Rev. Dan Merry, Interim Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Daniel B. Merry is an Honorary Retired Pastor in Pittsburgh Presbytery. Dan served as Pastor/Head of Staff of the Southminster Presbyterian Church in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, from August 2006 to August 2019. Since 2019 Dan has served as Interim Executive Director of Crestfield Camp and Conference Center, Interim Senior Pastor of several churches in Pittsburgh and Washington Presbyteries, and currently serves as Interim Pastor of the Center Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

Dan is married to Beth Brown Merry. Beth is retired from teaching communications at Waynesburg University. 

Dan graduated from Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Communications and Religion in 1977. He went on to Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia where he earned a D.Min. degree in 1981. During seminary Dan served as Student Pastor of the Midway Presbyterian Church in Maxton, North Carolina. 

In June 1981 Dan was called to serve the Second Presbyterian Church in Pittston,  Pennsylvania. It was among this wonderful and loving congregation that Dan really learned what it was to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament. 

In March 1987 Dan accepted a call to the John McMillan Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. For thirteen years Dan served this dynamic and growing church in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. During that time JMPC grew from an average Sunday worship of 85 to almost 400. It was a joyous time of ministry. 

From 1999 till 2006 Dan served as Associate Executive Presbyter for Pittsburgh
Presbytery. During that time Dan worked with mid/large-sized congregations. He also staffed the Committee on Preparation for Ministry and many other committees that worked on transformational issues.

Dan and Beth have been blessed with two children: Heather (married to Tim and mother of our grandchildren, Emma Grace (4) and James Daniel (2)), a Special Education Teacher; and Brooke (married to Kaitlin; parents of our granddaughter, Max Everett (1)), Director of Operations for Global Links.

From August 2004 until August 2005 the Merry family had the privilege of being
loaned by Pittsburgh Presbytery to serve with the Synod of Blantyre in Malawi, Africa.
They like to describe the year as “the most wonderful, difficult year of our
lives.”

In retirement Dan has remained very active. Dan serves on the Board of Directors of
Crestfield Camp & Conference Center; is President of the Board of Directors of 
Advancing Investments in Malawi (AIIM);  and is a member of the Pittsburgh Presbyterian Foundation. The greatest joy of his retirement is caring for his grandchildren two days a week. 

Cindy Zubchevich, Director of Music Ministries

Cindy serves as director of music ministries and organist at Center Presbyterian Church. She lives in Washington, PA with her husband and has 2 sons. She is a graduate of West Liberty University and recently retired as activities director at Washington County Health Center. As a child growing up in a musical family, Cindy was able to begin her music ministry at an early age. She loves sharing her talent with others. Cindy is a member of Washington Community Theatre and currently serves on the board of directors.

Laura Toney, Office Manager

Laura joined the staff in April 2021. She lives in Castle Shannon with her husband, Scott and two children; Annabel and Benjamin. She is a graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk VA with a degree in Elementary Education. Previously she has worked in the insurance industry for nearly 15 years. In what spare time she has; she loves reading and being outside with her kids.