Our Leaders
We are located at 150 North Oak Street, Ottawa, OH. Telephone: (419) 523-3694
Currently serving as our pastor is Ms. Leslee Kirkconnell. To be sure, the title is not official at this time, but we hope that the last necessary approval will be in place before long. We are grateful for her willingness to serve!
The PNC is pleased to announce that we have found a new pastor! Please welcome Leslee Kirkconnell, who will begin January 1!
Leslee is a native of Peekskill, New York and grew up in the Presbyterian Church. She taught Sunday School and participated in church activities. Girl Scouting was a beloved activity and she earned her First Class Award and had the experience of a Wider Opportunity backpacking the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming. Maryville College (TN) was her destination and she majored in History, was part of the Concert Choir, MC Players, Student Government, Delta Omicron and more. Following graduation she moved to Birmingham, AL (having spent two summers serving as Campcraft Director at the Children’s Fresh Air Farm, a mission/ministry of Independent Presbyterian Church). It was at the Fresh Air Farm where she received a clear call to ministry. After that year, she moved to Richmond, VA and enrolled at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) and Virginia Commonwealth University. The plan was to get a dual degree – MA in Christian Education and MSW in Social Work, as she wanted to do mission work. Shortly after arriving in Richmond, she met W. Glenn Kirkconnell, who came from Princeton Seminary. Glenn quickly became a friend and then her love and between her two years of school they married at Second Presbyterian in Richmond.
Following graduation, they moved to Charlottesville for Glenn to enroll at the University of Virginia for PhD studies. Their children were born there – first Heather Gail and then Ryan Scott. In 1993 Leslee accepted her first call to First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville, Florida, where she served 12 years, earning her certification as a Christian Educator. Glenn received his PhD in 2002. He began teaching at Santa Fe College in Gainesville and continues on-line for them currently. Leslee served in the greater Atlanta area at two churches and then Tampa Bay Presbytery, where she was Resource Center Director and Educator. She was also ordained a ruling elder by Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, where they were members. Following the closure of the Center by the Presbytery, she served Davidson College Presbyterian Church (NC) as Interim DCE for two years. Then on to Bowling Green, KY where she was DCE for The Presbyterian Church for six. A brief time with the Presbytery of Western Kentucky followed and then Findlay FPC, as Director of Connectional Ministry.
Leslee has also served on presbytery committees, led training in Healthy Boundaries for four presbyteries, been camp chaplain at three Presbyterian Camp and Conference Centers, and served on the Leadership Council for the Association of Partners in Christian Education. She has planned and participated in mission work both domestically and internationally, with youth and adults. She loves to help all ages serve God through serving the needs of people.
Along the way her children graduated from High School and college. Heather married Jake in 2014, and they have two children, Theo, age 8 and Juniper, age 3. She teaches music and plays the organ for area BG KY churches as requested. Ryan graduated with a Music Education degree (he plays Tuba) and spent four years in Korea teaching English. He is now a Sergeant in the Army Band at Fort Stewart, Ga, and is enjoying newlywed life with his wife Karabi, who is from Bangladesh. Karabi is pursuing a PdD in Public Health from Georgia State University. Leslee and Glenn enjoy playing with their grandchildren, taking walks, playing fun board games and being bossed by their parrot companions. Leslee also does a lot of sewing for the grands, grows a variety of vegetables and herbs and enjoys cooking. And hopefully OPC potlucks!
Other Church leaders
In every Presbyterian church, there is a group called the “Session” which is composed of “elders.” Together with the pastor, this group oversees all church programs and activities. OPC’s Session has six elders, with each elder serving a three-year term. Every year, two new elders are chosen by the congregation to replace those elders whose terms are completed. At this point, in the absence of a pastor, the meetings of Session are overseen by a member or designee of the Presbytery’s Committee on Leadership.
Our current session members are listed below.
Class of 2026–Mike Kaufman, Lynne Hirzel
Class of 2027–Brandon Font, Victoria Otto
Class of 2028–Robyn Badder, Marge Roberts
Thanks to outgoing Session member Stan Beckman.
Many thanks to all of the elders and officers who have served through the years!
Committee Chairs-2026:
Church Operations–Mike Kaufman
Christian Education/Youth–Victoria Otto
Fellowship–Robyn Badder
Mission & Outreach–Brandon Font
Presbytery Delegate–Chas Myers; Alternate–Beth Myers
Stewardship & Communications–Marge Roberts
Worship–Lynne Hirzel
Clerk–Karl Hirzel
Beth Myers is our organist and Chas Myers is our choir director. Lynne Hirzel is our financial secretary (
finsec@ottawapresby.org) and Beth Myers is our treasurer (
treasurer@ottawapresby.org). Also serving us is Dave Hanneman (custodian). Emily Cress is our child care provider during worship services.
