Contact Us

Rev. Dr. Alan Kelchner
Senior Pastor
alan@danvillechurch.com

The Reverend Doctor Alan D. Kelchner became our senior pastor in September 2001. He is an experienced, caring pastor, and an excellent preacher. He says, "Danville Congregational is a wonderful church: a loving community of open minded, seeking Christians who laugh often, think deeply, and care passionately about the sorrows and wrongs of the world. Christian education and spiritual growth are a major emphasis of this church, with quality educational programs for children, youth, and adults."

Alan is also a seminary professor and a member of the Academy of Homiletics. He teaches a course on preaching each semester, either at Pacific School of Religion or at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. He has a Ph.D. in homiletics and theology, and he is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Graduate Theological Union. He and his wife Susan live in Danville and have four grown children and four grandchildren.

Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes
Associate Pastor
laurabg@danvillechurch.com

The Rev Dr Laura Barnes has been at DCC since August of 2002. Her ministry focus is children and youth, with a specialty in outreach ministries and social justice projects. She brings with her a wealth of ministry experience from a variety of settings. In addition to her background in commercial banking, Laura has served several other Bay Area churches in the areas of youth ministry, music, worship and development. Laura received a Doctor of Ministry (DMin)degree from the University of Creation Spirituality (UCS) in Oakland, CA. where her studies focused on the engagemenet of youth in worship and empowerment models of Christian Education. Her Masters of Divinity (MDiv) was completed at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley (www.psr.edu). She is passionate about involving people in all aspects of church ministry, mission, and congregational life. She believes we are called to remember our deep connection to Creation and to honor the mystic cultures of not only our Christian heritage, but also other interfaith traditions.

Laura is a sought after retreat leader who brings creativity, enthusiasm, and spiritual energy to her work. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Contra Costa Interfaith Housing Project in Pleasant Hill, a permanent, supportive housing development for formerly homeless families (http://ccinterfaithhousing.org/). She is also an active member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program of the East Bay. Laura lives in a local East Bay community with her two adult children. She is an amateur drummer, runner and choral singer.

Kristin Pankonin
Director of Music
music@danvillechurch.com

Kristin Pankonin has been our Director of Music since August 2001. Kristin came to DCC as an experienced church musician having held similar positions in other area churches. As a pianist, Kristin performs regularly throughout the Bay Area and has appeared in recital in New York, Hawaii, Washington state and Europe. Local audiences have heard her in concert as both soloist and collaborator under the auspices of Old First Church Concerts, Mills College Concert Series, Gold Coast Chamber Players, Composers Inc., Latin American Chamber Music Society, Gualala Arts Center, Trinity Chamber Concerts, Live Oak Concerts, First Congregational Church in Berkeley, Pacifica Arts and Heritage Council and the San Francisco Opera Center. Kristin currently serves as vocal coach and accompanist at Mills College and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She holds a Masters of Music degree from this Conservatory and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Pomona College.

Angela Borba
Children's Music Director
angela@danvillechurch.com

Children's Music Director Angela Borba comes to us from the Masters' Program at Holy Names University in the Kodaly method of music education. She has extensive experience teaching and music-directing children aged preschool through high school, and currently serves as Preparatory Choir Director at the Danville Girls Chorus. We have been quite impressed by Angela's energy, enthusiasm, experience, creativity and obvious love for children and their learning process, and are thrilled to welcome her to our staff.

Lynda Manstrom
Office Manager
office@danvillechurch.com

Webmaster
lynda@danvillechurch.com