|  Bob
The Rev. Dr. Robert Albritton
Senior Pastor
Balbritton@vbc-va.org
Ben
The Rev. Dr. Ben Wagener
Pastor for Spiritual Formation
Bwagener@vbc-va.org Jennifer
The Rev. Jennifer Peterson Singh
Pastor for Youth and Children
Jsingh@vbc-va.org
Diane
Diane Frost Gardner
Music Ministry Director
Dgardner@vbc-va.org Jan
Jan Just
Director, Vienna Baptist Children’s Center
VBCCDirector@vbc-va.org
Mary Ann
Mary Ann Christian
Music Ministry Assistant Heidi
Heidi Kharbanda
Office Manager
OfficeManager@vbc-va.org Carol
Carol Natella
Publications Editor
communications@vbc-va.org Bobbie Jean
Bobbie Jean Tolson
Financial Secretary
finance@vbc-va.org Betty
Betty Wiersema
Financial Assistant Volunteer Pastoral Associates on Call - Hank
The Rev. Hank Dunn - Julie
The Rev. Julie Price - Roy
The Rev. Dr. Roy Woodruff
Bob
The Rev. Dr. Robert Albritton
Senior Pastor
Balbritton@vbc-va.org  Bob loves serving as a pastor and is glad to be a member of Vienna Baptist Church, where he is in his fourth year as senior pastor. He says, “I see in VBC a worshipping community practicing the disciplines of the Christian faith: prayer, Bible study, testimony, retreat, meditation, reflection, hospitality, encouragement, witness, mission, and ministry. These are my values as well.”
Before coming to Vienna, Bob had most recently served 12 years as senior pastor of Millbrook Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., and nine years as pastor of University Baptist Church in Montevallo, Ala. Earlier, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Carson-Newman College, and both master of divinity and Ph.D. degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His doctoral concentrations were in Christian philosophy, modern theology, and New Testament interpretation. While a pastor in Alabama, he also taught philosophy and religion for five years as an adjunct professor at Samford University in Birmingham. He also has served as a spiritual formations leader, student pastor mentor, and field ministry supervisor for several divinity schools. Bob is married to Becky Neil Albritton, who is an ordained minister and pastoral counselor. They have two children: Neil, who works in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Anne, who recently completed high school. Bob enjoys playing tennis and golf, skiing on snow or water, and playing guitar. His daily goal is to laugh as often as possible.
One of Bob’s favorite blessings is from Fred Craddock: “Live simply, love generously, speak truthfully, care deeply, pray daily, and leave the rest to God.”
Ben
The Rev. Dr. Ben Wagener
Pastor for Spiritual Formation
Bwagener@vbc-va.org
 Ben believes that church membership should be a carefully considered commitment rather than a casual act, and that the Christian walk is a pilgrimage of following essential spiritual disciplines.
He came to VBC in 2002 with 37 years’ experience as a pastor. He had served a rural church in Kentucky and four Virginia churches in different settings: county-seat town, suburban, and urban. His most recent position was as founding pastor of a small urban covenant church in Richmond, Va., modeled on the Church of the Saviour in Washington, D.C. At VBC he coordinates the church’s efforts to stimulate and develop committed Christian discipleship for all ages. He also has responsibilities in missions, worship, and pastoral care. In addition to his formal education—bachelor’s degree from Furman University, master of divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and doctor of ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary—Ben continues to study leadership in ministry through a family systems group as well as a clergy group that focuses on spiritual renewal through worship and reflection. Ben is married to Dorothy, who is editor of a monthly association magazine in Washington, DC. They have two children: Daniel, an assistant editor for online communications at a think tank in DC, and Anne, a project assistant at an educational association in Reston, Va. An athlete who can still outrun most of the youth in tackle football, Ben enjoys playing outfield on the VBC coed softball team, playing tennis, studying history, and traveling.
Jennifer
The Rev. Jennifer Peterson Singh
Pastor for Youth and Children
Jsingh@vbc-va.org
 When she joined the VBC staff in 2004, Jennifer assumed responsibility for development of all aspects of the children’s and youth ministries. She loves working with all ages, from our youngest children in the nursery to our college students.
With five years of previous experience, she had most recently served two ahd a half years as associate pastor for education and youth at Peace Haven Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. Earlier, she served as part-time minister to youth and children at Samaria Baptist Church in Charles City County, Va., while earning her master of divinity degree at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.
Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She has held numerous leadership positions, among them membership in the coordinating council for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina. She also was a summer intern for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty in Washington, DC.
Jennifer is married to Pravin Singh and they are the parents of twins, Penelope and Micah, born in October 2009. Jennifer loves being a mom; playing with her dog, Hatteras; and exploring the world with her family.
Diane
Diane Frost Gardner
Music Ministry Director
Dgardner@vbc-va.org  Some of Diane’s earliest memories of church are musical, and she sang in choirs from a young age. Her formal education includes an undergraduate degree in vocal music education from Oklahoma City University, 40 graduate hours from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a master’s degree in voice performance from the University of Central Arkansas. A native of Tulsa, Okla., she has taught all ages from preschool to university students to senior adults. She has served churches in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and North Carolina.
Her husband, James Gardner, is a member of the music faculty at George Mason University. Their son, Peter, a recent University of Maryland graduate with a master's degree in aerospace engineering, is living and working in the area.
Diane directs vocal and handbell choirs for children and adults, and gives much energy to worship planning. She finds her greatest fulfillment in sharing her faith through music, and believes that the most important choir in the church is the congregation.
Jan
Jan Just
Director, Vienna Baptist Children’s Center
VBCCDirector@vbc-va.org
 Jan is the director of VBCC. She has been a teacher at VBCC for 18 years, having worked first with 3-year-olds, then 2s, and then infants and toddlers. A longtime New Englander before she came to this area, Jan was born in Manchester, Ct., and graduated from Tufts University in 1972 with a degree in urban studies.
Jan and her husband, Dr. James Just, a consultant, have two children. Christopher, 28, is married and expecting a child this summer. He graduated Tufts University, spent five years in the Navy, and is now continuing to work with the same civilian contractor he worked with while in the service. Molly, 22, is a junior at the University of Virginia majoring in Middle Eastern studies. Last summer she worked at Bethesda Naval Hospital and this summer she works at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center--both summers sponsored by the American Red Cross.
Before having a family, Jan worked at a subsidiary of Merrill Lynch. Her special interests are cooking, travling, and reading.
Mary Ann
Mary Ann Christian
Music Ministry Assistant  Mary Ann and her husband, Lewis, grew up in Northern Virginia and became members of VBC in 1969. In 1971 Mary Ann joined the VBC staff as organist and pianist; the position was later changed to music ministry assistant. She was delighted when the church voted to install a Dyer pipe organ in the new worship room. Mary Ann especially enjoys accompanying and learning new music.
Mary Ann is a graduate of Westhampton College of the University of Richmond, where she majored in piano performance, and she also studied at Wesley Theological Seminary. She has accompanied various soloists and choral groups, including the Vienna Choral Society, and has taught piano for 20 years. Recently she completed training and became a certified practitioner in the Feldenkrais Method, which uses gentle physical movements to increase range of motion, flexibility, and coordination. Mary Ann is a deacon at VBC. She and her husband, Lewis, have a daughter and two grandchildren. Mary Ann also enjoys reading and working crossword and Sudoku puzzles. Heidi
Heidi Kharbanda
Office Manager
OfficeManager@vbc-va.org  As VBC office manager, Heidi ensures that the office functions smoothly as the communications hub for the church.
Before joining the VBC staff, she taught first, second, and third grades in Fairfax County Public Schools. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social sciences from James Madison University and also completed JMU’s early childhood education program. In 2006, she earned a master of arts in new professional studies in teaching from George Mason University. Heidi grew up in Northern Virginia, but she also lived for periods of time in Luray, Va.; Rödelhausen and Liederbach, Germany; and Salamanca, Spain. Now she lives in Sterling with her husband, Kunal, and cat, Sophie.
Heidi enjoys taking digital photographs, reading, playing board games, traveling, and eating chocolate.
Carol
Carol Natella
Publications Editor
communications@vbc-va.org  Carol is responsible for VBC’s monthly print newsletter; the "Opportunities for Discipleship" that appear in Sunday's worship guide; and the weekly e-mail communication that is sent to the congregation. She joined the staff in 2004.
Although Carol’s academic background is in the biological sciences (M.S. in ecology and botany), throughout her vocational and avocational life she has enjoyed writing projects with subjects ranging from architecture to Jungian psychology. She learned the nuts and bolts of editing through coursework at George Washington University's Publication Specialist Program.
Carol delights in nature and loves spending time at the woodland cabin she and her husband, Dave, have just built near the Shenandoah River. She also loves traveling—especially to Italy—and enjoying good food.
Bobbie Jean
Bobbie Jean Tolson
Financial Secretary
finance@vbc-va.org  As financial secretary to the church, Bobbie Jean is responsible for all financial transactions done on the computer, including accounts payable, payroll, contribution records, general ledger, budget, and financial reports.
Bobbie Jean has been a member of VBC since 1965 and is an ordained deacon. Her working background has been in banking and bookkeeping for more than 40 years, and she has also served previously as a volunteer in the church office handling accounts payable as well as payroll and deposits. She has four children, twelve grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Bobbie Jean enjoys reading and walking—not necessarily at the same time.
Betty
Betty Wiersema
Financial Assistant  Betty is responsible for receiving all incoming church monies and reviewing church expenditures, thereby serving as the internal auditor. Before joining the office staff in 1999, she was a teacher at Vienna Baptist Children’s Center for 15 years. Betty is an ordained deacon and has served the church as assistant treasurer.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pa., Betty attended the University of Pittsburgh. She met her husband, Dick, while both were working in the headquarters office of U.S. Steel. Betty and Dick have two children and four grandsons, who keep them busy and are a delightful part of their lives. Betty enjoys reading and traveling whenever possible.
Hank
The Rev. Hank Dunn
Hank has directed an inner-city jobs program for four years and has served five years as a youth minister, twelve years as a nursing home chaplain, and five years as a hospice chaplain. His booklet, Hard Choices for Loving People: CPR, Artificial Feeding, Comfort Care and the Patient with a Life-Threatening Illness, has sold almost 2 million copies. Hank has two grown children and one grandson, and he enjoys kayaking, fishing, hiking, wilderness camping, and life in general. He has been a member of Vienna Baptist Church for 20 years. Julie
The Rev. Julie Price Julie Price is a wedding minister who works with couples to create meaningful and personal wedding ceremonies. Along with her colleague, the Rev. Becky Albritton, Julie leads marriage preparation seminars for engaged and newlywed couples in the DC metro area. She has a master of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and has worked on the pastoral staff of congregations in Virginia,Texas, and Georgia. She and her husband, Watt Hamlett, have two sons and have been members of VBC since 2002.
Roy
The Rev. Dr. Roy Woodruff Roy has been a member of VBC since 1988. His ministry has been in the practicing, teaching, and organizational leadership of pastoral care and counseling. He retired in 2003 as executive director of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, after which he served two years on the interim pastoral team at VBC. Roy and his wife, Kay, have two adult sons. Roy’s recreational activities include hiking, tennis, and traveling. He finds personal spiritual renewal in Celtic Christian literature and in meditation.
|
