Senior Pastor
Dr. Don Baird has been the Sr. Pastor of Community Christian Church since Feb. 1, 2000. Before coming to North Canton, he served congregations in Youngstown, Dayton, and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He and his wife Leslie are the parents of four children; Rev. Josh & Rev. Laura Baird, Zach and Katie Baird, Dr. Micah and Rev. Becky Baird, and Dan and Noelle Baird Esway. They have been blessed with five grandchildren: Sophia Carolynne, Silas Griffin, Kelly Rhiannon, Jonas Elijah, and Lilah Rose
An Arizona native, Pastor Baird is a graduate of the University of Redlands in California. He received his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, TN., where he also served as a resident chaplain at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Veteran's Administration Hospital. He has advanced training in pastoral care and counseling.
Dr. Baird has traveled extensively, studying the history of Christianity in Europe and Middle East, as well as world missions in Latin America and Asia. He has led annual mission trips for more than two decades.
A fifth generation Disciple, Dr. Baird has served at every level of the church's life. He currently serves as the President of the North Canton Ministerial Association. He is a facilitator in the Lead Like Jesus movement. His avocation is photography.
You may contact Dr. Baird at the church office (330) 499-5458 or via email.
Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
The congregation is currently engaged in a search process for two part time positions. Click on the following links for information:
Secretary
Fran Pack serves as the church secretary. She will assist you in scheduling events at the church. If you have questions about weddings that are not addressed on the web pages, she will likely be able to help you. You may contact her at the church office (330) 499-5458, fax 330-499-5744, or via
email.
Director of Music
John Hayward grew up in the southwest section of Canton, a product of the Canton Police Boys Club and Lincoln High School. His two major influences were Babe Stearn of the Boys Club and Ruth Cogan, Choir Director at Lincoln High School. Thanks to Babe Stearn, John was able to attend the Columbus Boy Choir School in Princeton, New Jersey. Ruth Cogan helped John attend camps in Denver and Princeton when he was in high school. These camps were sponsored by Westminster Choir College.
In 1956, John performed the part of Amahl in the Canton Symphony production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. John also performed in Amahl while attending school in Princeton, and also performed in 188 shows at Radio City Music Hall. John has also sung with all the major symphonies and conductors of the 1960's while touring the U.S. The highlights were performing for President Johnson at the White House, and doing summer stock with such artists as Robert Goulet, Andy Divine, and Billy DeWolf.
While in the U.S. Army, John toured the world with the Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band of Washington D.C. as assistant director and soloist. He did graduate study at Peabody Conservatory, George Mason University, Kent State, and Eastern Kentucky University. He has held church positions in and taught high school vocal music and drama in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Ohio. John has taught at McKinley, Lehman, Hoover, and now Northwest, and is in his 40th year of teaching high school music and drama. He is married to Jennifer Catazaro. They have 4 children: Zachary, Cameron, Isabella, and Max. He also has three grown sons: Jon, David, and Jeremy, and 7 grandchildren.
John has directed the Arian Gesangverein of the German American Club (for 28 years), and the Greater Canton Men's Chorus.
We at Community Christian Church are blessed to have someone in our midst with such musical expertise as John, and we look forward to many more years of his leadership. Thank you, John, for all that you do.
Organist
Dr. C. Ann Carruthers has recently retired from the faculty of the Kent State University main campus where she served as an Assistant Professor of Music. She taught Music as A World Phenomenon for non-music majors. In 1996, Ann received the first Term Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching. This Award is sponsored by the Kent
Alumni Association and University Teaching Council to recognize excellence in teaching at Kent State University.
She received a Bachelor of Education (business) and Master of Music degree in organ performance from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and a Ph.D. in music theory from Kent State University. She has previously served on the faculties of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Hiram College, and Walsh University.
In addition to her academic responsibilities, Ann has maintained a lifelong involvement with church music. This began when she became a church organist at the age of 14 in her hometown of Murphysboro, Illinois. For the past 30 years, she has participated in the music program of Community Christian Church in North Canton, Ohio, currently serving as organist.
Director of Bell Choir, Youth Bells
Jody Lindower has been the director of our bell choir since 1986. The Bell choir is an accomplished group of amateur musicians. The choir instrumentation includes five octaves of bells and five octaves of hand chimes. The Bell choir plays regularly in worship, often with violin, flute, clarinet, piano or organ.Jodi is a graduate of Ashland University. She recently retired from Akron Children's Hospital after 30 years employment as a Medical Technologist.
Jody has recently started a Youth Bell Choir - an ecumenical group composed of young people from both Community Christian Church and Faith United Methodist Church.
Children's Choir Director & Joyful Noise Director
Debbie Wilkinson is the skilled and dedicated leader of our children's choir and bell choir. She is employed as a middle school music teacher in the Akron Public School System. Mrs. Wilkinson was raised in our congregation, but had made her home elsewhere. She returned to North Canton at the very moment we were looking for a children's director. What a blessing she has been to our children!
"Joyful Noise"
The latest addition to the music scene at Community Christian Church is our contemporary choir, "The Joyful Noise." This group also sings under the direction of Debbie Wilkinson.
Pianist
Formerly the Organist/Choir Director at the First Christian Church of Massillon, Ohio, Betty Oswald is a gift pianist and organist. She plays the
majority of our weddings, and teaches piano to private students.
Treasurer
Bookkeeper
Pat Yagielski A graduate of the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, Pat has served our community for many years as the Supervisor of the Emergency Services Dispatch Center and as the Bookkeeper of our congregation.
Wedding oordinator
Heather Wilkinson
Heather works behind the scenes at every wedding, insuring that the service runs smoothly. Couples planning weddings will want to consult with her before the wedding.
Nursery Attendant
Gennifer Kriska serves Community Christian Church as our Sunday morning Nursery Attendant. "Miss Gen" as all of the children refer to her, is in the nursery from 8:45 am until after worship every Sunday morning.
Custodian
Harold Lint
Weekend Custodian & Kitchen Coordinator
Brenda Case
Brenda serves the congregation as the weekend custodian, working with groups that use the church on weekends. On Sundays, Brenda opens and closes the building, and prepares the all imjportant ingredient of Sunday morning classes and groups - coffee! She also supervisses the use of the kitchen and community room by community groups.
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