Rev. Shelby Etheridge Harasty
Senior Pastor
Shelby grew up in Florida and later moved to Asheville, NC, where she worked at the Montreat Conference Center before moving to Richmond, VA, for seminary. Shelby earned her Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, where she received the Presidential Leadership Award in 2013.
Shelby was ordained and installed as Associate Pastor at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in September of 2013. She’s served in several leadership positions in our National Capital Presbytery and is currently a member of the Leadership Council. Prior to serving at Darnestown, Shelby interned at Ginter Park Presbyterian in Richmond, served as a hospital chaplain at Sibley in Washington, DC, and worked as a Youth Minister at Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond.
Shelby notes her greatest joy in ministry is gathering around tables. "Whether it's in the sanctuary, fellowship hall, at home, at Fish Taco, Starbucks, Java Nation, Silver Diner…at all those tables, God is there.”
She lives in Rockville with her husband Matt and their two young daughters, Amelia and Clara.
Rev. Blake A. Collins
Associate Pastor
Blake grew up in Columbia, MD and attended Temple University in Philadelphia to study communications and also compete on Temple's men's gymnastics team. Following grad school, he served as a Young Adult Volunteer in Comas, Peru accompanying the Joining Hands Network across the country. Afterwards, Blake worked for the Presbyterian Mission Agency in Louisville, KY supporting our denomination through fundraising, recruiting, and communications efforts.
Sensing a call to local ministry, Blake then attended McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. While there, he assisted churches’ outreach efforts, supported students in pre-trial detention at Cook County Jail, and worked as a hospital chaplain. In July 2023, Blake accepted his first call as associate pastor here at Darnestown.
Currently residing in Derwood, Blake and his wife Kelsey enjoy cheering on the Raven’s and O’s and also supporting the local economy through farmer’s markets, public golf courses, and family-owned food spots.
Matt Wheeler
Director of Music Ministry
As an award-winning pianist, Matt has performed regularly throughout the world as a collaborative pianist and organist with multiple ensembles, including for government ambassadors and other high ranking officials.
Matt is a passionate educator maintaining a piano studio teaching students of all ages and ability levels, and his students consistently receive top awards in various festivals and competitions.
Active in sacred music, Matt has led musical worship for national church gatherings of several denominations in both the United States and Europe. A Wisconsin native, Matt earned a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano at George Mason University and Bachelor of Music from Cardinal Stritch University.
Terrie May
Director of Operations
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, assisted in coordinating special projects with the Board of Deacons, and supported 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 all behind-the-scenes church functions.
Prior to 2022, Terrie was Office Manager and Treatment Coordinator for Horton Orthodontics for almost 30 years maintaining patient relationships, office schedules, treatment plans, insurance claims, accounts management, and managing 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 at our Church to those 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, and Deacons serve as greeters and as ushers in support of our worship services. As with Elders, Deacons must be church members, are elected by the congregation and usually serve three-year terms.
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!
