Staff & Leadership

Just like other Presbyterian Churches, we value democratic principles of structure and decision-making.
Profile image of Blake Collins

Blake Collins

Associate Pastor

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Blake grew up in Columbia, MD and attended Temple University in Philadelphia. Following grad school, he served as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) in Comas, Peru, accompanying the Joining Hands Network Against Poverty. Afterwards, Blake worked for the Presbyterian Mission Agency in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and assisted churches’ outreach efforts, supported students in pre-trial detention, and worked as a hospital chaplain. 

Blake and his wife Kelsey are elated to be back in Maryland. They enjoy supporting the local economy through farmer markets, public golf courses, and dining at family-owned restaurants. 

 

 

Rob Keene

Director of Music

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Rob Keene earned a Bachelor of Music degree (1999) in organ performance, summa cum laude, at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He studied organ with Carla Edwards; he also studied piano with Lorna Griffitt and chamber music with Claude Cymerman. At Indiana University, Rob joined Christopher Young’s organ studio, earning a Master of Music degree (2009). He gained admittance to the doctoral program and continued his studies for one year before seeking full-time employment as a church musician.


Rob moved to Virginia in August, 2011, to work as Organist and Director of Music at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newport News. Prior to his appointment at Trinity, Rob served United Methodist and Evangelical Lutheran churches in Indiana for twelve years. In 2012, he began serving Jewish congregations as well. Soon after, he was appointed Director of Music at Congregation Emet V'Or in Newport News, where he served for nearly seven years. Late in 2019, Rob moved to Concord, North Carolina, to serve as Interim Organist and Director of Music at St. James Lutheran Church. This 175-year-old congregation boasts a beautiful 3-manual organ, originally a 1927 Hook and Hastings, and a two-manual harpsichord by Willard Martin of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In September 2020, Rob began serving St. Theresa Catholic Church (Austin, Texas) as organist. He was appointed Associate Director of Music Ministries in January of 2021.


Now based in Silver Spring, Rob works full-time with Dobby, an ambitious DMV-based tech startup that takes all the work out of being a homeowner. He looks forward to returning to music ministry in smaller congregations, where, after years of prayerful exploration, Rob feels truly called to serve. He is happiest when rehearsing and performing as a member of an ensemble. Prior to relocating to North Carolina, Rob performed regularly with the fully professional Schola Cantorum of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Richmond, Virginia). Between 2014 and 2018, he performed with The Virginia Chorale; previously he sang in the professional core of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Rob has sung under many notable conductors, including Robert Nance, William Jon Gray, JoAnn Falletta, Charles Woodward, and, most recently, Daniel Sañez. In a previous musical life as a trombonist, Rob toured the United States with Star of Indiana's Brass Theater, performing alongside the Canadian Brass in sold-out venues including Tanglewood, Lincoln Center, Wolf Trap, Ravinia, and the Hollywood Bowl.

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Terrie May

Director of Operations

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Terrie has spent most of her life associated with DPC.  She was baptized, attended Sunday School, and married at DPC.  She spent years as a volunteer in every capacity imaginable, and joined the staff part-time as a Programs Assistant in 2018.  In that role, Terrie planned and led Youth activities, participated in worship planning (including confirmation of Youth, Youth lead services, and liturgical year planning), assisted in coordinating special projects with the Board of Deacons, and planned and executed mission related activities in the church and the community.

In 2022, Terrie agreed to take on the full-time position as Director of Operations which includes oversight of pretty much all behind the scenes church functions. 

Prior to 2022, Terrie was Office Manager and Treatment Coordinator for Horton Orthodontics for almost 30 years. In that position she maintained patient relationships and the office schedule, coordinated treatment plans for patients, ordered supplies, prepared and submitted insurance claims, managed accounts  receivables and accounts payable, and hired and managed office staff.

Lay Leadership

Just like other Presbyterian Churches, we value democratic principles of structure and decision-making. Little would be accomplished at our Church without the involvement of our lay leadership.

Session is the Board that leads and oversees all of the activities of the local Presbyterian Church. Session is the decision-making board of the Church, but more so it sets the goals and provides direction for the overall ministry of the Church. Session members are called Elders and, after selection by a nominating committee, are elected by the congregation. There are term limits! An Elder can serve no more than two three-year terms, before taking a year off. Only members of the Church can be Elders. The Board meets monthly.

The Board of Deacons provides ministry to those of the Church in need and works to fill servant-hood positions within the Church. For three examples (among many): Deacons arrange/provide transportation for those in need, Deacons arrange/provide meals for families in times of distress, Deacons serve as greeters in the narthex before worship and serve as ushers. As with Elders, Deacons must be members, are elected by the congregation and there are term limits.

Ministry Committees do the particular work of the Church under the authority of Session and/or Deacons. At Darnestown Presbyterian we have eight primary Ministry Committees: Building & Grounds, Membership & Outreach, Stewardship, Personnel, Christian Education, Congregational Care, Worship and Mission. The ministry of each committee is aptly described by its name! You do not have to be a member or be elected to serve on a Ministry Committee. All you have to do is step forward and volunteer to serve!