There is never a time I can remember not knowing God. I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home that modeled what being a disciple of Jesus Christ looked like, and I remember feeling called to some type of ministry as early as junior high. I have been in formal and informal ministry positions since high school, serving the church as a pianist, organist, youth director, and Director of Christian Education before responding to a call to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church in 2002. Prior to coming to Summerville, I served Great Bridge Presbyterian Church (Chesapeake, VA) for 21 years in various capacities.
In September 2019, I began my ministry as Senior Pastor at Summerville Presbyterian Church. I am blessed to serve a church with such a long history of faithful ministry in the community (over 300 years!). I am also excited about what God is doing in our midst today as we expand our worship opportunities, add a Mother's Morning Out program, and engage in missions both locally and internationally.
I received my Masters of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and my Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. My final project was on the emotion of wonder, and how sharing our experiences of wonder in the world and in the Word can foster our spirituality. I feel passionate about introducing people to Jesus Christ and then helping them grow through involvement in small groups, mentoring, and serving. For my final project I also did extensive reading about the challenges the church faces in a post-modern, post-Christian world, and believe we must be constantly thinking about how we communicate with and reach people from unchurched or “de-churched” backgrounds.
This is the second time I have the privilege of serving alongside my husband Ralph, also a PCUSA pastor, who retired from full-time ministry in August 2019. Ralph continues to be passionate about preaching and teaching God’s Word and serves on staff SPC part-time as our Discipleship Pastor.
Ralph and I enjoy being active together, whether it is hiking, running (more walking these days!) or biking. We also enjoy traveling to national parks, finding new places to eat and explore, going to a wide array of concerts, and working in the yard. I have two stepchildren, Aaron and Heather, who both live in Atlanta, GA.
Rev. Dr. Ralph Herbert has 35 years of ministry experience, most recently retiring as a PC(USA) pastor from Great Bridge Presbyterian Church in Chesapeake, VA, where he served for over 20 years. He loves to preach, teach, and mentor, and is filling a need at SPC by serving as our Discipleship Pastor. In this role, he offers Bible studies and supports our spiritual growth ministries, preaches and assists in worship.
SPC’s Director of Music, William Bennett, is also the Director of Choirs at Cane Bay High School. He was selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2015 GRAMMY Music Educator Award, and was the 2009-2010 Cane Bay High School Teacher of the Year.
Jim Moore is a graduate of University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He studied Organ Working from Esther Delrich of Oxford, MS.
He also retired after 20 years as a Captain in the Air Force in 1987. He is a Vietnam Veteran. He spent the first 20 years in Intelligence and the last 20 years in training and education.
Julia attends Charleston Southern University, majoring in Music Education. Besides working for us, Julia also works part-time in the Music Department at her college.
She enjoys being part of the Praise Team and is excited for what’s to come at SPC!
She enjoys spending time with her dog Riley.
Joe Swisher taught general and choral music to over 20,000 students in four Berkeley County Schools for 31 years before retiring in 2018 to pursue a second career as a Realtor. A National Board-Certified teacher, he led a large award-winning choral program at College Park Middle school for 4 years.
Hi! I’m Sara Kaczmarski and I’m grateful to serve as the Spiritual Growth Assistant at SPC. My family and I have been members of the church since 2017—my husband Jason and I were married here, and both of our children were baptized here as well. SPC has been such an important part of our lives, and I’m excited to step into a role where I can help others feel the same sense of connection and belonging.
Professionally, I spent ten years as a classroom teacher and now work as a sales manager for a technology company. I’ve also had the opportunity to start two nonprofit organizations and lead community engagement initiatives—experiences that have strengthened my skills in leadership, communication, and relationship-building.
At SPC, I serve on the Spiritual Growth Ministry Team, am a member of the Women of Worth small group, and have loved teaching both Vacation Bible School and Sunday School in recent years. I’m especially excited about the youth and family programs we’re launching this year and am looking forward to supporting our church as we continue to grow and welcome new families into our community.
Above all, I’m passionate about helping others grow in their faith and discover the joy of walking with Jesus. It’s my hope that through spiritual connection and community, every family at SPC feels known, encouraged, and deeply loved by God.
Natalie is honored to serve Summerville Presbyterian Church as Finance Manager.
She was born in Roper Hospital on Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC and has lived in the Charleston area all her life. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston, with a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. Natalie has built her career in the corporate sector, supporting organizations through responsible financial leadership.
She is married to Ralph Hanberry, originally from Denmark, SC, and a graduate of Clemson University. She has one son, two grandchildren and two step grandchildren.
Natalie values the deep sense of community at SPC and is excited to serve a congregation with such a rich history and vibrant ministry. She looks forward to partnering with staff, volunteers, and members as SPC continues to grow and serve Summerville.
Fun Fact: Natalie is a direct descendant of the Mayflower passengers William and Susan White and their son Revolved White.
Julie comes to us from sunny, southern California. Her husband Tom, has been employed with Boeing for over 30 years and that is what brought Julie to the Charleston area, a little over 13 years ago.
Shirley is from Rockland County, New York. She has lived in the Summerville area since 2006. Shirley has owned her own business and has extensive experience in the grocery industry, specifically in the area of schematics. She was interested in this position because she is retired and wants to keep busy. Shirley's other interests include spending time with her husband, Roy, and her grandchildren. Shirley and Roy are big music enthusiasts. She also enjoys crafting and home improvement projects. We're excited to have Shirley helping us out!
Bob and his wife Diane are originally from St. Louis, MO and have been here in Summerville for 40+ years. Both have recently retired. Bob worked as a Facilities Manager at Kiawah Island Golf Resort for 33 years. Diane is retired from banking and also volunteers at the Second Chance Thrift Shop. Both Ed and Diane enjoy many hobbies such as: wood working, sewing, walking and visiting their seven grand-children. Ed and Diane have three sons: Matt who resides in Austin TX; Rob, who resides in Washington, DC; and Chris who resides here and is a Summerville Police Department Captain. Bob will work with our current Sexton, Shirley Gay, making our campus look great! With Bob’s experience and strong work ethic, he will be a great addition to our team.
