About Us

Who We Are

FCC Wayne has been in existence since August 20, 1848. What a different world it was back then: gold had just been discovered in California that year, James K. Polk was the President, Detroit had a population of 9,000 people, and the University of Michigan, founded only four years earlier, had an enrollment of only 89 students!

Wayne wasn’t even a city then. We were just a simple trading post along the Indian Trail from Detroit to Chicago. But on that day, over 175 years ago, a small group of believers formed a church that has lived in this same space for all of that time.

So much has changed over the decades, from city growth, world wars, and urban renewal to the destruction and rebuilding of the church building itself. The landscape may have changed, but the church's mission and vision remain constant: to embody a spirit of openness and love. “Our church’s desire is to be a welcoming heartbeat in the community. We believe everyone wants to be seen, heard and accepted. We envision being people with open minds, hearts, arms and doors. We want to be a safe place where HOPE lives. Welcome Home!”

Our Covenant

We believe in the freedom and responsibility of the individual soul, and the right of private judgment. We hereby set forth the things most surely believed among us concerning faith.

We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, goodness and love; and in Jesus Christ, His son, our Lord and Savior, who for us and our salvation lived and died and rose again, and lives evermore; and in the Holy Spirit, who takes the things of Christ, and reveals them to us, renewing, comforting, and inspiring the souls of all.

We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord, made known or to be made known to us.

We hold it to be the mission of the Church of Christ to proclaim the gospel to all, exalting the worship of the one true God, and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, the reign of peace, and the realization of human fellowship. Depending, as did generations of Christians before us, upon continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the transformation of the world into the Kingdom of God; and we look with faith for the triumph of righteousness and the life everlasting.

Our Staff

Bob Cooper

Minister
Rev. Bob was born and raised in Michigan, spending most of his youth in Flint. He has been married to his lovely bride Michelle since 1989. They have two sons, Marcus and Nicholas, both Navy vets. and two grandsons, Kyle and Emmett. They have a small zoo in their home, including Harley Quinn (the perfect dog), Morpheus (the tegu lizard), Orion (the gecko), Odin (the hognose snake), and Toothless (the axolotl). Bob is a graduate of Warner University and has served churches in Flint and Greenville, Michigan before coming to Wayne in 2022. He is one of the founding members of Anamesa Christian Church, an online Congregational church community. He plays golf badly, likes hiking a little bit, enjoys a good podcast and is an unapologetic fan of all Detroit sports and the Michigan Wolverines (Go Blue!)
Lori Payton

Music Director
Lori was born in Iowa, has lived in Texas and now resides here in Michigan. She has been a teacher in Walled Lake Schools since 2000. Lori has a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Western University and a Masters degree in education from Texan Wesleyan University. She also teaches piano at Steinway Music where she met her fiancée, Peter, who also teaches music there and is the organist and Music Director at St. Benedicts in Waterford. Lori’s kids are both college students: Noah, 21, studying biology and Gianna, 18, working towards a degree as a dietician. She’s obsessed with plants, has four chickens and a Shih Tzu / Yorkie mix named Stella.
Joy Johnson

Office Administrator
Joy is a Detroit native and a lifelong learner. She has an associate’s degree from Schoolcraft College, a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and is currently working on her master’s from SNHU in screenwriting. Joy is married to her husband Matarr, who is from Gambia. They have a love for children and hope to foster and adopt a few in the future. She enjoys singing, photography, and traveling and has plans to be a screenwriter someday.
Joy has been with FCC Wayne staff since January of 2024 and is a fantastic office administrator. True to her name, Joy brings the happy each day and is the welcoming “face” of the team.
Sheila Raub

Building Maintenance & Custodial Services
If it relates to making the building and grounds look great and function well, then Sheila is the one that makes it happen. Born in Livonia, Sheila grew up in Ypsilanti and moved to Wayne when she met her husband, Sam. She attended of Calvary Christian Academy in Ypsilanti and Wayne Community College, studying Human Services. Sheila has three children: Caitlyn (15), Zachary (14) and Lydia (13). She’s got lots of hobbies and interests, including gardening, cooking and baking (for which the office staff is eternally grateful) and is a fantastic event planner.
Judy Zajac

Financial Secretary
Judy is a Michigan native and moved to Wayne in 1953. A graduate of Wayne Memorial High School, she is a U.S.Navy veteran, having served in the security office at Memphis Naval Air Station. Judy had a long career with local companies in their payroll departments. Since her retirement, she has served as our intrepid financial guru and knows all there is to know about keeping our numbers straight. As a long-time member of First Congregational Church, Judy has served in the kitchen, with the Deacons and Christian Service, sang in the choir, and has worked on creating quilts for the annual church fair. She raises butterflies, makes ceramics and greeting cards, and loves to travel. Judy currently resides with her dog, Paco and Leo, her cat.
Mary Carney

Moderator
Mary is a lifelong resident of the grand city of Wayne and a graduate of Wayne Memorial High School. She has been married to Bill for 24 years and between Mary’s 3 sons and Bill’s 2 daughters, they have 11 grandchildren to keep them busy. Mary worked at Wayne City Hall for 20 years, the last 11 of those years in the City Clerk’s office, and she’s been a fixture on election day, serving in the local polls for 45 years! Mary has been a part of First Congregational Church since birth and has served in many roles over the years, including the Bell Choir and Vocal Choir, the semi-annual rummage sales, the annual church fair, the Quilt Guild, the secretary for our annual meetings and currently as our Moderator.