jessica spent some time abroad working at a non-profit for special needs kids and families who had experienced trauma before pursuing her education in Social Work. Upon graduation, she worked for 7 years with children and families who were victims of abuse or witnesses to abuse.

Kristin Sigalas

Kristin has been married to her husband George for over thirty years and has been a member of Redeemer since 2000. She has served on staff for over twenty years and now is the Director of Women’s Ministries. Through her years at Redeemer, she has had the privilege of walking with many women who have found themselves in difficult circumstances. She has been grateful to see God at work in and through various trials in the lives of others as well as in her own life, and has been grateful for the sound and wise biblical counsel that can be found in the church.

 

Reach out to the church advocacy group

The Church Advocacy Group is working on the best ways to contact them through an online portal. In the meantime, if you have any questions about CAG, please click here to direct your email to a member of this group.