Pastor: Rev. Bob Anderle
Pastor Bob began serving Union Church of Bay Ridge in February 2018. Born and raised a Midwesterner, Pastor Bob’s career has bridged pastoral ministry and social work for almost 30 years now. He graduated with a B.A. from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and began his career in social work in Detroit, Michigan, in 1992. Answering the call to ministry, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he obtained his M.Div. at McCormick Seminary in 1999. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Detroit in 2000, and has previously served congregations in Chicago, IL, and in the Town of Wallkill, NY. His time in ministry has been interwoven with work in the social work field, primarily in child welfare, working with Catholic Social Services and Neighborhood Services Organization in Detroit, and for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Pastor Bob is the proud father of two wonderful children, Braden, 11, and Lydia, 8; they live between Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and their mother’s home in New Jersey. For many years, Pastor Bob has enjoyed playing acoustic guitar, singing, and songwriting, as a hobby. He also enjoys travel, reading, jogging, cross-country skiing, movies and theater, the visual arts, listening to all kinds of music, and watching pro bull-riding.
The Session
The members of the Session, or the church council, of a Presbyterian congregation are understood in our tradition as minister partners with our ordained pastors. They are elected and ordained to the position, and along with the pastor, are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the congregation, as well as the mission, ministry, and programs of the church. The elders have decision-making authority, while the pastor serves as an ex-officio guide and advisor member of Session.
Moderator: Rev. Bob Anderle
Clerk of Session: Elder Michelle Hern
Elders of Session: Carmelo DiBartolo, Michele Hern, Bruce MacIntyre, Damien Kovary, Eletra Johansen, Elizabeth Theofan
President of the Corporation: Elder Carmelo DiBartolo
Minister of Music: Nana Shi, Ph.D.
www.nanashipiano.com
Pianist Nana Shi is a sought-after performer, collaborator, and educator. She has recently performed with world class musicians such as Joseph Lin, Lucy Shelton, Da Capo Chamber Players, and Momenta Quartet, among others. Based in New York City, her recent engagements include performances at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, Roerich Museum, Tenri Cultural Institute, and Chelsea Music Festival.
Nana holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from SUNY Stony Brook under the tutelage of Gil Kalish, and Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. She has been an adjunct faculty in SUNY New Paltz since 2014. She also serves as a staff pianist for the Preparatory Division at the Juilliard School and a collaborative pianist at Interlochen Arts Camp. She is also the assistant director of Dalton Chorale in Manhattan. She has been the music minister and organist at the Union Church of Bay Ridge since fall 2013.
Playgroup Director and Church Administrator: Nishani Pierre-Louis
unionchurchbr@gmail.com