Dr. Paul Rader, Pastor
Dr. Paul Rader was born and raised in Ironton, Ohio, a small town located across the river from Ashland, Kentucky. He attended Pikeville College in Pikeville, Kentucky and began attending First Presbyterian Church while there, primarily because it was within walking distance of his dorm. He continued his education at the Graduate School of Theology at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Union Theological Seminary in Richmond Virginia, and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.
Paul has served congregations in Ashland, KY and Huntington, WV., and was the Coordinator for Mission for the Coalition for Appalachian Ministry, which brought him to Knoxville. He was a Parish Associate at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Knoxville and was the Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, also in Knoxville, before coming to Northside.
Paul is the author of Do Not Cast Me Away (a book on how congregations can help families deal with dementia) as well as several publications on Appalachian culture. He likes to read, hike, go antiquing, work around the yard and refinish furniture.
Jocelyn Shockley, Parish Associate
Ms. Jocelyn Shockley (Lynne) was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She attended East Tennessee State University and went on to complete the Commissioned Ruling Elder program through the Presbyterian Church of U.S.A.
She was ordained as a Ruling Elder at Northminster Presbyterian Church. After completing the Commissioned Lay Pastor program, she has served as pulpit supply for area PCUSA churches. She serves as Parish Associate at Northside Presbyterian Church, leads the Messy Church USA program at Northside Presbyterian Church, and she serves as On-Call Chaplain at a local hospital. She enjoys sharing and encouraging all she meets to live a life they were created for by word or deed.
She enjoys reading, spending time with family, friends and is a yogi at heart.
Dr. Scott Willis, Music Director
Dr. Scott Willis, a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has been in Chattanooga since 2017. While he has been serving as Music Director at Northside Presbyterian since 2018, he has been active in the Presbyterian Church since 2006 when he began singing with the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. During his time in graduate school at East Carolina University, he was active at First Presbyterian Church of Kinston, NC where he sang in the Chancel Choir and played in the Handbell Choir.
Scott is an active performer with recent engagements including baritone soloist with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera and Nashville Symphony and portraying Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana and John Sorel in The Consul with Opera Tennessee.
In addition to performing and serving as Music Director at NPC, Scott serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Chattanooga Music Academy as well as Artist Affiliate and Director of Opera and Musical Theatre at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.
Natalie Antonopulos, Pianist/Organist