Meet the Staff at Fairfax Presbyterian Church

Head of Staff and Senior Pastor

The Rev. Henry G. Brinton

Henry grew up in Bowie, Maryland. He was active in the Christian Community Presbyterian Church throughout his youth and was ordained a deacon as a teenager. In his first pastoral call, Henry served as associate pastor of First United Church of Christ in Milford, Connecticut, a 1200-member congregation with a corporate style of ministry. In 1989, Henry was called as pastor to Calvary Presbyterian Church in Alexandria. Henry writes freelance articles on religious topics for the The Washington Post and USA Today, and has been a writer for the preaching journal Homiletics since 1998.

Henry met his wife Nancy Freeborne in their church youth group in Bowie. They were married in 1985 and have two children, Sarah and Sam. In his free time, Henry enjoys working with Boy Scouts, reading, and drawing. He is committed to fitness -- "Which has both physical and spiritual benefits," Henry reports. In recent years, Henry has taken up distance running, competing in marathons from Tucson to Boston. Family time is important to Henry, whether it involves going to an art museum with daughter Sarah, hiking with Sam, going out to dinner with Nancy, or visiting with extended family that live nearby.

Washington Post Articles by Henry Brinton
Sermons by Henry Brinton

You can reach Henry by email at henry@fairfaxpresby.com.

Associate Pastor

Jessica Tate

Jessica attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated in 2007 from Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia with an M.Div., and M.A. in Christian Education. Jessica received awards from Union Seminary and the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church for her preaching.

Jessica has a lot of experience and church service. She has been a Sunday School teacher; a youth advisor; a member of the National Council of Churches' Committee on Public Education; a member of University Presbyterian Church's Campus Ministry Leadership Team (Chapel Hill, NC); a retreat leader at Montreat; an Intern for Education and Advocacy in the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA), working on immigration issues and policy related to children; a Seminary Intern at Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond, where she taught adult education classes and assisted in the newly implemented Covenant Quest, the workshop rotational model for the children's Sunday School; a current events coordinator at Union-PSCE; a research assistant at the Union-PSCE Center on Aging; and a program coordinator at Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond for its Walk-in Lunch Ministry, which includes pastoral care and assistance to walk-in guests.

The daughter of Tom and Joanne Tate, Jessica was born in Richmond and grew up in North Carolina. Her father is pastor of Plaza Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, and her mother is dean of student life at Trinity Episcopal School there.  Jessica's interests are wide and varied: her hobbies range from running to knitting, but she always comes back to the time-tested favorites of a good novel or a hike in the mountains. She is a joyful and talented musician and a skilled, though now informal, athlete.

APNC And Welcome Photos

Ordination Photos

You can reach Jessica by email at jessica@fairfaxpresby.com

Curiosity, imagination, enthusiasm, and a deep love of people characterize the faith of FPC's Parish Associate, Carol Barrett. She joined our ministry team bringing her sense of God's call to serve any and all people with love, patience, compassion and laughter. Carol's faith has been challenged by a wide variety of life experiences, which have brought her to FPC. She says, "God called me long before my birth into the Presbyterian Church. My ancestors were founding members of two Presbyterian Churches still worshipping in Northern Virginia. God didn't give me a choice!"

Beginning life as a farmer's daughter, Carol studied Pre-Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, dropping out of school to marry Bob Barrett. Together they have raised two sons, Andy and Jesse Barrett, and two daughters, Tracy Smith and Jennifer Graham, and are the proud grandparents of six beautiful and loving grandchildren.

As volunteer Youth Leader at Christ Presbyterian in Fairfax, Carol answered God's Call to explore a seminary education. She completed a Bachelor's of Individualized Studies in Religion and Psychology at George Mason in 1990, and a Masters of Divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary in 1994. Carol has served several churches in National Capital Presbytery as Interim Christian Educator before receiving a call to serve as pastor to Mt. Union and Mapleton Depot Presbyterian Churches in Huntingdon Presbytery in Central PA where she served until coming to Fairfax Presbyterian.

When responding to the question, "What are your passions?" Carol tells us she would rather read than eat, but does both. She also is an ardent gardener with a large vegetable garden each summer, and a big yard with many flowerbeds and shrubs. She cans the produce, making jams, jellies, pickles, and relishes. She's a beginning quilter having sewn most of her life. With builder husband, Bob, they are always in the middle of many rebuilding and refurbishing projects around the "plantation," known as Waples Hollow. "Come by and see us. I can always use extra hands!"

You can reach Carol by email at carol@fairfaxpresby.com

Youth Director

Nancy Stevens

Nancy was born in Chapel Hill, NC and moved to Shallotte, NC when she was 2 months old, but insists the "Tarheel Blood" has never left her. She was the first baby baptized in Shallotte Presbyterian Church as her parents were charter members. She was active in Shallotte Presbyterian Church throughout her childhood and jokes about being in the adult choir at the age of seven (not a joke). She went to the University of North Carolina from 1984-1988 and to Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah from 2002-2004 and holds a BS in Health and Physical Education, grades K-12. Nancy "jumped" into children and youth ministry in 1998 at Providence Presbyterian Church in Hilton Head Island, SC, as a lay leader, and eventually gave up her personal training business to serve on staff as their Director of Children and Youth Ministries from 2000-2006. Nancy says she is blessed to have finally found her "purpose."

Nancy is the proud Mom of two incredible young men, Joshua and Nicholas. She enjoys staying physically active, especially running and lifting weights. She is crazy about basketball and plays every chance she gets. Nancy's family is extremely important to her as she is extremely close to her parents and says her Mom "has supported her at every turn."  Nancy enjoys spending time with Joshua and Nicholas, hanging with the youth, screaming for the Tarheels (especially basketball) and spending time with the youth ministry team at FPC. As she says "they are her G.Y.F.T. of G.R.A.C.E.

You can reach Nancy by email at nancy@fairfaxpresby.com

 Business Administrator

Robin Meeks

Robin was born and raised in Springdale, Arkansas. She attended the University of Arkansas and was part of the Razorback Marching Band and the HogWild Band. She was also on staff with the Marching Band for 5 years as the Flag Corps Coordinator. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1997 and a Master of Arts in Teaching in 1998. She taught 8th grade American History for one year and American and World History at the high school level for 5 years.

While teaching at Springdale High School, she served as the JV Cheerleading Sponsor for 2 years and the Social Studies teacher for the Engineering and Architecture Academy for 2 years.

She moved to Virginia in July of 2005 where she volunteered with the Smithsonian Institute in the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History and began work with Fairfax Presbyterian as Business and Building Administrator in February of 2006.

You can reach Robin by email at robin@fairfaxpresby.com

Director of Music

Dr. J. Kenneth Martin

Kenneth Martin was born in Washington and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Prince Georges County.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University and did additional study at Vanderbilt Divinity School.  He earned the Master of Church Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he studied voice with Ronald Turner and conducting with Richard Lin and Milburn Price. 

He was Minister of Music and Education at Hillandale Baptist Church in Adelphi, Maryland, during the 1970s.  Over the years he also has directed the music ministries of churches in Washington DC, northern Virginia (McLean), North Carolina, and Kentucky on a part-time or interim basis.

Kenneth joined the music faculty of Campbellsville University in central Kentucky in 1985.  At Campbellsville he conducted one or more major choral groups and taught applied voice.  He also taught all the classroom work in church music, both at the undergraduate level and, after developing the Master of Music in Church Music curriculum, at the graduate level.  Kenneth took an early retirement from Campbellsville University in 2006 after 21 years of teaching.

Kenneth and his wife Nancy live in Springfield in a four-generation household that includes one of their daughters, her husband, and their daughter as well as Nancy’s mother.  They have another daughter who lives with her husband and daughter in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Kenneth’s primary hobby is genealogy.  Since 1972 he has hosted an annual Martin Family Reunion in Mayodan, North Carolina.  He enjoys organizing, planning, and leading camping - canoeing - fishing trips to Lake Kishkutena in Ontario, Canada, every summer.  He also has enjoyed opportunities to travel abroad, from Europe to Brazil to Siberia.

“My vision for Fairfax Presbyterian Church,” says Kenneth, “is to lead children, youth, and adults to use their musical abilities in the service of God’s kingdom.  I want to maintain the highest performance standards possible, but my first priority always is to undergird and enhance the worship of God’s people.”

You can reach Kenneth by email at kenneth@fairfaxpresby.com 

Associate Director of Music

Erin Sanzero

Erin has a deep passion for church music.  “Being part of a worshiping community has always been very important to me,” she says, “and leading that worship through music has become a true vocation.”  She teaches private voice and piano lessons in her home in Burke.  Prior to coming to FPC, she was Assistant Director of Music for five years at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Bethesda, Maryland, where she worked extensively with a Junior Choir and a Contemporary Ensemble.  She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music and earned a Master of Music degree from Mannes School of Music, both in New York City.  Erin brings high energy, a strong ability to relate to children, youths, and adults, and her past success in recruiting choir members to her work here at FPC.  Erin will marry Michael Rossi, Young Artist Conductor with the Washington National Opera, in May.

You can reach Erin by email at erin@fairfaxpresby.com

Organist

Dr. Sanghwa Lee

Sanghwa Lee is the daughter of a Korean Presbyterian minister and the wife of the youth pastor for the Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Vienna.  Sanghwa [sahng-wah] holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary in Seoul, Korea, and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.  She has done additional study at the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the Summer Göteborg International Organ Academy in Sweden. 

She has served as Organist for churches in Korea and New York and has given organ recitals in New York State, Chicago, Germany, Sweden, Argentina, and Korea.  In her last church she consulted on the construction of a new pipe organ and will return there to play a recital this spring.  In addition to the ability to play both traditional and contemporary sacred music beautifully, she has a strong commitment to church music ministry.  “I find it worthy,” Sanghwa writes, “of devoting my whole life to enhance the corporate worship experience and to help people to build a divine spirituality in their everyday life.”

You can reach Sangwha by email at sanghwa@fairfaxpresby.com 

Publications Secretary

Kathy Uphaus

Although Kathryn (better known as Kathy) Uphaus has been a member   of FPC since 1987, she was a rather shadowy figure around the church for the first 15 years or so while she tagged along with her husband to Foreign Service posts in Yemen, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Morocco and Bangladesh. During those years she passed her time working as an English as a Second Language teacher, self-help grants administrator, Community Liaison Officer, and Kindergarten and first grade teacher, until Bangladesh finally offered her the opportunity to do what she most enjoyed: work as a free lance writer and editor and put out the weekly American Embassy newsletter, The Jute Bulletin. Upon returning to the U.S. in 2001, she was happy to find a similar opportunity at FPC (five minutes from her back door in Fairfax City), where she keeps busy preparing the weekly worship bulletins and The Octagon.

Kathy earned a journalism degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison “a few years ago.” She is married to Charles Uphaus, who she met in 1971 at the last-ever Peace Corps Transition Center in Washington, DC. She married him because she couldn’t resist his offer to take her to Hawaii and Nepal; the subsequent even more exotic posts were just icing on the cake. They have two children, Adele, who is working on a masters in English at George Mason University (having earned her English BA at Mary Washington College) while holding down a part time job with the Society for the Preservation of the Greek Culture, and Max, who recently graduated from the College of William and Mary, also with a degree in English, and hopes to be remuneratively employed in the near future.

You can reach Kathy by email at kathy@fairfaxpresby.com