Our Pastors

The Reverend Martha Highsmith was ordained in 1998 for specialized ministry at Yale, where she is the Deputy Secretary of the University.

Martha also teaches at the Divinity School and offers spiritual direction at the Annand Center at Yale and the Spiritual Life Center in West Hartford. Martha has ministered in a variety of churches - urban, inner city, suburban - in interim, transitional, parish associate and supply roles. She most recently served as Senior Pastor of the University Church of Yale. In her administrative role at Yale, she oversees emergency and crisis management, coordinates major events, and is involved with special University projects, such as Yale's Faith and Globalization Initiative. Martha lives in West Hartford but has deep roots in North Carolina where she grew up on a family farm – a place she visits as often as she can!

The Reverend Virginia Smanik is a native Midwesterner. Since she was ordained in 2006, Jinny has served as Associate Pastor, Supply Pastor, Parish Associate and Sabbatical Leave Pastor in a number of Presbyterian, Reformed and UCC churches.

She is an avid quilter, knitter, reader and learner, and is the mother of three adult children: The Rev. Kate Smanik, who is the Director of Spiritual Life at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, Meg Walker, an elementary school teacher in Killingly, Connecticut, and David, who works for Cantor Fitzgerald in Boston. Jinny currently lives in Brooklyn, Connecticut with her husband Bob.

The Reverend Tom Speers previously served churches in Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore, MD and East Kilbride Scotland. In addition to his work with First Presbyterian Church, he serves as Presbyter for Discerning the Way in the Presbytery of Southern New England and is co-chair of the Committee on Ministry. Tom lives on the campus of the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, where his wife Bessie is Head of School and they have two children. He is an avid fan of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tom was ordained in 1988.