:::::BROWN MEMORIAL PARK AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH:::::

Pastoral Staff Andrew Foster Connors, Pastor andrew@browndowntown.org Andrew is now in his sixth year as the senior pastor of Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church. Frequently asked whether he is old enough to be a pastor, Andrew often responds, “No, but it’s too late now.” He is old enough to have been married to his partner for life, Kate, for more than a decade. Kate and Andrew have two young children, Anna and Aidan. Andrew is passionate about leading a church with a commitment to welcoming all God’s children into the life of faith, particularly people who have been frustrated by the insular, exclusionary tendencies of church communities. He is happy to be in a church that welcomes a prophetic witness from the pulpit to the streets.
Emily Rose Proctor, Associate Pastor emily@browndowntown.org Emily is excited to have her first call to ordained ministry be at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church. After graduating from Williams College, Emily spent a year in South Africa on a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, exploring the Church’s response to HIV and AIDS, and she is currently the co-moderator of the Presbyterian AIDS Network. Emily is a recent graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary, but has had a number of ministry related experiences in Atlanta, GA, and Mobile, AL, where she spent a year as a full time intern at Government Street Presbyterian Church and directed their summer urban mission camp program. Emily is passionate about engaging scripture and has consistently encountered Christ in the margins of Church and society. She is excited to be at a church committed to peace and justice, excellence in music and preaching, urban ministry and global partnership, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, and welcoming all God’s people. Emily is 29 years old, and has two younger brothers; she grew up in Dothan, Alabama, the self-proclaimed “Peanut Capital of the World,” where she has a large extended family. On July 25, 2010, Emily married to Richard Gillespie Proctor, a candidate for ordination in the Episcopal Church.
Education Rachel Cunningham, Director of Children and Family Ministries rachel@browndowntown.org After longing for more purpose in her vocation Rachel is thrilled to have finally found her calling. She joined the staff in 2005 after eight years of membership in the church. “It is a true blessing,” Rachel says, “to be able to feel passionate about my work and to feel like I’m making a difference.” Rachel loves working in a community where people are not only valued but also nurtured. Plus, she has the best commute – just 2 blocks. Her children, Dever and Evan, are frequently seen running laps in the sanctuary. Rachel is currently working towards her Master’s degree in church ministry at The Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary. Of Brown Memorial she says, “There’s no better place to be!”
Rev. Kate Foster Connors, Parish Associate kate@browndowntown.org Kate spends most of her days doing puzzles, making art, taking hikes, and playing soccer with 2 children under the age of 9 (who happen to be her daughers). In between all that fun, she does a lot of conflict resolution! She is married to Andrew (yes, Andrew the pastor), and though she is the Pastor’s Wife, she “doesn’t bake brownies.” She is an ordained Presbyterian minister, and previously served as Associate Pastor for a church in Memphis, TN. For now, Kate has discerned her primary call to be at home with her children. However, she has a passion for working with youth, and is thrilled to be helping strengthen the youth program at Brown Memorial. Kate loves to be outdoors, and enjoys gardening, cooking, art, and hiking.
Martha Socolar, Tutoring Program Director Martha came to us in 2001 after working at the Maryland Historical Society and the Baltimore City Life Museums. There she realized how much she enjoyed working with school children who came to the museums on class trips. While pursuing a Masters degree in Elementary education, Martha met Sharon Winternitz, the then director of the Brown Memorial Tuturing Program. Martha signed up to be a volunteer and promptly fell in love with the program. Martha became the director after Sharon Witernitz retired in 2008. Martha is married to Serge Socolar. They have two teenage children, Madeleine and David.
Coppie MacFarlane, Tutoring Program Assistant Director Coppie joined the staff at Brown this fall after volunteering with the Brown Memorial Tutoring Program for many years. We welcoome her many gifts and talents.
Angela Jones, Caregiver Angie has been a member of Brown Memorial for over ten years. She is widowed with two children. When she came to Brown she was impressed with the welcome that she received from young and old alike. “There was something about the church that made everyone come together.”
Tammy Crooms, Caregiver Tammy joined the Nursery care team in 2006. She is married with with one child and has recently returned to school to take pharmacy classes. Tammy likes Brown because the worship services for children are “made into stories so that younger kids can understand better.” She enjoys working in the nursery because “you can wear whatever you have in your closet.” She also likes the fact that the worship service is typically close to an hour long.
Music John Walker, Minister of Music john@browndowntown.org Since age 13, when John was asked to substitute for the ailing church organist, John has felt his calling to the ministry of music. This path has led through several denominations and two synagogues and from California through New York. Feeling compelled to nurture another generation of church musicians, John presently teaches several excellent young organists at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Brown Memorial’s longtime commitment to the integrity of music in worship attracted John to this church. He is grateful for the challenging messages of Brown Memorial, which remind him of The Riverside Church in New York, where he served for many years.
David Bucher, Adjunct Organist David has been associated with Brown Memorial’s musical life since he was 16 years old — nearly 50 years! David is single and retired from The Johns Hopkins University. He loves the splendid 1931 Skinner Organ at Brown and participating in worship through music.
Robert Tracy, Director of Children's Music Rob has been involved with Brown for nine years. He began as a tenor soloist and is now Director of Children’s Music Education. Rob earned a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Otterbein College in Westerville, OH, and a teacher’s certificate from Towson University. He teaches chorus and general music at Pine Grove Middle School in Baltimore County. In addition to singing, Rob loves to play the guitar and piano. He stays active by running, swimming, and playing basketball. He recently wrote and recorded several songs in the Americana genre (folk, blues, country, rock). Rob says, “Brown has been a great place for me to grow spiritually as a person and professionally as a musician. You will not meet a more accepting, caring group of people anywhere.”
Chrystie Adams, Director of Handbells Chrystie came to Brown in 1971, the year she started teaching at Baltimore’s Lake Clifton HS. She is now retired from a 37-year music education career, most of the time teaching music in middle school. She is married to Doug Adams. Their daughter, Rebecca, will graduate from WVU in May 2009 and carry on the family tradition of teaching. Chrystie has a passion for Brown’s relationship with the Dakota Presbytery and in particular, Makasan Presbyterian Church in Oglala, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation. She directs the six Makasan Hau Kola Learning Camps that are held each summer, and is working to help build a formal partnership between the Dakota Presbytery and our own Baltimore Presbytery. Chrystie enjoys reading mysteries, especially culinary-themed ones that also have some humor. She and Doug enjoy playing pinochle with Doug’s mom, and Chrystie loves going with friends to the movies. Chrystie says: “I love Brown Memorial for the music program, the passionate people who seek to make our world a more just and peaceful place, and for the opportunity to get to know and work with the wonderful children and youth at our church. Brown has been my spiritual center since 1971 and has seen me through all of the rough spots in my life.”
Administration Sally Shoemaker Robinson, Lay Associate On July 1, 1998 Sally retired as Canon for Social Ministries and CEO of Episcopal Social Ministries of the Diocese of Maryland. By July 15 she was so bored she wrote up a job description for a volunteer Lay Associate position at Brown and presented it to then-pastor Roger Gench and the Session (governing board). Sally recounts, “After a brief stunned silence, I moved in and here I am.” Sally has been married to Court for 53 years. They have four children (two are members of Brown Memorial) and five grandchildren (four have been confirmed at Brown Memorial). Sally remains as Trustee Emerita at the American Bible Society and Bryn Mawr College. She is a passionate gardener, member of the choir and church member and is “thrilled over Brown’s re-emergence as a great Baltimore institution and leading congregation.”
Sharon Holley, Administrative Assistant sharon@browndowntown.org Sharon came to Brown in 1987 under then-pastor David Malone. A lot has changed since then but not Sharon. We can’t remember a time when Sharon wasn’t here cheerfully answering our phones and greeting visitors. If you want to know something about Brown, Sharon is the one to go to. Sharon enjoys her grandchildren, reading and watching old movies. She recently celebrated her 50th birthday although you would never know it.
Mary Mahony, Financial Secretary mary@browndowntown.org The joke around here is that Mary was never hired – she just showed up for work one day. What a lucky day for us! Mary has been our financial secretary since 2001. She is married to Paul and together they have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. Mary has recently taken up sewing so on her days off you are apt to find her working on her latest sewing project.
Parish Associates Rev. Dr. Christopher Leighton, Parish Associate Chris has been the Executive Director of the ICJS since its founding in 1986. He is married to Betsy Leighton who is the head of the lower school at the Park School in Baltimore. Chris and Betsy have three children, Ben, Hannah, and Sam. Chris, whose office is currently located in the church house at Brown Memorial, says, “Brown is home away from home and extended family.”
Rev. Dr. Ed Richardson, Parish Associate Ed Richardson currently serves as Chaplain for Springfield Hospital Center and is on the Faculty of The Ecumenical Institute of Theology of St. Mary’s Seminary and University. Ed is no stranger to many folks at Brown and has been participating with the Youth program of Brown since 1997. He has been involved in the Dakota Presbytery Partnership from the beginning of the project. Ed is renowned for his South Dakota astronomy skills and for his encounters with buffalo.