We are happy to welcome Rev. Carol Cloer to our church family as she begins her service as our part-time Youth Minister.
Carol, a graduate of Charleston Southern University and of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1988, lives in Franklin, NC. Carol is an adjunct instructor at Southwestern Community College in Sylva and teaches classes in music appreciation, jazz and college student success.
Carol has served in a variety of ministerial capacities including service as a youth minister and as a music director. More recently, Carol served as a youth minister at the First Baptist Church of Franklin for nine years, and then as the Associate Pastor at Centerpoint Community Fellowship in Franklin for the last eight years.
Carol will continue her work at Southwestern Community College while she works to develop our youth ministry at First Baptist--particularly on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday evenings. Both the 1st Explorers Ministry Board and the Personnel Committee are excited about Carol’s wealth of experience in youth ministry, and her commitment to developing long-term relationships with our youth and their families. These church committees are enthusiastic in their recommendation of Carol to us and in their approval of her part-time employment.
Welcome to First Baptist Church, Carol! We look forward to serving alongside you!
A Note From Carol:
"My name is Carol Cloer. I have spent much of my career working with youth and feel a definite call in that capacity. Most of my positions have been either a combination of Music/Youth or, most recently, Associate Pastor. I began my journey as a Counselor in Training at the WMU State camp in South Carolina. I spent 6 Summers serving there in positions ranging from Counselor in Training to Cabin Counselor to Music Director, Lifeguard and Waterfront Director! Acteen camps were always my favorite part of the Summer, partly because it was during an Acteen camp, when I was 14, that I experienced a call to ministry.
My degrees include a BA in Music from Charleston Southern University, a Master in Church Music, with additional studies in Youth Ministry, from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY and post-graduate work in Spiritual Formation at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts. The study in spiritual formation made a strong impact on my thoughts about spiritual community, which has been an important aspect of my ministry in recent years.
Currently I teach Music Appreciation, Introduction to Jazz and College Student Success courses at Southwestern Community College. I see my work there as a ministry and have had many opportunities to work directly with students, assisting with issues they have encountered. In searching for a church position that would be compatible with my work at SCC, I became aware of the position here. I am excited about the possibilities here at FBC Sylva and I am looking forward to getting to know all of you as we begin this journey together!”
