Front (L to R): Elders Neil Smal, Donn Rubingh, and Ryan Lemmel; Deacons Mark Grubbs, Troy Ellens, and Ray Brinker
Back (L to R): Revs. Robert Godfrey (New Holland, PA), Zac Wyse, and Brian Lee (Washington, DC)

Jesus Christ is the supreme and only Head of the Church.  He doesn’t merely teach us what to believe and do in our personal lives but also much about structuring and governing His Church.  Whereas many churches have adopted a leadership model that resembles the business-world, where the pastor functions like a CEO, we recognize the importance that Christ places upon mutual accountability. The Bible teaches that there be a plurality of elders to rule, a minister to preach, and deacons to serve.  Further, both the Bible and church history inform us that it is not good for a church to operate independently. Therefore, we find further accountability and wisdom in our ecclesiastical ties. Our regional assembly is called Classis Eastern U.S. and our denomination, the United Reformed Churches in North America.

In January 2019, we transitioned out of mission work status with the ordination of our own body of elders and deacons. Those serving in the office of Elder are Donn Rubingh, Neil Smal, and Ryan Lemmel.  Those serving as Deacons are Troy Ellens, Ray Brinker, and Mark Grubbs.

These officers called Zachary Wyse (pictured above with his family) to continue his service at Westside Reformed Church. Pastor Zac is from Stryker, Ohio and a graduate of Miami University (Zoology, B.S.).  Though he grew up as a regular churchgoer, he was converted in college. After spending five years serving campus fellowships in Europe, he attended Westminster Seminary California (M.Div, 2013) and was ordained to the office of Minister in November of 2013. He is especially zealous to encourage further church planting in the Cincinnati Metro area and further afield.

Rev. Brandon Burks (pictured above with his family) has now been called to serve us as a second pastor. He was born and raised in the Cincinnati Metro area. He grew up Roman Catholic, was converted in a Baptist Church while serving in the Navy, and became convinced that God was calling him to the ministry. He earned degrees at Boyce College and Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia). Still being a convinced Baptist, he received a call to become the senior pastor at a Southern Baptist church in the area. During his three-year pastorate, his convictions continued to reform, especially with respect to worship, church government, the importance of creeds and confessions, and the sacraments (notably, the doctrine of Infant Baptism). He was installed as a pastor of our church on October 31, 2021. Pastor Brandon is especially interested in helping Christian parents raise their children in the Christian faith, and he has begun a Ph.D. to this end. He currently leads our catechism memorization class, which is for children between the ages of five and twelve, and the Cincy Reformed Podcast.