Leadership

Rev. Dr. Naomi Kelly serves as co- pastor of Niccolls Church. She and family have lived in Old Forge for many years. She has served as Christian Educator for Niccolls and New Hartford Presbyterian Church, and was pastor of Forest Church in Lyons Falls for 15 years.

She resonates with Celtic Spirituality and Creation Spiritually. Her hope for Niccolls is that we will continue to serve the community, and to be open and loving to

Pastor Lee Vance

Lee Vance serves as one of the Pastors of Niccolls Memorial Presbyterian Church and brings together a background in psychology, coaching, and Christian spirituality.

At the heart of Lee’s ministry is a simple conviction: Christ reveals the expansive love of God—a love that continually invites us into deeper compassion, greater understanding, and wider belonging.

Lee is passionate about creating spaces where people can explore faith honestly, ask meaningful questions, and discover spiritual practices that nurture both personal and collective well-being. His approach honors the Christian tradition while remaining open to new insights, diverse perspectives, and the wisdom found throughout life’s journey.

Drawing from an integral understanding of human growth and development, Lee believes that faith communities are healthiest when they learn to welcome complexity, embrace difference, and continue growing in wisdom and love. Rather than choosing between tradition and progress, Niccolls seeks to build upon the gifts of the past while remaining responsive to the needs of the present and the possibilities of the future.

Lee’s hope is that Niccolls will be a place where people from all walks of life can encounter God’s love, deepen their connection with one another, and participate in the ongoing work of healing, justice, and wholeness in Old Forge and beyond.