The Rev. Dr. Daniel B. Merry is Pastor/Head of Staff of the Southminster Presbyterian Church in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Dan began his ministry at Southminster on August 1, 2006.

Prior to being call to Southminster, Dan served for seven years as Associate Pastor to Pittsburgh Presbytery.  Dan’s primary responsibilities involved working with the medium and large-sized congregations. He was also the staff person to the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Administrative Commission for Transformation and the Malawi Partnership Ministry Team.

Dan was born and raised in New Jersey, graduating from Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren, New Jersey, in 1973.  Dan went “west” for college, graduating from Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, with a B.A. in Communications and Religion in 1977.  Dan then turned his attention “south” when he attended Union Theological Seminary (now known as Union Presbyterian Seminary) in Richmond, Virginia, where he earned a D. Min. degree in 1981. During seminary he served as Student Pastor of the Midway Presbyterian Church in Maxton, North Carolina.

Following graduation from Seminary Dan was called to serve the Second Presbyterian Church in Pittston, Pennsylvania. It was there that Dan really learned what it was to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament.

In March 1987 Dan accepted a call to the John McMillan Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. For thirteen years Dan served this dynamic and growing church in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. During that time JMPC grew from an average Sunday worship of 85 to almost 400. It was a joyous time of ministry.

Dan is married to Beth Brown Merry. Beth and Dan met while students at Westminster College and married shortly after graduation. Beth teaches communications at Waynesburg College in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. In her spare time Beth has many hobbies and passions … sewing, cooking, bird watching, gardening … just to name of few.  Beth is also active at Southminster where she is a Stephen Minister, serves as a Deacon and teaches the Senior High Church School class.

Dan and Beth have been blessed with two children. Heather, also a graduate of Westminster College, is a learning support teacher at the Wylandville Elementary School in the Canon-McMillan School District. Brooke is in her fourth year of a five year program at Gannon University studying to be Physician Assistant.

In his spare time, which there just isn’t enough of these days, Dan enjoys exercising, reading and absolutely loves working out in the yard.

From August 2004 until August 2005 the Merry family had the privilege of being loaned by Pittsburgh Presbytery to serve with the Synod of Blantyre in Malawi, Africa. They like to describe the year as "the most wonderful, difficult year of our lives". Click here to read the Merry Mission Journal, a personal account of their year in Malawi.
 

Ken White is the Associate Pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church where he has responsibilities for mission and evangelism. This call allows him to pursue two of his passions in the life of the church, calling people into community, and sending them into the world for service.

He has been deeply involved in mission work in Haiti and the Sudan as well as domestically. Ken delights in providing opportunities for congregations to engage their heads, hearts, and hands, in mission.

He is also committed to making the church a place of hospitality that welcomes the saint, the seeker, and the weary so that our deep needs can be met. Ken believes that the church is intended to be the place where God’s people are fed body and spirit and equipped to be God’s presence in the world.

He is the founder of the Order of the Wild Goose, inviting others on pilgrimage to walk in “thin places” where heaven and earth are as close as one’s next breath. We walk together to become centered and aware of the ways that God is being mischievous in our lives, and to claim resources for courageous living.

He is an experienced storyteller who loves to tell stories that shape our lives and make us laugh. One of his joys is to lead walks in nature along the bogs, shores, and deserts where Biblical and Celtic Saints have trod.

Peggy Wucher the Director of Children’s Ministry here at Southminster.  I’ve been blessed to have this ‘job’ for the past two years.  Let me tell you how I got here.

I grew up here at Southminster.  I received my third grade Bible here, was Confirmed here, played with the Southminster Ringers and tried to keep out of trouble.  I have taught 2nd, 4th and 7th grade Church School, am an ordained Elder and have served on numerous committees and commissions.

I am a graduate of Bethany College (BA-Education) and the University of Pittsburgh (M.Ed.).  I spent 6 years working in Wheeling , WV as a Teacher of the Hearing Impaired (yes, I know sign language) and coaching gymnastics. (A fact not many people know…until now!)

I moved back to Pittsburgh to marry Brad and we have 2 great boys Jeff and Ben who keep us very busy.  In my ‘spare’ time I love to travel with my family (Civil War battlefields!), read, cook and watch the Food Network!

In addition to my Children’s Ministry duties I am also the ‘Music’ teacher at our Nursery School here at Southminster. Being with the children is what gives me the greatest joy and I love my jobs!

Matt Caldwell works with the youth and young adults at Southminster, from 4th grade through the college years. Matt prepares trips and creates opportunities to sit and understand who Christ has called us to be. He seeks to pull together a ministry that truly serves and honors the Lord. You can also find Matt with Tapping into Theology, and singing with the Crossings worship band.

This is the second church that Matt has worked for and he has been in paid positions with churches since 2007. Prior to being paid by the church he worked with youth volunteering for three years. Matt has been part of several mission trips, Guatemala, and Mexico to name a couple and he has worked with many local missions.

Many of Matt’s passions find him in the outdoors in some way; backpacking, biking, day hiking, climbing, and hitting the water. He has jumped out of a plane, run class five rapids, and has gone mountaineering over several days in temperatures as low as -20 degrees. Matt often finds God waiting for him in the mountains with the quiet and peace.

With Matt’s passions for youth and his energy God has prepared him to be an effective youth minister. With Ruth beside him he is all but unstoppable.

The Reverend Dr. James K. Smith, Sr. became a Parish Associate at Southminster Presbyterian Church in July of 2011. Jim retired after 44 years in the parish ministry in December of 2006. He had served as Pastor of a two point charge in Beaver County at Hookstown and Mill Creek Presbyterian Churches followed by service in Harrisburg at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. In 1969 Jim became the Pastor of Baldwin United Presbyterian Church until his retirement.

Jim was active in Pittsburgh Presbytery, serving as The Associated Stated Clerk of the Presbytery from 1981 to 1992. Jim was also active in nursing home and hospital chaplaincy, receiving Clinical Pastoral Education at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital. Jim was Director of Chaplains for HCR/Manor Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers. He remains an active member of The Pennsylvania Society of Chaplains and served as its President during 1999 and 2000.

Jim is married to Lynne Smith, who is a retired nurse. Prior to her retirement she was Director of nursing, retiring as Administrator of the Villas at Asbury Heights. Lynne is a member of Southminster Church. They are proud of the 6 children in the family and the 6 grandchildren.

Jim is looking forward to his ministry here at Southminster and says "it is never too late to begin a new ministry when God calls."

It is so good to be back here at Southminster. I am a child of this church and have recently moved back to Pittsburgh from Newburgh, Indiana where my wife Gerri and I lived for 21 years. I have recently come on staff as a part time Pastoral Care Associate. I am excited to be working with the Stephen Ministries team as a Stephen Leader. This is a wonderful outreach to our congregation and community. I encourage you to learn more about Stephen Ministries efforts here at Southminster.

I will also be involved in outreach to our homebound and hospitalized members. I will participate where needed in all three worship services and look forward to teaching the Ed Sell Bible class and the Adult Church School from time to time. I am so pleased by the many mission opportunities available here at the church and in our community and around the world. I have enjoyed getting involved with our Produce to People efforts with the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. I challenge you to find a mission opportunity and “jump in”!

I was fortunate to be a part of lay pastor training while I was a part of the Ohio Valley Presbytery in southern Indiana. I received a diploma in Pastoral Studies from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2005. I have served as a “supply” pastor since then at a number of different Presbyterian churches. I also served at Moderator of the Presbytery of Ohio Valley in 2008 and am a certified coach that works with church staff and pastors.

I have a wonderful wife, Gerri, who also is from the Pittsburgh area. We are glad to be back closer to our family. Our only child is Justin Barnes and he currently is living in Louisville, KY. He is an automotive Technician working for Sam Swope BMW and enjoys whitewater rafting and coin collecting in his spare time. You may be familiar with my sister Jane Barnes who is a member here at Southminster and my brother Tom Barnes who is currently living in Harrisburg, Pa. We are all children of this church and appreciate the great ministry that continues on here and realize that we owe it all to our parents Tom and Peggy Barnes and all the saints of this church both past and present. To God Be the Glory!