Email: jgroat@akronfcc.org

Jay Groat was called as our 19th Senior Pastor in July of 2000.  He came to us from the Chicago area.  From 1996-2000 he served as Senior Pastor of St. Paul Community Church of Homewood, IL and from 1987-1996 he served as Associate Pastor of the Riverside Presbyterian Church, Riverside, IL.

Jay earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History (1980) from Mount Union College, and both his Master of Divinity degree (1986) and Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching (1992) from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago.

He and his wife Vicki have been joyously married since 1982 and they are the proud parents of son Jackson, born in 1995.

Jay is known for his dynamic presence in the pulpit where his sermons bring Jesus' eternal message to life in contemporary and lasting terms.  His passions in ministry also include "getting your hands dirty" in service as well as Interfaith Relations.  He has served as President of the Akron Area Interfaith Council.

Jay's hobbies include a life-long love of sports, ornithology, the life and work of Van Gogh, and wrestling with Jackson on the living room floor.

Feel free to give him a call at his study; 330-253-5109.