Our Staff
Rev. Dr.Dean McDonald
Bridge Pastor and Head of Staff
dean.mcdonald@me.com
Dean McDonald is a life-long Presbyterian, who heard a call to ministry when she was in confirmation class in Webster Groves, MO. After majoring in religion at Monmouth College, IL, she attended Princeton Seminary for one year before transferring to Union Seminary in New York City. She and her husband, Jim, spent an intern year working for the United Farmworkers Ministry/Union in Los Angeles before graduating. Her first church was in Jordan Village, IN; a rural church with no running water. She also worked for the University of Indiana campus ministry. When the family moved to Philadelphia, she served Old Pine Street Church in Society Hill. Seven years later, the McDonalds came to the DC area and Dean was Associate for Pastoral Care at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church for eleven years. Later she became the Director of the College of Preachers and worship leader at Washington National Cathedral. She has taught at Wesley Theological Seminary, McCormick Seminary, and San Francisco Theological Seminary in the field of pastoral care. She also taught at National Cathedral School and Sidwell Friends, and was the first chaplain at National Presbyterian School. Jim and Dean have three grown children and four grandchildren living in either Seattle, Brooklyn or here in NOMA. French Fry is their pet pooch.
Program and Support Staff (by last name)
Rev. Irene Vinyard Bennett
Director, Children’s and Family Ministry
The Reverend Irene Vinyard Bennett is a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville KY and has served Baptist churches and agencies in eight states and Hong Kong. As an educational minister, writer, and editor, she has created curriculum, been a national leaders, and preached and taught in many countries around the world. Rev. Bennett and her husband, Phil, have visited Western ever since their daughter, Malissa Bennett, and her husband, David Berezansky, joined nearly twenty years ago. Now, in retirement, they live in Alexandria VA and participate regularly in our church life.
Nancy Kiefer
Business Manager
Nancy has been a member of Western Presbyterian Church since 1983. She served as Western’s Bookkeeper from 1996 through 1999, and returned to the position of Assistant Treasurer/Bookkeeper in 2002. Nancy served as the Facilities Director and IT Manager at WRI from 1983 until 2016.
Sterling Thomas
Building and Facilities Manager
sterling@westernpresbyterian.org
Sterling comes to us most recently from George Mason University where he worked as a Senior Facilities Manager for the Office of Housing and Residence Life. Prior to that, he worked for 10 years for the Architect of the Capitol as Assistant Superintendent of the House Office Buildings. Sterling has experience with building systems and area contractors. He has supervised housekeeping and skilled crafts workers, and worked with demanding constituencies, including students and members of Congress. He was drawn to Western’s mission and the prospect of working with church members as well as the many users of and visitors to the building. The Building and Facilities Manager position will be half-time, and Sterling will be responsible for some hands-on work as well as coordinating and supervising other contracted work.
Staff Emeritus
Rev. Dr. John Wimberly
Pastor Emeritus
After serving Western as pastor for 30 years, John Wimberly is now a congregational consultant with The Congregational Consulting Group. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Gaston Paige
Sexton Emeritus
As a young man, Gaston came to D.C. from Madison County, Virginia. His first job was working for Colonial Parking, where one of his fellow employees happened to be a member of Western Presbyterian Church! The fellow employee was also a part-time carpenter, who recognized Gaston’s talent for fixing things. In November 1960, when Western needed a new sexton (at its old location near H & 19th), Gaston was introduced to then-Rev. Stewart McKenzie. A handshake with Rev. McKenzie sealed a faithful commitment which lasted 58 years before Gaston's retirement in 2018.