Our Staff
Rev. Gillian Weighton
Pastor & Head of Staff
Pastor Gillian was called to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church as Head of Staff and Pastor on August 26, 2018. Gillian was born and raised in Scotland. She earned her Bachelor of Divinity with Honors in Theology and Ethics at the University of St Andrews. She also earned a Certificate in Ministry from the University of Glasgow, during which time she worked as a chaplain in a drug rehabilitation center and in a large teaching hospital in Glasgow. Pastor Gillian won the Scottish Fellowship to study at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York and graduated with a Master of Sacred Theology in Homiletics in 1991. Returning to Scotland, she was ordained by the Church of Scotland in September 1992 after spending a year as a Probationary minister at The High Kirk of Dundee. She was called to serve Ayr, St James Parish Church on the West Coast of Scotland in 1992 and remained here until called to Bridge of Allan Parish Church in 2004. While in the Church of Scotland, Gillian trained as a conflict mediator for the Church and for A Place for Hope, working at times with the Scottish government in their fight against sectarianism.
In both Ayr and Bridge of Allan, Pastor Gillian also served as a University and Hospital Chaplain, served on General Assembly Committees and served as spiritual adviser and chaplain at conference for newly ordained pastors. In 2013 Pastor Gillian heard the call to serve at First Presbyterian Church, Racine, WI. Gillian had served this congregation on a pulpit exchange in 2004 and returned in 2013. Over the course of her ministry Gillian has engaged in 18 pulpit exchanges across the United States and Canada. When asked to describe the ministry setting to which she believes God is calling her, Gillian replied, “My sense of call is toward a ministry setting where I can serve a church that understands itself as a family of faith. A place where all are welcome, where community is important, and where everyone is included and involved.”
Beth Lyon-Suhring
Director of Christian Education
Beth has been a member of St. Andrew since 1990 and joined our staff in 2004. She is responsible for educational ministries at the church for all ages. Beth is a native of West Virginia and holds a BA in English from St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC, a Master’s Degree in Library Science from UNC-CH, and a Master’s Degree in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. She and her husband Steve live in an old farmhouse in Suffolk which they rescued from the wrecking ball, and which, thirty years later, is still a work in progress. Their two children, Anna and Will, grew up at St. Andrew. Beth sees faith formation as a lifelong process during which God continues to form and redeem us.
Lisa Cross
Director of Older Adult Ministry
Raised in Richmond VA and a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Lisa has been in the field of Recreation Ministry for many years. Scheduling, organizing, leading events and activities are second-nature to her because of her background. Her goal for the Older Adults group, known as the eXtra Years of Zest, aka the XYZ’s, is to promote friendships, encourage participation and fellowship within the church community, and engage those over 55 in a variety of interesting activities. Lisa is also a Commissioned Ruling Elder here at St. Andrew, a designation awarded after the completion of courses from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond. As a Commissioned Ruling Elder, she has Presbytery permission to officiate at Baptisms and for Communion services. She enjoys preaching in area churches and leads the Presbyterian Women morning circle Bible Study at our church. Her husband Harry is very active in our church, also. They have 3 married adult children and eight grandchildren.
Beverly Lambert
Church Secretary
Beverly is our Church Secretary and has been working at St. Andrew since 2008. She is the go-to person for most administrative tasks and enjoys helping church members, officers and staff with anything and everything! Beverly comes from England, is married, and has one adult daughter.
Joey Parrish
Minister of Music
Joey Parrish, who has been a member of St. Andrew since 2002, serves as the Minister of Music at the church, where he conducts both the adult choir and several English hand bell choirs, while overseeing the music department and its staff. Joey received his Bachelor of Music Education from Christopher Newport University and his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Regent University. In addition to his work at St. Andrew, Joey serves as an Assistant Principal in Chesapeake and is a former choral director in the Chesapeake Public School System. Joey and his lovely wife Dawn live in Chesapeake with their three children, Kelly, Connor, and Colby. “I feel that the greatest gift that a person can offer is one of themselves,” says Mr. Parrish, that is why he is extremely grateful for the gifts of talent and time that so many members willingly give to participate in the music program. “Through these gifts, it is our hope that you will experience the love and majesty of Christ through our music.”
Angela Hillis-Baurle
Youth Director
Ms. Angie is a third generation and charter member of St. Andrew. She has served as our youth director since 2015. She earned her BS degree in Psychology from Old Dominion University in 1990. Angie is married to Rob Baurle, who works as an aerospace engineer for NASA/Langley Research Center. They have a blended family with four grown children: Kristen, Tyler, Lauren, and Jordan and a teenage daughter, Sarah. Angie enjoys reading and dancing in her spare time. “I enjoy walking side by side with our youth and young adults to learn how to be more like Jesus, and how we can use our spiritual gifts and talents to serve Him and others.”
Linda Althoff
Church Pianist
A native of Ohio, Linda graduated from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY with a major in viola and minor in organ. She spent 32 years teaching music in various schools in Norfolk. She was a founding conductor of the local Youth Orchestras and has conducted various Regional Orchestras and All-City events. She has been a guest lecturer at Virginia Wesleyan College, Old Dominion University, the Virginia Symphony 101 series, and the Virginia Music Educators Association. She has performed in many local groups – most notably the Virginia Symphony from which she retired after serving 40 years in both the viola section and as Pops pianist. She also played in back-up groups for star performers who came to town (Elvis Presley, John Denver, Isaac Hayes, Rod Stewart, to name a few). She has served as a church organist since age 15 and has worked in a total of 62 churches over her career, including 3 in England. She is married to her husband Gary (who also serves as page turner) and has 2 grown children – a daughter in NC and a son in AZ, and also a 3-year-old granddaughter in AZ. “Music can move the spirit and bring people closer to God, and I enjoy being a part of that process. I feel the presence of God at St. Andrew and am happy to serve as a pianist. The words of my favorite hymn, “O Jesus, I Have Promised”, says it all.”
Carol and Jim Carnegie
Preschool Directors
The Carnegies are charter members of St. Andrew Presbyterian. Both Carol and Jim graduated from Christopher Newport University in 1977. Carol received her Masters in Reading and Jim received his Masters in School Administration from Old Dominion University. Both enjoyed a career with Suffolk Public Schools: Carol as an elementary teacher and academic coach, and Jim as a teacher and assistant principal. Following retirement, they became preschool directors in 2015. Carol and Jim are also active in the ministry of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. Carol is the church librarian, member of Presbyterian Women and teaches in Crosswalk. Jim volunteers at the Soup Kitchen, is a member of Presbyterian Men, and shepherds in Crosswalk. Together they have raised 3 children and are enjoying being grandparents. With the long-standing support of the church, they consider their work with the preschool and church to be a calling to provide a ministry and service to the children and families in our community.
Ruth Harrel
Childcare Provider
Ruth Harrel is a childcare provider for St. Andrew, and you’ll find her in the nursery on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Ruth is a native Virginian who is also a Preschool teacher with Suffolk Public Schools. She has a BS from Norfolk State University and an M.Ed. from Cambridge College. Ruth is married with a grown son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. She has two dogs and loves to go thrift store shopping and do paint parties. “My favorite part of my job here at St. Andrew is the relationships that I have developed by taking care of the children and families.”
Betty Hare
Childcare Provider
Betty Hare is a childcare provider for St. Andrew and is a mainstay in our Sunday morning nursery. Betty, a native of New Jersey, has also been associated with St. Andrew’s weekday Preschool for eleven years and currently teaches three year olds there. Betty is mom to three adult children and ten pets of assorted species.
Sandy Carnegie
Childcare Provider
Sandy Carnegie has provided childcare for St. Andrew since 2018. You will normally find her in the nursery on Wednesday evenings. Sandy was born in Washington DC, but moved throughout her childhood. She is an Air Force Veteran and Old Dominion Alumni with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science. Sandy is married, with two young sons. “My favorite part of working with childcare at St. Andrew is seeing the joy in the younger generation’s eyes when they get to play and spend time with their peers with no worries.”
Amy Gray
Parish Nurse
Amy and her family have been members of St. Andrew since 1987. Amy is a graduate of MCV School of Nursing in Richmond and has worked in critical care, gastroenterology, and home health nursing. After training at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, Amy added parish nursing at St. Andrew to her resume in 2008. Amy’s favorite parts of parish nursing include visiting, being an information resource about home care and health issues for church members, and education and encouragement through the church newsletter’s “Temple Tips.” Amy says, “This is my way of giving back to the congregation by utilizing my work experience to help others.” Amy and her husband Kevin have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Sunday Worship
Join us at 10:00 a.m.
Phone & Email
(757) 238-3550
ten.serpwerdnats@ofni