Preachers, Music & Worship Leader, Pianists
Preachers:
The Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes will be the Speakman Chair of Preaching preacher. He is pastor and head of staff of Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA, and is a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Craig was raised on Long Island, New York. After graduating from The King's College and Princeton Seminary, he received a Ph.D. in The History of Christianity from The University of Chicago under the supervision of Martin E. Marty.
In 1981 he was ordained into the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served parishes in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C. In the fall of 2002, he became the Robert Meneilly Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. While continuing in that teaching ministry he began his service as the installed pastor of The Shadyside Presbyterian Church in November 2003.
The Rev. Joyce MacKichan Walker is the Minister of Education at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ. She is a graduate of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) and a Certified Christian Educator; she serves the larger church as a keynote speaker and workshop leader, and as a teacher for PCUSA educator certification courses. Joyce's undergraduate degree is from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Her writing includes the eighth grade course for Logos Systems Associates; Teaching Children Worship in the Sanctuary with Carol Wehrheim; Be Tween: Exploring Faith and Christian Life with Older Elementary Children with Linda LeBron; leaders guides for Presbyterian Publishing Corporation books and Thoughtful Christian studies, and the Suggestions for Leaders for the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 Presbyterian Women's Bible Studies on Jonah and Ruth.
Joyce grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is married to J. Michael Walker, a Presbyterian minister who works for the state of New Jersey. They have two adult children: Rebekah, a campaign finance director in Fredericksburg, VA and Andrew, a college student in Nova Scotia.
Music and Worship Leader:
The Rev. David Gambrell is Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA). His work is focused on sacramental renewal, congregational song, and the intersection of worship and the arts. David currently serves as a representative to the Consultation on Common Texts, the group responsible for the Revised Common Lectionary. He is a composer of liturgical texts and music and a frequent workshop and worship leader.
David is a graduate of Louisiana State University and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is a candidate for the Ph.D. in liturgical studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Semniary, where his research focuses on the language of lament in Christian worship. While he was a student at Garrett-Evangelical, David also served as dean of the seminary chapel.
David and his wife Sara have two daughters, Miriam and Noa.
Pianist:
Dr. Eloise Kornicke is returning as the conference pianist. She is the Music Director at Fishersville United Methodist Church, Fishersville, VA and a professor of music at Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, VA.
Eloise holds a Ph.D. in Piano/Pedagogy/Music Education from Indiana University where she received a University Fellowship, a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Biola University in Southern California. She also has completed graduate study at the University of Southern California where she studied piano with Daniel Pollack.
She maintains a large private studio and leads a number of community music programs which enrich the lives of those in the Shenandoah Valley.
