Elder Information
Each couple you will meet here is truly dedicated to serving our church and encouraging each of us to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ. These elders are selected through a careful and prayerful process which includes Scriptural criteria, congregational recommendations and approval, willingness on the part of the prospective elder, and the collective wisdom of the present elders and senior minister.
Our elders serve on a four-year-rotation term. After four years, each elder observes a one-year sabbatical. Following that year, he and his wife, along with the congregation and leadership, prayerfully consider serving another four-year rotation. Please take some time to look over the information here, and don’t hesitate to request prayer or seek to visit with any of these couples.
Because The Branch is a multi-site church, our elders want to pay particular attention to shepherding each site, as well as governing The Branch as a whole. The adoption of a system that allows site-specific shepherding elders, and a representation from each site serving as governing elders in matters of finance, budgeting, and staffing, has been put into place.
Following you will find a list of elders with information as to the campus they serve, and whether they are representatives to the governance board.
Randy and Ellen Baker – VR Shepherding Board Randy and Ellen Baker came to The Branch in 2005. They have been married since 1983 and have two children, Braden and Carrie, both students at Abilene Christian University. Randy works for Open Realty Advisors, a consulting firm specializing in real estate for national retail companies. Randy and Ellen have been involved as small group leaders since 2005, and Randy was co-director of the One to Grow On campaign. |
Ron and Mary Beth Cash – FB Shepherding Board Ron joined The Branch in 1978, and Mary Beth in 1968; they were married in 1980. Ron is self-employed in the auto upholstery business, and Mary Beth works as a medical transcriptionistat Cardiovascular Specialists. They have three daughters, Emily, Jessica, and Leslie; and a son, Robert. |
Kevin and Becky Drew – FB Shepherding Board and Governance Board Kevin and Becky Drew joined The Branch in June of 1981, and have been married for 27 years. Kevin works at The Independent BankersBank, and Becky is a realtor with Re/Max DFW Associates. They have two sons, Patrick and Matt; and a daughter, Kaitlyn. Their past volunteer work includes Pioneer Clubs (Kids’ Branch), leading Vacation Bible School, Touching Tomorrow (first building campaign), Business Board Chairman, and small group leaders. |
Terry and Janet Grimm – VR Shepherding Board Terry and Janet Grimm have served as a part of the eldership at The Branch since August, 2001, and are now in their second term. Terry has attended The Branch all his life, and Janet has been a member since 1984. They were married in 1985 and have one son, Charlie, who is now a student at Abilene Christian University. Terry works as a Software Development Team Leader for backgroundchecks.com, and Janet teaches at Campbell Christian Academy. The Grimms have worked in children’s ministry, have taught marriage classes, and have hosted and led small groups. |
Doug and Jan Nash – FB Shepherding Board Doug and Jan Nash joined The Branch in 2002. They have been married 31 years. Doug works at Provista as a director of sales. Jan is a retired elementary school teacher. They have a son and a daughter. Their son-in-law, daughter, and three grand children (the Stevens family) attend The Branch at Vista Ridge. Their past volunteer work includes facilitating Crown Financial Ministries classes, small group leaders, and teaching in Kids’ Branch and VBS. |
Fred and Janet Pattison – VR Shepherding Board Fred and Janet Pattison have been members here since 1985, and have been married since 1975; they have three sons and five grandchildren. Fred is a self-employed State Farm Insurance Agent, and Janet is a homemaker who also enjoys being a grandmother. She volunteers many hours here at FBCC, and is involved with many ministries. |
Tom and Angie Pitts – FB Shepherding Board Tom and Angie Pitts joined the eldership in the Spring of 2010. They came to the Branch in August 1996, and have remained active in the music and children’s ministries since that time. They make their home in Richardson and have four children: Jaron (wife, Rebekah, and their two daughters, Makayla and Brynley), Christel, Tymon, and Zachary. Tom works in IT for Chase in Lewisville and teaches private music lessons in Richardson. Angie teaches preschool at CARE in Richardson. Tom helps with the CD duplication at The Branch, and Angie is involved with creating sets and props for the children’s ministry. Both sing on a Praise Team. |
Tom and Angie Pitts – FB Shepherding Board Tom and Angie Pitts joined the eldership in the Spring of 2010. They came to the Branch in August 1996, and have remained active in the music and children’s ministries since that time. They make their home in Richardson and have four children: Jaron (wife, Rebekah, and their two daughters, Makayla and Brynley), Christel, Tymon, and Zachary. Tom works in IT for Chase in Lewisville and teaches private music lessons in Richardson. Angie teaches preschool at CARE in Richardson. Tom helps with the CD duplication at The Branch, and Angie is involved with creating sets and props for the children’s ministry. Both sing on a Praise Team. |
Chris and Tara Seidman, Senior Minister – Governance Board Chris has served in ministry since 1991. He has served in several places including Gateway Church of Christ in Pensacola, FL; Richland Hills Church of Christ in the Ft Worth area; and Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene. He has been the Senior Minister here at The Branch since January of 2001. He met his wife Tara during the time they were both attending Abilene Christian University, and married her in 1992. They have three children: Skyler, Garrison, and Cooper. |
David and Tina Teutsch – VR Shepherding Board and Governance Board David Teutsch joined The Branch in 1983. He met Tina at The Branch in 1989, and they were married in 1990. David works for Texas Instruments, and Tina is a co-owner of Divine Consign. They have two children, Sam and Nikki. Past volunteer work includes teaching at various grade levels from pre-school to high school, Big Time, Youth and Children’s directors for One To Grow On, small group leaders, ushering, and serving on the Stewardship Committee. |
Ron and Vonnie Walker – VR Shepherding Board Ron joined The Branch in 2001, and Vonnie joined in 2003 after moving to Carrollton from Odessa to marry Ron. Ron owns and manages an IT Services company (Ronald Walker Associates, Inc.), and Vonnie works for Odyssey Healthcare as a revenue specialist. Their family includes three daughters and a son-in-law: Martha Walker, Traci & Romel Rosal, and Lauren Montoya. Ron and Vonnie are also small group leaders. |
Clarke and Jill Watkins – VR Shepherding Board Clarke and Jill both came to The Branch in the summer of 1968, and married at The Branch in 1974. Their children are Matt, Jared and Curissa, Case and Lauren, and Landon and Sherri Watkins. Their grandchildren are Madison, Cayden, Cannon, and Jayci Watkins. Clarke has worked in the insurance business since 1975, and Jill is a full-time wife, mother, and grandmother, while working part-time in retail at Cracker Barrel. Over the years, they have worked with various ministries including singles and young marrieds, and have also led and hosted small groups. |
Terry and Darla Williams – VR Shepherding Board and Governance Board Terry and Darla have served as part of the eldership at The Branch since 1998. They are now serving their second term. Terry has attended here since he was six years old. He moved away with his family for a number of years, and returned in 1975. Darla has attended here since 1981. They were married in 1982 and have four children: Taylor, Sawyer, Bayley, and Jaxon. Terry earned his MBA from SMU in 1990, and has been a sales executive in the telecommunications business for 23 years. Darla is a full-time wife and mother, and she works part-time for a growing company in the medical industry. |
Tim and Karen Yarbrough – FB Shepherding Board and Governance Board Tim and Karen began their first term in the eldership in 2006, having been members since 2003. They married in 1987 and have one son, Evan, who is a freshman in college, and one daughter, Sarah, a sophomore in high school. Tim has worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas since 1986, and Karen is a full-time wife and mother. |
Our Executive Minister also serves on our governing board. Tim Ketchersid, Executive Minister – Governance Board Tim and Jeanne have been members of The Branch since August of 1991. Tim joined the staff as Executive Minister in 2006 after a career in law. |
