Dan Doriani has been a pastor for about 12 years and a professor for about 18 years; right now he does both, although he is mostly a pastor.  He was an ordinary professor at a small college and a professor and academic vice president at a large seminary.  Long ago, he pastored a very small church in a small town; now he pastors a very large church in a big city.  So he has had some humbler jobs and some nobler jobs.  Dan loves to teach.  He has good content and good stories; some of them are funny.  A counselor once told him to consider a career in stand-up comedy, but he’s not that funny.

Dan is a pastor and a scholar, so he can’t be totally normal, but he comes pretty close.  He loves his wife and kids.  He and his wife Debbie, a musician and teacher, have three daughters, Abigail (a teacher), Sarah (an architectural designer) and Beth (a student).  He plays tennis competitively and briefly coached college tennis (with a .571 winning percentage).  He also runs, hikes, lifts weights, plants gardens, plays the guitar very poorly and will do just about anything to get out of a long meeting.  Dan speaks frequently at conferences on family and gender issues, manhood, work, and biblical interpretation (hermeneutics).  One fun fact:  Dan once spoke in a lecture series in which he was preceded by Bono (of U2) and followed by Mel Gibson. Second fun fact: His daughter Abigail was in the world championship in Ultimate Frisbee in Melbourne in 2006.

Dan has a bunch of degrees and has written a bunch of books.  If you are interested in the specifics, read on. But if you are introducing him, understand that most people find most of what follows boring.

Prior to his return to the pastorate, Dr. Doriani served as Dean of the Faculty, Vice President of Academics, and Professor of New Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis from 1991 to 2003. Doriani earned a Ph.D. and M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary, an S.T.M. from Yale University and a B.A. from Geneva College. He was a research fellow at Yale University in 1981 and 1995. Before coming to St. Louis, Doriani was Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Geneva College (1986-1991) and pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church of Cumberland, MD (1982-1986). While in academia, he remained active in the local church and served as theologian-in-residence at Kirk of the Hills in St. Louis from 1996 to 2003.

Dr. Doriani has written ten books including Matthew (two volumes, P&R, 2008);  James (P&R Publishing, 2007),  The Sermon On The Mount (P&R Publishing, 2006), Women and Ministry (Crossway, 2003), The Life of A God-Made Man (Crossway, 2001); Putting the Truth to Work: The Theory and Practice of Biblical Interpretation, (P & R, 2001); Getting the Message, a Plan for Interpreting and Applying the Bible, (P & R, 1996), David the Anointed and Teach the Nations (Great Commission, 1984, 1991). He is New Testament editor for the Reformed Expositional Commentary series. He co-authored two books including Beyond the Sacred Page (Zondervan, 2008) and Christmas in the Gospels (P & R, 2008).  He also contributed to multi-author works such as Women in the Church:  A Fresh Analysis of 1 Timothy 2:11-15 (Baker, 1995); Christian Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender (Eerdmans, 1996), Biblical Foundations for Building Strong Families (Crossway, 2002) and The Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism (P &R, 2003) and The Scripture Project (Eerdmans, 2010).

ddoriani@centralpres.com
 

Philip Rowland is Associate Pastor of Music and Worship.
Mr. Rowland came to Central Presbyterian Church as Director of Music Ministries in 1981. The music program has prospered with opportunities for all to sing, to ring handbells or play instruments. Choir highlights include a youth choir tour of Presbyterian roots in Scotland, adult choir tours to Brazil, Scotland and England, and the annual concerts with the St. Louis Symphony Brass at Christmas at the St. Louis Cathedral. This fall the choir has been invited to sing at
the National Cathedral in Washington, D. C. The church sponsors a Concert Series, with musical talent from the symphony and from the church.

Phil earned a Master of Music degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N. J. and a BA degree from Lebanon Valley College. In 2001, he received his Masters of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He was ordained as a pastor in 2003, and was called by Central as an Associate Pastor of Music and Worship. He is married to Cecelia Rowland, and they have two grown sons.

phil@centralpres.com
 

Brett Eubank is Associate Pastor of Single Adults.
A native of Mississippi, Brett Eubank earned a B.S.B.A. degree in Accounting from Mississippi College in 1990. After practicing accounting for a year, Brett moved to St. Louis where he served with His Life Campus Ministries and Lay Renewal Ministries until he entered seminary in 1999. Brett received the Master of Divinity Degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis in December, 2002. Brett began serving at Central in August, 2002, as the Director of College and Career Ministries, and in January, 2004, he was ordained as Assistant Pastor of Young Adult Ministries. Currently he serves as Associate Pastor of Single Adult Ministries. Brett is married to Denise and they have a golden retriever named Bailey.

brett@centralpres.com

 
 

Lance Hudgens serves as our Associate Pastor of Congregational Care.  Prior to his coming to Central he served as an associate pastor for seventeen years at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC, and for thirteen years at Wallace Presbyterian Church in College Park, MD. Lance and Jacque have three grown married children and two grandchildren. Lance received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and has done additional graduate work at Reformed Theological Seminary. He began his ministry at Central in September 2004.

lhudgens@centralpres.com

 

Robbie Griggs serves as Associate Pastor of Evangelism and Discipleship.
Robbie has served as a teacher, intern, and Sunday school leader at Central since moving to St. Louis to attend Covenant Theological Seminary in January of 2001. After receiving his Master of Divinity from Covenant in May 2004, Robbie began his ministry as a Central staff member on June 7,2004. He has implemented many new programs to accelerate the evangelism and discipleship efforts of our church. Robbie was ordained at Central on January 9, 2005.

Robbie is 29 years old and has been married to his high-school sweetheart Jane-Ellis Young Griggs for 6 years. Jane-Ellis is a homemaker and full-time mom to their sons Charlie and Peter.

 

rgriggs@centralpres.com
  Clay Smith serves as our Associate Pastor of Teaching and Family Ministries.
Clay, his wife Missy and their daughter Emma Kathryn came to us from Covenant Community Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Clay grew up in Mississippi in a committed Christian family. He attended Mississippi State University where he earned his B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology. He was called into vocational ministry through his love of serving as the youth director in his church, as well as couselling in a Christian summer camp for boys.

After college Clay earned a Master of Divinity at Covenant Seminary and continued serving in the administration for four years as Director of Seminary Relations. In Scottsdale, Clay served as an assistant pastor.

Clay joined the staff at Central on January 10, 2005.

csmith@centralpres.com
 

BJ Otey (pronounced oh-tee, not oh-tay) serves as Assistant Pastor of Evening Worship.  He and Robin have been married for 6 years and moved to St. Louis from Memphis, TN where he served as a College/Career Minister and she danced professionally at Ballet Memphis.  While attending Covenant Seminary BJ served as an intern at Central leading music, teaching a variety of bible studies and classes, and generally trying to fill any position that needed filling.  After graduation he was hired full-time to plan and launch a new evening worship service.  The new jazz-style service (TRIO) began in October of 2005 and now occurs at 5pm every Sunday night here at the church.  In addition to TRIO, BJ coordinates and helps plan outreach events.

BJ and Robin have two dogs (Carmen and Cooper) and are expecting their first child in September, 2006.  When they are not at Central you might spot them at arts events, Cardinals games, triathlons, or enjoying a good meal at one of St. Louis’ many fine restaurants.

bjotey@centralpres.com