The Heidelberg UCC Ministry Team
The Rev. Chesley Kennedy
"Ches" Kennedy serves as the Pastor of Heidelberg UCC in Thomasville, NC. He is also the Coordinator of Spartan Recovery at UNC Greensboro, an effort established in 2015 to engage students in recovery from alcohol and other drugs.
He teaches a course in the Religious Studies Department defining spirituality in all its aspects and how spirituality is related to the 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Prior to working with students in Spartan Recovery, Ches worked in University Advancement as the Director of Development for the College of Arts & Sciences at UNCG.
Ches earned a Bachelor of Arts from UNCG in Religious Studies and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. He received a Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate from East Carolina University.
Ches is trained in Brainspotting, and other therapeutic modalities to help individuals who have challenges with mental health and substance use disorders. Ches is a person in recovery from alochol and other drugs and uses his own lived experience in his practice. Ches serves the community as the board chair of Alcohol and Drug Services (ADS), Executive Vice-President of Marketing for the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, and serves on the Boards of Directors of The Cone Health Foundation and the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC).
He lives in Greensboro with his husband John, and their Golden-Doodles Clinton and Jefferson.
Josef English Walker
Josef English Walker is an alumnus of the North Carolina School of the Arts, having been accepted to the school the year it first opened at the age of 15, on Scholarship. He is a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in High Point. When Hayworth Chapel was built on the Campus of High Point University, he served as Chapel Organist for five years. He has served several churches in High Point and in Thomasville, including First United Methodist in High Point, First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian, and Memorial United Methodist in Thomasville. Mr. Walker has served on the Executive Committee of the American Guild of Organists for over two decades, and served two terms as Sub- Dean of the Greater Greensboro Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Josef joined the staff of Heidelberg in May of 2008 and to date is the longest serving Organist/Choirmaster in the history of the church.
Jennifer Hege
Jennifer grew up in Laurel Hill, North Carolina and graduated high school at Scotland High in Scotland County in the year 2000. She was raised in the Presbyterian church as her father and grandfather were both Presbyterain ministers. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville where she is an Elder, Worship Chair, and Co-leader of the youth group. Jennifer is active with North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage. Jennifer joined the staff of Heidelberg United Church of Christ on July 8, 2019 as the Administrative Assistant. She enjoys reading, singing, the outdoors, and spending time with her family and friends.
Susan Waddell
Susan was born in Thomasville and attended Thomasville High School. Susan joined the staff at Heidelberg United Church of Christ on March 26, 2019. Today she lives with her family and is very active at Heidelberg United Church of Christ. She rarely misses a service either on Sunday or Wednesday evenings. She also works at Dollar Tree.