Reverend Timothy Bennett graduated from Geneva College (1975) in Beaver Falls, PA, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (1978) in South Hamilton, MA. Timothy served the Cannelton Community Baptist church in Darlington, PA (1978 - 1982) before becoming the pastor here at Main Street Baptist Church in January of 1982. Timothy and his wife, Peggy, are natives of South Jersey. Peggy graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL with a degree in elementary education. She is a home teacher with the Binghamton City School district and uses her gifts in many ways to serve the church. Timothy and Peggy raised three sons, and are now enjoying two grandchildren.
Reverend Timothy Bennett with precious granddaughter, Taylor.
Secretary, Lois Klenchik, with two of her Sunday School students
Lois Klenchik has been church secretary for 10 years, and with that, the many jobs that entails. She has also taught the Primary / Elementary Sunday School class for 30 years. She is Chairperson of the Christian Education Committee, and in that capacity serves on the church council. She is an avid supporter of the yearly Vacation Bible School (V.B.S.) program, and has been directing or consulting on V.B.S. for many years.
Organist, Dr. Joseph Kotylo, making magic on the keyboard
Joseph A. Kotylo has been organist of Main Street Baptist Church since 1975. A lifelong church musician, he was previously organist and/or choir director of churches in New York, Michigan, Indiana, and Colorado. Dr. Kotylo served his apprenticeship under several church musicians in his native Detroit. He is a graduate of the church music institute of the Roman Catholic ardiocese of Detroit (Diploma). He earned degrees in music from St. Joseph’s College of Indiana (B.A.), Binghamton University (M.A), and the University of Colorado (Ph.D.).
Dr. Kotylo retired from the Microelectronics Division of IBM in 2002 where during his twenty-three year career in production engineering he was awarded nine patents.
Choir Director, Jan Kliewer, keeping the choir up to speed
Jan Kliewer recently joined the staff of Main St. Baptist as choir director, in September of 2009. Born and raised in Binghamton, Jan has served as choir director in numerous churches from Binghamton to Baltimore! Jan earned a Bachelor of Sacred Music degree in both choral conducting, and voice performance in 1974, from the Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania. He then went on to earn a Master of Music degree in vocal opera performance in 1988 at Binghamton University. Jan joined the Tri-Cities Opera (TCO) in 1983 as a member of the Resident Artist Training Program and graduated in 1988, having studied with artistic directors Peyton Hibbit, Duane Skrabalak, and the late Carmen Savoca. He has performed in many operatic performances with TCO from 1983 to the present. Besides his work in opera, Jan has sung in many oratorios with various choral groups in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.