Meet Our Staff & Elders
Our Pastor
The Reverend Pam Driesell is the organizing pastor of Oconee Presbyterian
Church and the mother of Ty and Walker.
They have lived in Oconee County
since August 1999, when Pam was called by the Northeast Georgia
Presbytery to plant a new church here. Pam says her training for ministry
began when she was a child; watching her father coach college basketball
"was great preparation for being a pastor. In many ways I have followed in
my father's footsteps, being a pastor is like being a coach!" After
graduating from James Madison University (Virginia) with a degree in
Communications, Pam served on the staff of an ecumenical Youth Ministry in
Roanoke Virginia for ten years. Pam's heart for young people is an integral
part of her calling to the pastorate. She has a passion and vision for the
church to be a safe place for all generations to connect with God and one
another. While living in Roanoke she earned a Master's Degree in Liberal
Studies from Hollins University (Virginia) before heading off to Princeton
Theological Seminary where her training for ministry continued. At Princeton
Pam was awarded the Galloway Prize for Expository Preaching. She has a
strong conviction that God has called her to this place to PREACH THE
GOSPEL, LOVE THE PEOPLE and LEAD THE LEADERS. Every week Pam strives to
communicate the Good News in ways that open people up to discover God's
transforming love and the abundant life offered to them in Jesus Christ.
Our Director of Music
Dr. Skip Taylor has been the Music Director for Oconee Presbyterian Church
since 2003. Skip has been involved
with church choirs for over fourteen
years in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. After completing his
M.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro,
Skip accepted a faculty position at the University of Georgia and he and his
wife Jenny and children Meg and Cary moved to Oconee County in 2001.
Since joining the music education faculty in 2001 at the University of
Georgia (UGA), Dr. Taylor has been active as an adjudicator, workshop
clinician, and conductor throughout the southeast. Dr. Taylor is the
director of the Summer Camps at UGA, Associate Director of the String
Project, and also conducts the University Philharmonic Orchestra. As you
can see, music is his passion! Skip says “I enjoy the people of OPC. Jenny
and the kids found this church and told me I was going to attend! I enjoy,
appreciate, and value the love and care this church has for me and my
family. I am having fun continuing to work with the choir and the growth of
the music program at OPC.”
Our Director of Christian Education
Sue
Jacobson came to Oconee Presbyterian Church in 2002 when she felt God was
calling her to be in this unique place that was growing, building tradition
and filled with unbounded love.
In 208 she earned her Master of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological
Seminary with an emphasis in practical theology.
You know what Sue loves about this place?! She loves worshipping, learning
and working side by side with people of all ages. Here at OPC children,
youth and adults are rejoicing in God’s grace, seeking together God’s will
and striving to be the church God calls them to be.
You know what Sue loves about this place?! She loves worshipping, learning
and working side by side with people of all ages. Here at OPC children,
youth and adults are rejoicing in God's grace, seeking together God's will
and striving to be the church God calls them to be.
Accompanist
Jacob Coleman was born and raised in Oconee County where he
attended Westminster High School. He has received his undergraduate in Piano
Performance for the University of Georgia and his Masters in Collaborative
Piano from the University of Oregon in Eugene. He currently lives in Athens
where he is a freelance accompanist and piano teacher. He enjoys cooking,
swimming and speaking Spanish.
Parish Associate Andy Cooke
Youth Ministry Coordinator Karen Schofield
Our Directors of Youth Ministry
Steve Bowden is the High School Youth Advisior. He can be reached at
stevebowden@charter.net.
Kendall Edelen is the Middle School Youth Advisior. She can be reached at
edelenckbj@aol.com.
Our Office Administrator
Janet Smith is the Office Administrator. Janet and husband, Arthur, reside
in Watkinsville along with their son Noah.
Our Church Elders and Ministry Teams
Administration
Nancy Aquino
Adult Care
Lisa Douglas
Children/Youth Ministries
Bill Nelson, Chris Neill
Finance
Hudson Wade
Hospitality & Fellowship
Julia Estess
Missions
Chuck Brown
Outreach
David Boyd
Personnel
Nannette Varela
Stewardship
Lynn Baginski
Strategic Planning
Becky Frank
Worship
John Gregg
Clerk of Session
Ann Kohler
