WE WORSHIP
God through Christ and explore all dimensions of life in the Spirit;
WE DEMONSTRATE
God's inclusive love
as we work for peace and justice;
WE SERVE
God in the world as we seek
to heal wounds and care for God's creation.
TOGETHER
Our vision
ABOUT US
On December 31, 1791, a small but faithful group gathered at Ashley’s Tavern to formally organize the Presbyterian Church of Troy. Over a period of 200 years, the church would plant and nurture twelve more Presbyterian congregations, and as our name, “United,” indicates, one by one, those church plants returned and merged and form the First United Presbyterian Church of Troy.
Throughout our journey, our community has been held together by our faith in Christ, our compassionate care for our neighbors, and our unwavering commitment to social justice. Our faith is lived out through our advocacy: abolishing slavery; welcoming immigrants; addressing food insecurity and the systemic causes of poverty; standing up for LGTBQ+ rights in the Church through the More Light movement and in the world; marching in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement; and caring for creation as we rally around environmental justice.
We are part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Albany Presbytery; a More Light congregation; and an Earth Care Congregation.
Administrator
Charlotte Albertin
Rev. Marranda Major
Bookkeeper
Carlie D’Annunzio
pastor
click photo to view bios
Marranda Major moved from upper Manhattan to the Capital District to begin her first call at First United Presbyterian Church in January 2023. A West Virginia native, Marranda graduated from Wellesley College in 2013 with a degree in Peace & Justice Studies before serving as a Young Adult Volunteer in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Washington, D.C. Marranda completed her Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 2018 where she received the Robert E. Seaver award for integrating social justice and the arts in worship as well as the Traveling Fellowship for exceptional scholarship and pedagogy.
Among her many side-hustles while discerning her call to ministry, Marranda most loved working as a cheesemonger, a middle school sexual health educator, and as the Director of Communications for Larchmont Avenue Church. Marranda loves singing with Albany Voices of Pride, winning pub trivia competitions, and spending time with her partner, Allison, and rescue rabbit, Dietrich Bunnhopper.
Marranda Major moved from upper Manhattan to the Capital District to begin her first call at First United Presbyterian Church in January 2023. A West Virginia native, Marranda graduated from Wellesley College in 2013 with a degree in Peace & Justice Studies before serving as a Young Adult Volunteer in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Washington, D.C. Marranda completed her Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 2018 where she received the Robert E. Seaver award for integrating social justice and the arts in worship as well as the Traveling Fellowship for exceptional scholarship and pedagogy.
Among her many side-hustles while discerning her call to ministry, Marranda most loved working as a cheesemonger, a middle school sexual health educator, and as the Director of Communications for Larchmont Avenue Church. Marranda loves singing with Albany Voices of Pride, winning pub trivia competitions, and spending time with her partner, Allison, and rescue rabbit, Dietrich Bunnhopper.
Rev. Marranda Major
pastor
MARRANDA
CHARLOTTE
Hello there! My name is Charlotte Albertin, and I am the newly appointed Administrative Assistant. I’m originally from a small town on the Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. I graduated from the University at Albany with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish, as well as a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education.
In my spare time, I love tending to my flower garden, cooking, reading, and hiking with my partner, Marcy, and our two dogs, Simon and Finn. I am delighted to have found a position in such a welcoming community!
Administrator
Charlotte Albertin
CARLIE
Carlie has a BS and a MBA in Accounting from Siena College. She began serving congregations in Albany Presbytery in 1989 as the Financial Administrator of The First Presbyterian Church of Albany. She has since increased her service to include Westminster Presbyterian Church of Albany, First United Presbyterian Church of Troy, and New Covenant Presbyterian Church of Albany.
Carlie has been a member of St. John the Evangelist Church in Schenectady since 1972 and was baptized at St. Helen's Church. She is also a member of the Rosary Society. She lives in Schenectady, has three grown daughters and five grandchildren.
Carlie has a BS and a MBA in Accounting from Siena College. She began serving congregations in Albany Presbytery in 1989 as the Financial Administrator of The First Presbyterian Church of Albany. She has since increased her service to include Westminster Presbyterian Church of Albany, First United Presbyterian Church of Troy, and New Covenant Presbyterian Church of Albany.
Carlie has been a member of St. John the Evangelist Church in Schenectady since 1972 and was baptized at St. Helen's Church. She is also a member of the Rosary Society. She lives in Schenectady, has three grown daughters and five grandchildren.
