Senior Pastor - Rev. Daniel R. Stewart

A Pennsylvania native and a 1971 graduate of Bucknell University, Rev. Stewart has served Great Valley 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 and Dan earned a degree in Education 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 1988, and has served churches in New Jersey and Minnesota. He and Kathy have been married 32 years and have three married children (Doug, Bryce & 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.
Rev. Stewart can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Director of Equipping Ministries - 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 spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Director of Youth Ministries - Evan Curry

Evan is an ordinary person doing ordinary things for ordinary people. He is in no way a scholar. He is in no way perfect. He’s just an ordinary person. He recently joined staff in September of 2007 after recently graduating from college. He has a beautiful wife, Amanda, and a beautiful daughter on the way.  Evan enjoys doing ordinary things like playing soccer and football, going to diners late at night, reading books, listening to music, updating his Facebook profile, and drinking Starbucks coffee. If you would like to contact Evan, he can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

Director of Preschool - Karen Erickson

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

Sharon Smoker joined our staff in 2000.  Her talent and enthusiasm add greatly to our worship.

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