Clergy & Staff

As my fellow parishioners, many of you are aware that I am an author and was a former network television news producer before attending Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where I lived, worked, and raised my daughter. I graduated from Union in 2009 with a Master of Divinity degree in Psychiatry and Religion, which led me to hospital chaplaincy. When I graduated from seminary I was sure I’d never be ordained, but I kept responding to the “whisper of God” and here I am.

As Director of Music & Arts at St. Martin's, Mr. Tyrone Whiting (he/him) oversees all our music and arts ministries, outreach, and education. Tyrone says: "With a robed adult choir supported by four professional section leaders, a children’s choir Chorister program, and a robust series of concerts throughout the year, St. Martin’s is an incredibly musically active church, whose mission and outreach are at the heart of the music program. I am proud and grateful to all who participate and support our music ministries."

Noor (she/her) has been with St. Martin's since the summer of 2021. Raised in Arizona, Noor moved to Philadelphia in 2018 and has been living in the Northwest section of the city ever since. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, getting outdoors, heading to the movies, and spending time with her partner Nate and their cats Gospel, Inayat, and Lina. You can reach out to Noor for help with inquiries regarding calendar, space rentals, Field Notes, Sunday leaflets, and more.

The Rev. Britta Meiers Carlson (she/her) brings valuable experience to her new role at St. Martin’s. She was the founding pastor of Iglesia Nuevo Amanecer, a Spanish language ministry in Boston that works to connect the liturgical core of the church to neighbors who strive for justice related to housing displacement, immigration status, addiction, and homelessness.

Lorie Hershey (she/her) was a pastor for 15 years at West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, a POWER Interfaith congregation along with St Martin’s. Previously, she worked as a music therapist and particularly felt at home in the hospice work she did. Her life focus is to create spaces for healing, justice, spiritual care, and growth no matter what job she takes on. Currently, she also serves on the board of POWER Interfaith as the Chair of the Board’s HR Committee. Lorie lives in West Philadelphia with her husband, Brent, daughters, Dillon and Eden, and dog, Olive. She is excited to be part of the team at St Martin’s!

When St. Martin’s Church welcomed volunteer singers into the adult choir in 1981, Connie (she/her) volunteered. She is still singing, and the choir has grown from nine to 35. Her St. Martin’s journey has included choir librarian, three soup kitchens, board of Women of St. Martin’s, outreach committee, book room (now out of circulation) reorganizer and coordinator, clerk of the vestry and, her favorite, playing Peppermint Patty in St. Martin’s production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown in 1986.

The Rev. Carol Duncan (she/her) attended the Shipley School and William Smith College in Geneva NY, majoring in English Lit. After school, she moved to Canton, Ohio to run the remnants of a family business.

She married her husband Bob, who was Vice President Smyth Systems, a data processing firm specializing in country club and golf tournament systems. Their daughter Christie was born in 1968, Kate in 1973.

James (he/him) worked as the weekend Sexton for many years at St. Martin’s assisting with set-ups, special events and Sunday hospitality before being hired on full time in December 2011. James lives with his wife Avis. Their adult son Joshua also lives in Philadelphia.

Kate Maus (she/her) has been member of the St. Martin’s community for more than 30 years. She is a member of the Chancel Choir and is a co-chair of the Community Engagement Committee. Kate has served on the Vestry twice and was for several years a member of the Altar Guild. She lives in Mt. Airy in the house in which she and her late husband, Steven Wren, reared their 2 children, Paul and Molly Wren. She is the besotted grandmother of Owen and Madeleine Wren and Winston Cooper.