Rev. J. Cameron Beaty, M.Div., Senior Pastor
The Rev. J. Cameron Beaty serves as Senior Pastor and Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa. A native of Mississippi, Cameron came to First Church in August 2026 with nearly two decades of ministry experience and a deep commitment to Christ-centered preaching, discipleship and the life of the local church.
Before coming to Tulsa, Cameron served as the founding pastor of Peak Street Presbyterian Church in Dallas. A church plant of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Peak Street began under Cameron’s leadership, and he helped build the congregation from the ground up, developing its ministry and community in the heart of East Dallas. His previous ministry experience also includes pastoral leadership at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas and First Presbyterian Church in Starkville, Mississippi.
Cameron earned his Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and his Bachelor of Arts from Mississippi State University. His ministry is grounded in the Reformed tradition, with a particular love for Scripture, thoughtful preaching and helping people grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. He values the relationships that form within the church and believes deeply in the church’s calling to bear witness to the gospel through worship, discipleship, hospitality and service to its community and the world.
Cameron and his wife, Emily, have three children, Wells, Charlotte and Lewis. Together, the Beaty family is grateful to call Tulsa home and to share in this new chapter of ministry with the First Church family.
Rev. Wambugu Gachungi, M.Div., Associate Pastor
Born and raised in Kenya, Wambugu Gachungi came to the United States in 2001 to pursue a faith-based higher education, graduating from the University of the Ozarks in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in philosophy, religion and sociology. He then moved to Tulsa where he attended Phillips Theological Seminary and obtained his Master of Divinity in 2011.
Wambugu’s primary role at First Presbyterian Church is fostering the community of faith known as Tulsa International Fellowship, or TIF. Wambugu leads worship, Bible studies, outreach, and offers pastoral counseling with disciples from over 12 nations. He has a passion for seeing the global Church coming together regardless of where its members reside.
In his ministry, Wambugu is also very interested in the reformed tradition, and hopes to make it accessible to 21st-century Christians as he continues to investigate what a true community of God might look like.
Wambugu loves spending time with his wife and two children.
Rev. James Estes, M.Div., Associate Pastor
James was born in Fort Worth, TX and raised in Claremore from the age of four, where he graduated from Claremore Christian High School. Following high school, he earned an associate degree from Rogers State University before completing a two-year ministry internship at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2005, James graduated from Langston University's Tulsa campus with his bachelor's degree in psychology. During his first job out of college, James was introduced to First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa at the invitation of then middle school director, Jaclyn Miles. He volunteered with Pathfinders, the middle school ministry, and became a member of FPC that year.
James graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. After completing this, he moved to Seattle to persuade Lindsey to marry him. In August 2013, James returned to Tulsa in answer to the call to serve as an associate pastor at First Church.
James has had the opportunity to take mission trips to various countries including Mexico, China, the Ivory Coast, Malawi, Nepal, Ethiopia, Holland, Kenya and Costa Rica. "I enjoy serving as the mission pastor because mission is the lifeblood of the Church.”
In future ministry James is excited to continue developing missional partnerships with fellow followers of Christ that cross cultural, ethnic, racial, denominational and national boundaries until the unity of Christ's one holy catholic and apostolic Church becomes an observable reality. "There is good work to be done around the world and around the corner."
James has been married to his wife, Lindsey, since 2012. Together they parent four beautiful children. With four children, life at home is always an adventure. James enjoys reading, music and being outdoors, whether backpacking, camping, gardening, hunting or taking the kids to the zoo or a neighborhood splash pad.
Rev. Julia Metcalf, M.Div., Associate Pastor
Julia Metcalf is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, where she earned her Master of Divinity in 2020. During seminary, she served for a year at the American Church in Paris, France, as the pastoral intern for Youth and Young Adults. Her field education also included ministry with children and hospital chaplaincy.
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Julia studied vocal performance at Belmont University in Nashville, graduating in 2015. She is deeply grateful that the Lord brought her back to First Church, where she now serves as Associate Pastor for Next Gen Ministries. She considers it a joy to serve alongside this wonderful expression of the Body of Christ and an honor to be among the few women to serve as pastors in First Church’s history.
Julia is particularly interested in the spiritual disciplines, contemplative practices, and the ways they can deepen our life with God. She is passionate about helping people of all ages experience a meaningful, transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Beyond First Church, Julia serves on the board of directors of Camp Loughridge.
When she is not at church, Julia enjoys walking, watching movies, and spending time with her cat, Luna, and her poodle, Fifi. She also hopes to become a master gardener someday!