Who we are

Philip Lotspeich was called to the position of coordinator for Church Growth in the Evangelism program area of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in February 2008. He was the organizing Pastor of Faithbridge Presbyterian Church in Frisco, Texas. He also was the pastor of a transformational congregation in Okmulgee, Okla. He is a graduate of Austin Seminary.

Sherry Britton is the program assistant for Church Growth. She is a certified meeting planner and has a B.S. from the University of Kentucky. Sherry has been with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Center since 1988.

Meredith Kemp-Pappan is the administrative assistant for Church Growth. A recent graduate of Austin Seminary, she has an M.Div. and is a candidate for ordained ministry. Meredith also has a B.M. from West Texas A&M University. She joined the Church Growth staff in June of 2008.

Church Growth Field Staff

Brian Clark felt God’s call to go into new church ministry in 1996 but told his wife “I could never move back to the suburbs!” In January 1997, they moved to the suburbs of Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C., where he became the organizing pastor of Riverside Presbyterian Church. Riverside is now 11 years old, is made up of 87 percent previously unchurched and continues to see significant growth through people getting connected to God and each other through Jesus Christ. Riverside is helping to start its third new church in the Washington, D.C., area. Brian is field staff in the Office of Church Growth with a focus on new church development.

Ed Harding is senior pastor of the growing Prince George’s Community Presbyterian Church in Springdale, Md. The church is celebrating is its third anniversary. With outstanding lay leadership, the Prince George’s Church has grown to more than 300 members. Dr. Harding is a graduate of N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C. He received his M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. Previous congregations served include the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Mass., and the Northeastern Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. The motto of the Prince George’s Church is “Equipping, encouraging and empowering the People of God for the work of God.” Ed is field staff in the Office of Church Growth with a focus in new church development.

Judy Lee Hay has an energetic commitment to congregational transformation, parish ministry, community revitalization, social justice and the education of seminary students. She is the pastor of a vital urban parish, Calvary St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Parish in Rochester, N.Y., a community organizer and founder of a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to neighborhood revitalization in the city of Rochester, N.Y. She is adjunct faculty of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and former vice president of the Board of Auburn Theological Seminary. Currently she is field staff in the Office of Church Growth with a focus in congregational transformation.

Danny Murphy is associate general presbyter for mission, congregational development and evangelism for Trinity Presbytery. He has a bachelors degree from Concordia University in Mequon, Wis. He has an M.Div. from Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Ga. He has a D.Min. from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. Danny is field staff in the Office of Church Growth with a focus on congregational transformation.

Craig Williams served as organizing pastor and pastor of Trabuco Presbyterian Church in Trabuco Canyon, Calif., from 1988 to 2007. During those years the congregation grew from a few forward-thinking families to more than 280 members and more than 300 people in worship. TPC is a mission-minded and missional-oriented Christian community. In April of 2008 Craig became the director of new church development for the Presbytery of the Cascades. The vision of the presbytery matches Craig’s passion for developing congregations. Craig has served as a NCD coach, conference planning member and resource for our denomination’s continued efforts in new church development. He is also an accomplished worship leader and guitarist. Craig is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary and has a D.Min. in New Church Development from Columbia Theological Seminary. He is a field staff in the office of Church Growth. Craig is helping to develop and identify resources for evangelism and church growth.