Elders of the Session and Other Session Committee Leaders

Terri Carpenter, Finance & Administration

Terri is a lifelong Southerner who, along with her husband Bill, moved to Asheville in 2015 to be closer to their daughter and to enjoy the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. After retiring from Fidelity Investments in 2017 following a long career in IT, Terri loves the gift of time afforded by retirement and is filling it by hiking with Bill, cooking, and volunteering. Though not raised in the Presbyterian Church, Terri has been a faithful member of the denomination for almost fifty years and is looking forward to serving as an Elder at New Hope. Contact Terri.

Woody Ferrell, Congregational Life

Woody was born in March of 1963 in Winston Salem, NC. He has lived in this incredible state, from Asheville to Cape Lookout Lighthouse on the coast. He and Janet met in college in 1979 and were married at West Asheville Presbyterian Church in 1983. They moved back to Asheville in 2000 and joined New Hope Presbyterian Church. As a young child, Woody attended St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winston Salem. He spent his summers on the coast of NC at Camp Morehead as a camper and then as a counselor. He enjoyed working with the youth, building lifelong friends, and participating in Sunday morning chapel and evening vespers. At the age of 15, he was diagnosed with Dyslexia, a learning disorder, and headed off to The Gow School in South Wales, NY. It was an incredible experience for him to live on campus with only 114 students. Worship services were held every Sunday, and as a student he participated in services held at the very small chapel on campus. After serving in the United States Coast Guard, Woody attended North Carolina State University and earned a BA in Business Management. He worked in the heavy equipment industry throughout his career. After moving back to Asheville, he worked for Volvo Construction Equipment and traveled extensively. He is currently employed by Vermeer Corporation. Contact Woody.

Virginia Hebert, Outreach

The daughter of an army officer and a K-6 teacher, Virginia is originally from “nowhere in particular” but has called North Carolina home off-and-on since 1997. A graduate of North Carolina State University and the University of the District of Columbia School of Law, she has dedicated her professional life to public service, most recently as an assistant public defender for Buncombe County. Thrilled to have landed in Asheville, she enjoys exploring the hiking trails of Western North Carolina as well as reading and hanging out with Raleigh, her mischievous chocolate lab. Finding an immediate home at New Hope, Virginia is excited to share with its members her passion for dismantling oppression. Contact Virginia.

Nan Riley, Congregational Life

Nan is a life-long Presbyterian, who moved to Asheville in 2011. She grew up in Gainesville, Florida, where her mother worked as a secretary at their church for 10 years, and where her father worked at the University of Florida. She met her husband, John, while they were both students at the University of Florida. She has fond memories of coming as a young child to Montreat, where her grandfather had a home. She returned to this area as a teenager to attend youth conferences at Montreat and leadership conferences at Blue Ridge Assembly. She and John spent several days of their honeymoon here, and later brought their sons here for vacation. Nan is a recently retired Nurse Practitioner, having been a Registered Nurse for 50 years and a Nurse Practitioner for 40+ years. Her husband is a retired Presbyterian minister. They raised three sons while he was serving churches in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Nan enjoys gardening, sewing and crafting. Contact Nan. 

Susan Maveety, Outreach

Susan and her husband have been members of New Hope since 1987. She graduated with a degree in business and economics, but many years later attended UNCA for her teaching certification. After a career as a high school math teacher, Susan now serves as Co-Moderator of the PW Microloan Task Force. Before Covid, she volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women. Now she spends her free time helping her grandson with virtual learning.  She cannot wait to get back to her volunteer routine and visiting our sister church in Guatemala. Susan is married to Jay and they have two married adult children and two grandsons. Contact Susan.

Andy Morse, Worship

After growing up in New Jersey, Andy went to college in New London, CT, where he majored in German and was active in music programs. His German studies lead him to the master’s program at Indiana University, where he met Elaine. After receiving their degrees, they moved to Atlanta, where they followed career paths in information systems in various industries over 40 years. Andy served on the Session at a PC(USA) church near their home in Tucker, GA, and was later also a deacon at a United Church of Christ congregation in the Emory area. He always sang in the choirs. After Andy and Elaine retired, they moved to Asheville to enjoy the cooler climate and slower pace of life. In addition to ensemble singing (when it’s possible) he enjoys hiking, photography, and American Sign Language. Contact Andy.

Jean Moxley, Justice & Reconciliation

Jean spent her early years in Commerce, Georgia where the Presbyterian Church was a big part of her life. In her first marriage she lived and taught in New Orleans and Okinawa where she met people who expanded her view of the world and God’s love. She moved to Greensboro, NC where she was active at First Presbyterian Church. Teaching at the elementary level was her calling. After 9 years of raising two daughter alone, she met and married Russ and added 4 step-daughters to her family. She and Russ enjoy living in Asheville and visiting 12 grandchildren in Texas and NYC. Jean spends her time hiking, doing yoga, making new friends and learning new music to share with her harp. Contact Jean.
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Barbara McLean, Personnel

A lifelong Presbyterian, grew up in a clergy family. Having graduated from Lenoir High School, she completed degrees in piano and music education at St. Andrews Presbyterian College. After teaching, she began working as a medical manager and ended her career as Director of Pediatric Outpatient Services at Mission Hospital. Barbara has served the PC(USA) in numerous leadership roles—as an Elder, Clerk of Session, Moderator of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina (PWNC), and Moderator of Presbyterian Women (PW) in the PWNC. Barbara was also on the PWNC’s Committee on Ministry (COM) for six years, serving as the liaison to the Pastor Nominating Committee that brought Kim Wells to New Hope. She also participating in COM’s examination of Kim. In addition to these roles, Barbara was also Chair of the Board for the Irene Wortham Center and The Children’s Center at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Contact Barbara.

*Russ Moxley, Faith Formation

Since Russ is an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church and cannot be elected to the Session as an elder, he is serving in the alternative role as “Coordinator” of our Faith Formation ministries, working with a team of teachers and other leaders to facilitate New Hope’s educational ministries. After first serving as Associate Pastor at University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, Russ’s calling then turned to leadership development, and he was trained as a facilitator by the Center for Courage & Renewal, founded by Parker Palmer. Until 2002, Russ was a senior fellow at the Center for Creative Leadership and then served as a part-time faculty member there until 2018. Russ and his wife, Jean, live at Givens. Contact Russ.

*Bunk Spann, Building & Grounds

Bunk is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, and a lifelong Presbyterian. He has served as both a deacon and an elder in two other Presbyterian churches prior to moving to Asheville in 2013. A graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, and the University of Texas at Austin, Bunk taught graduate students in the department of Human Development and Counseling at Appalachian State University. He and his wife Nancy live at the Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community and feel blessed to be members of the New Hope family. Bunk loves to dig in the dirt, so the Building and Grounds Committee keeps him happy. Contact Bunk.

​* Not a Member of Session