Staff
Rev. Robert McClellan, Acting Pastor
Born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Rob is a true product of the Midwest,
with degrees from the University of Iowa (B.A. Communications),
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (M.A. Philanthropic Studies),
and the University of Wisconsin (M.A. Rhetoric).
He headed south to Atlanta for a Master's of Divinity at Columbia Theological Seminary, a Presbyterian Church (USA) denominational seminary.
Rob has experience in campus ministry, having served as Music Leader and Acting Director of Emory University's Presbyterian Campus Ministry.
He has also enjoyed significant time in outdoor ministry, working with children, youth and adults in summer camping, outdoor education,
and corporate/non-profit teambuilding.
Rob comes to Tabernacle familiar with church transitions, having served as an Interim Associate Pastor for three years at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church during a time of significant change for the congregation. Rob's wife, Sherri Hausser, continues to serve on the Bryn Mawr staff as an Associate Pastor and has a long history with the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia. Rob has also worked with the Interfaith Center's Walking the Walk program and hopes to deepen his involvement in the coming year.
Rob is dedicated to progressive Christianity, feeling Christ's call to work for peace and justice in the context of deep spirituality. He is committed to inclusiveness in the church on matters of sexual orientation and identity. In entering a community in transition, Rob takes as his foremost task listening to what the Spirit is saying in the lives of Tab's members, so that a dream for the future might be born from within and nurtured together. He counts among his passions the environment, music, exercise and the outdoors. He has a love for teaching, preaching, pastoral care, and mutually transformative mission.
Rob's office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, by appointment.
Holly Phares, Music Director
An accomplished professional singer, voice teacher/clinician, choral director and composer, Holly has appeared extensively as a concert artist in the tri-state area, as well as in Italy. With over 28 years of experience as a professional singer and teacher, Holly has directed music programs in public and private schools, including New Hope-Solebury Jr./Sr. High School, Friends Select School, Temple University (Music Director of Temple U. Music Prep Children’s Choir), Hotchkiss Summer Portals Vocal Music Program (voice faculty and member of resident quartet), Academy of Vocal Arts (theory/solfeggio instructor and Director of Opera Outreach education program), and St. Joseph’s University (adjunct Vocal Faculty member). Presently, Holly is celebrating her 20th season with Tabernacle United Church as Director of Music.
When not making music at Tabernacle, Holly is immersed in the work of the extraordinary Umbrian Serenades Italian summer choral/cultural program (Artistic Director and Co-Founder), leading ensemble and voice-building clinics and workshops for choirs, as well as maintaining an active private studio in voice and theory.
For the past 17 years, Holly has led unique and inspirational vocal workshops to enable all humans to find their authentic voices through sound and movement, through various “heart-opening” vocal exercises and group singing experiences – facilitated in a safe, creative, and fun atmosphere of exploration.
The underlying objective in all that she does is her passionate belief that all can experience healing, transformation and re-awakening of our extraordinary divine natures through “sounding” and moving together.
Barbara Purdom, Office Manager
The church office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM. General email for the church can be sent to "tabernacle" at this domain.