LEAD PASTOR

Joel was born in Georgia, went to High School in Florida, then graduated from Mercer University in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering. At Mercer, he met Jill Patterson. They married and have three grown sons, Adam, Daniel, and Michael.

Joel spent 12 years in Engineering, Marketing, and Sales positions. In 2002, he and his family dropped everything and went to seminary. Joel and Jill graduated with Masters of Divinity degrees from Columbia Theological Seminary.

Since graduation in 2005, Joel has served two Presbyterian churches, in Decatur, GA and Watkinsville, GA, before coming to us. Joel joined the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown in late January 2020.

Joel is a fan of Atlanta United (MLS) and Manchester United (EPL). Joel plays a little guitar, and loves concerts, plays, musicals, movies, good TV, and XBox.

Joel joined PCC in February 2020

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Rev. Caitlan joined PCC in May 2012 as the Director of Youth Ministry. In June 2014, following her graduation from seminary, PCC expanded her role to Pastoral Assistant for Youth and Young Adult Ministry. In November 2015, Caitlan was ordained and installed as the Associate Pastor of PCC (the first A.P. at PCC!).

Caitlan grew up on her family’s farm in Warwick, MD. After high school, she attended the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, receiving a BA in Religious Studies and playing field hockey. She received her Master of Divinity from Palmer Theological Seminary in May 2014. Caitlan is married to her husband, Danny, and supports the family farm as the Administrative Assistant.

Most of Caitlan’s free time is spent with a field hockey stick in hand. She is a field hockey coach for both a high school and club team based in Cecil County, MD, and she continues to play in adult field hockey leagues year-round.

Caitlan has served the church since 2013.

MUSIC DIRECTOR

We would like to introduce our new interim Director of Music Ministry Betsy Babylon. Betsy is currently the music teacher at Sudlersville Middle School where she oversees the new strings classes and the Music and Theater Arts courses. Prior to that, she taught a diverse group of learners at Radcliffe Creek School in Chestertown. Betsy was awarded the Maryland Music Educators Association’s 2023 Outstanding New Music Teacher of the Year award.

Betsy holds degrees from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory and Peabody Institute of Music, a Music Education degree from Penn State and a Master’s in Special Education from the University of Kansas. Although she plays almost all instruments, she most enjoys playing the piano, the viola, and the flute.

She has three wonderful children, who have been attending services with Betsy’s mom, while Betsy is playing for us. Be sure to greet them.

Betsy started as our Interim Director of Music July 2022.

CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR

Valerie was born and raised in South Jersey, then graduated from Rowan University (formerly Glassboro State) with a bachelor’s degree in human resources management. During college, she worked for Wawa Food Markets. She continued her education through a work-sponsored scholarship and graduated with a master’s in business management from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA.

Valerie spent 20 years in different HR Management positions, taking her from New Jersey to Florida. Valerie returned to Maryland in 2014 when she married her husband, Stacy, and was blessed with two stepchildren, Clay and Megan.

Since moving to Chestertown, MD, two years ago from Port Deposit, MD, she has found living on the Eastern Shore a great place to call “home.”

Valerie loves the Jersey Shore. She likes to walk and take spin classes. She loves her pets, and it’s common to see Valerie walking her dogs Maggie (German Short-Haired Pointer), and Remmi (Miniature Australian Shepherd). Charlie, her cat, enjoys being curled up on the sofa, waiting for them all to come home.

Valerie joined PCC in June 2023

CLERK OF SESSION (VOLUNTEER)

Joanne is a native of Rock Hall, MD. After graduating from Washington College, she spent a few years in the Washington, DC, area before returning home to teach middle school, a career of 35 years. Now retired, she has more time to pursue hobbies like needlework and choral singing. She sings with the Chester River Chorale and is their music librarian.

Joanne joined PCC in 2012, singing in the Chancel Choir and rings in the Handbell Choir. She served one term on Session and began as Clerk of Session in November 2022.

TREASURER (VOLUNTEER)

Bob was brought up in upstate New York where he attended a Dutch Reformed Church along with his parents and his wife's family.

(Yes, Bob and his wife Sue actually met 50 years ago in Youth Fellowship!)

Bob received degrees in accounting and finance from Gettysburg College and from Columbia University. After serving as a naval officer for 3 years, he went to work for DuPont in Wilmington DE.

They attended Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Bob served as a Deacon, Elder, and Trustee. When Bob and Sue both retired, they moved to the eastern shore and Bob transferred his membership to PCC.

Bob says, “I am pleased to put my skills to use in a church environment.”

MINISTRY INTERN (Jan-Apr 2024)

Bob is studying for a Master of Arts in apologetics and cosmogony from Regent University School of Divinity, and this internship is a requirement of his studies.

Bob was born in Flushing, NY, into a Jewish family. At age 13, he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. He and his wife Mindy have been married 45 years, and they have two daughters.

Bob other degrees and careers include:

A MS in medical genetics and he worked as a cytogeneticist at a medical school, medical lab, and hospital for over ten years.

A MS in taxation, an MS in legal studies, and a certified CPA, and he worked as an accountant for national and international nonprofit organizations as Controller, CFO, or VP of Finance. He’s had a private consulting firm since 2007.