Our Leadership

As a Presbyterian church, we are led by a plurality of elders, which is called the session. The session is made up of our pastors and our ruling elders.

Jim received a Master of Divinity in May 2014 from Westminster Theology Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He grew up in Baltimore, MD and attended the University of Maryland, where he received a B.S. in Mathematics with minors in Philosophy and Religious Studies in 2007. Before seminary he served for one year as a missionary in Mexico City and for two years as the Short Term Coordinator for Latin America Mission. He is also a graduate of the Trinity Forum Academy. Jim began his service at Church of the Covenant in August 2014 as a pastoral intern and was ordained and installed as assistant pastor on January 30, 2016. Jim and his wife Lydia and their son Jameson live in Washington, NJ.

Ron graduated from Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia in 1980 with the Master of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees. He and his wife, Linda, had been helping with the new church in Hackettstown since the Fall of 1980. The Lord prospered the work, and the congregation called Mr. Pearce to come to Hackettstown June 1981 to help establish the new church. Mr. Pearce was ordained by the presbytery of New Jersey, November 6, 1981. Pastor Ron retired from full time ministry on Resurrection Sunday, April 17, 2022. He will continue serving part-time in his retirement. Ron and Linda have three children and seven grandchildren.

The office of ruling elder is based upon the kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ, who provided for his church officers who should rule in his name. Paul and Barnabas "appointed . . . elders in every church"; and Paul commanded that those who "rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching." In this passage the Scriptures distinguish between elders who labor particularly in the Word and in doctrine—usually called ministers or pastors—and elders who join with the minister in the government and discipline of the church—generally called ruling elders.

It is the duty and privilege of ruling elders, in the name and by the authority of our ascended king, to rule over particular churches, and, as servants of our great shepherd, to care for his flock. Holy Scripture enjoins them: "Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood." As a consequence, ruling elders must be zealous in maintaining the purity of the ministration of the Word and sacraments. They must conscientiously exercise discipline and uphold the good order and peace of the church. With love and humility they should promote faithfulness on the part of both elders and deacons in the discharge of their duties. Moreover, they should have particular regard to the doctrine and conduct of the minister of the Word, in order that the church may be edified, and may manifest itself as the pillar and ground of the truth.

--OPC Book of Church Order, XXV, 7.

Keith has been a member of Church of the Covenant since 1995 and has served as an elder since 1998. He works as a Sales Executive in the IT Staffing and Services Industry.  He and his wife Deanna live in Washington Township. They have 2 adult sons.

Aron Gahagan has been a member of Church of the Covenant since 2006 and has served as a ruling elder since October 2019. He is a consultant in the Aerospace & Defense industry. He and his wife Megan live in Blairstown, NJ and have six children.

Joel was baptized and raised in Church of the Covenant and he has been a member since moving back to the area in 2014. He began serving as a ruling elder in April 2018. He is an academic librarian and has also served on the OPC/URCNA Trinity Psalter Hymnal Committee for several years. He and his wife Elizabeth live in Belvidere, NJ and have three children.

John has been an ordained minister in the OPC since 1992 and has served on the session of Church of the Covenant since March 2015. He works as an elementary school teacher in Paterson, NJ. He lives in Morris Plains and has 5 children.

The office of deacon is based upon the solicitude and love of Christ for his own people. So tender is our Lord’s interest in their temporal needs that he considers what is done unto one of the least of his brethren as done unto him. For he will say to those who have ministered to his little ones: "I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me."

The duties of deacons consist of encouraging members of the church to provide for those who are in want, seeking to prevent poverty, making discreet and cheerful distribution to the needy, praying with the distressed and reminding them of the consolations of Holy Scripture.

--OPC Book of Church Order, XXV, 7.

Ron has been a member of Church of the Covenant since 2001 and has served as a deacon since 2005. He serves as the church’s treasurer. He is retired and he and his wife Diana live in Stanhope NJ. They have 4 children and 6 grandchildren.

Jerry has been a member of Church of the Covenant since 2010, has served as a deacon since 2013, and currently serves as the moderator of the deacons. He is a landscape contractor and lives with his wife Michele in Harmony, NJ and has three children.

Garrett has been a member of Church of the Covenant since 1999, has served as a deacon in the OPC since 1995. He is a small business owner. He and his wife Paula live in Andover and have three children.

Chris has been a member of Church of the Covenant since 2005, has served as a deacon since 2009, and is currently serving as the treasurer of the deacons. He is employed by the US Army as an engineer and logistics manager. He and his wife Lisa live in Hackettstown and have two adult children.