Q. Do you have a personal philosophy?
A. (Feild) In the 12th chapter of Genesis, Abraham was told he was going to be blessed and that he would be a blessing to others. I feel that I have been greatly blessed and it is not enough to just count my blessings but I need to be a blessing to others also. (Jenny) I agree with Feild. I believe God has given us the gift of life and it is that - a gift. So, although I don't always feel like it, I try to look at each day as a gift and when I get up in the morning I ask God, What do you require of me today or how will you use me today.
Q. How are you alike? In what ways different?
A. (Jenny) We have very different personalities. We have learned how to use the difference to our advantage and I think that's an advantage we can bring in doing ministry together. Feild says he is a night person and extrovert. His special interests are stewardship and budget; his passion, evangelism. He notes Jenny is a morning person and more of an introvert. Her fortes: teaching, education and spiritual development. "We are moderate in our theological, social and political convictions," he states. He tends to lean a little bit to the right; Jenny, a little bit to the left. Consequently, they bring each other to the middle. Both strive for excellence. Both have high expectations. Placing the mantle of "aggressive" on them, Feild responds: "This is Christ's church we are talking about and this is God's charge to us as his people: Here's life, enjoy it, be fruitful, care for one another, spread good news. That's a pretty quick summary but we have a responsibility. Maybe I'm over responsible at times but I think it's serious business. That doesn't mean it can't be fun or joyful or delightful but what the church is about should be taken seriously and given top priority. (Jenny) I look at it from a more global perspective. I look at the Presbyterian Church, which is my adopted church, and I think we are kidding ourselves if we just leave it the way it is. The statistics are terrible - the figures are bad. Is this the best we can do? Is there no way that we can turn that around and really preserve the Presbyterian Church - make it bloom again? I would like to be a part of a church that, as a plan, is really sharing the Gospel with the people in the community and we are hoping to make itself accessible to the people who are not part of the mix.
Q. What are your interests and hobbies?
A. Kate very quickly volunteered her dad's answer. He loves Hershey's chocolate kisses, she says. He eats them all the time and leaves little rolled up foil wrappers all over the house. Jenny is a constant reader. She says she could spend hours just wandering among the book racks in Barnes and Noble. She likes to cook and entertain. Feild gets the clean-up detail. Both like to travel and enjoy day-tripping with the family. After hosting an exchange student from Costa Rica, the whole family traveled to Costa Rica to visit the country and the student. Feild and Jenny's ages are 39 and 42 respectively. On the subject of birthdays, Feild says that the family has never been able to surprise him. Somehow he learns the plans before they take place. However, Jenny succeeded when she was arranging a surprise in celebration of his 39th birthday. She deliberately advanced it to 40! The Russells were wed on June 7, 1986 at Jenny's church, White Memorial Church, in Raleigh, NC. Her pastor, Ed Pickard, and Field's father, J. Shepherd Russell, officiated. 12-year-old Kate will be in 7th grade at Tabb Intermediate School. Like her dad, she is outgoing and an avid reader. She likes swimming. Anna is nine and will be in 4th grade at Mt. Vernon Elementary School. She is shy and somewhat fearful that she will be the only 4th grader at school because she hasn't met many others her age. She likes riding horseback. And she likes to massage her dad's shoulders at which she happens to be very good.
Q. What are your expectations for Yorkminster?
A. (Feild) We are particularly intrigued with the Expanding Ministries Document produced just a few years ago that indicated that Yorkminster expected more of itself. That was very important to us so we could see that the church having high expectations of itself, we would not have to place our expectations. Yorkminster is in a good position to do more than it is doing, to grow more than it is growing. But it needs to be good growth and not just numbers but in missions and spiritual growth.

Epilogue: I would be remiss if humor were not mentioned in this WHO'S WHO. At our interview in the Russell home, there was constant laughter, a relaxed atmosphere and a very enjoyable time.