Senior Pastor - Rev. Daniel R. Stewart

A Pennsylvania native and a 1971 graduate of Bucknell University, Rev. Stewart has served Great Valley Presbyterian Church since 1996. After college and service in the U.S. Navy, he and Kathy were married and moved to Scotland, where he worked on an offshore oil rig in the North Sea. They returned to the U.S. in 1976, where Dan earned a B.S. in Social Studies Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1978, before pursuing theological training at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL, receiving the MA in Philosophy of Religion in 1981. He was ordained in the PC(USA) by the Twin Cities Presbytery in 1988, and served churches in Minnesota and New Jersey before coming to Great Valley. He and Kathy have been married 35 years and have three married children (Doug, Bryce and Keely) and a fourth child, Reid, who attends Grove City College. They are the proud grandparents of William James and Kathryn Moira, the children of Doug and Sarah (Shepherd) Stewart, and of Laney Beth and Daisy Lizette, daughters of Bryce and Kelly (Dyson) Stewart. Rev. Stewart can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Director of Equipping Ministries and Youth - Jim Shackleton

Jim joined the staff in September 2005 after attending Great Valley for over 20 years (talk about a lengthy interview process!). Jim has worked with the youth program of the church for 15 years, including short-term missions’ trips to Haiti and France. He earned an engineering degree from Lafayette College in 1981 and spent 22 years in engineering and management with Jacobs Engineering Company, Conshohocken, Pa., particularly serving the pharmaceutical industry. In 2003, Jim acted on God’s call to ministry and enrolled in Biblical Theological Seminary, graduating with a Masters in Ministry degree in January 2006. Jim and Lynne have four boys: Ben, Dan, Tim, and Nate, and therefore one high-energy household.
Jim can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Karen has been a member of GVPC for almost thirty years. Karen founded the Preschool in 2004, and had previously taught at Collegium Charter School, West Chester Friends School, and Paoli Methodist Nursery School, Christ Memorial Lutheran School, and Goshen Baptist Nursery School for a combined total of nineteen years. Karen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Houghton College and has done graduate work at Immaculata University. Karen is married to Craig, and they have three sons, Steven, Christian, and Peter.

Director of Music - Herb Balian

Herb Balian is a talented musician and experienced choir-master. He rehearses and directs our chancel choir and arranges special music for our services. He has also developed a Children's Choir, which practices during the Children's Church time on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of each month. The Children's Choir is scheduled to sing at the 11 o'clock worship on a regular basis.

Organist - Sharon Smoker

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Sharon’s life has always been characterized by church music. A native of Trumbull, CT, she began serving her church during her high school years by singing in the youth choir, touring with the New Dawn Singers and  participating in the release of their album.  She also substituted for the church organist.   She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois) with a major in organ and a minor in piano. Since then, Sharon has served the Lord and His people in a number of church locations, from the Midwest to New York state and then Maryland before moving to Pennsylvania. Sharon joined Great Valley’s staff as church organist in 2000.  She plays for all worship services, works with the Worship Committee and pastor to integrate the music with the sermon themes, and plays for special events, as requested. 

Sharon and her husband, Steve, whom she met at Wheaton, are actively involved in the life of Great Valley.  In addition to her music responsibilities, she and Steve are members of a small group, and Steve leads the Questers Sunday School Class.  When she is not teaching piano or practicing the organ, Sharon can be found pursuing her favorite sports:  tennis, biking, kayaking, and hiking.  When a change of pace is called for, Sharon enjoys scrapbooking. The Smokers have four adult children who were a part of GVPC during their high school and college years, and who stay connected through their frequent visits back home.

Secretary - Karen Bittenbender

Karen Bittenbender has been our secretary since 1996. She is a master of details and know-how regarding the church calendar and congregation. Her office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sexton - Steven Leach

Steven Leach has been the church Sexton since the beginning of 2005. He and his wife, Dawn, with their three sons, Isaac, Gabriel and Luke, have been members of Great Valley since 1997. They reside in Mont Clare, Pa. Steven recently has assumed the cemetery responsibilities in addition to overseeing maintenance of the church buildings and grounds