Rev. Mark Montgomery, Bridge Pastor
mark@talmadgehill.org
Mark Montgomery is based in Norwalk, CT, and most recently served as Interim Senior Minister for the First Presbyterian Church, Greenwich, CT. Mark has worked alongside congregations in SC, TX, CA, NJ, NY, and CT through settled and interim ministry. While ordained in the United Church of Christ, Mark is a cradle Presbyterian and has been a General Assembly Delegate; Triennium and Montreat Youth Conference Keynoter; Preacher and Teacher for the Arts, Recreation, and Worship Conference; as well as regional PCUSA and UCC events.
Professionally, his best days are ones when art, faith, and the community of God all come together to vision a creative and interactive experience. Personally, a good day on Cape Cod or biking on a trail in the Berkshires is hard to beat. Mark says, “I am excited about the time we will share at WPC. I believe the continued movement toward that which God is calling WPC to be and become will allow each of us to experience the work of the Holy Spirit in wonderful ways!”
Rev. Dr. Cheryl L. Bundy, Associate Minister
Cheryl Bundy is the Chaplain and Spiritual Counselor at Silver Hill Hospital where she has worked since 2017. She also served as a chaplain at Norwalk Hospital where she completed 1600 hours of Clinical Pastoral Education. She is a Board Certified Chaplain and she was ordained as an interfaith minister by NYC based All Faiths Seminary International. Cheryl came to chaplaincy and ministry after an early career on Wall Street and as a non-profit Development Director. She is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, The Wagner School of Public Service at New York University and Smith College. She received her Doctorate in Ministry in Integrated Mental Health Chaplaincy at Vanderbilt Divinity School in May 2024.
Rob Silvan, Director of Music
Rob was born in New York City and raised in New Rochelle, NY. He received undergraduate degrees in English Literature from Iona College and in music from Mercy College. For forty years he has been teaching piano lessons to young people and adults covering styles from classical and blues to popular and improvisational. He has made seven cd’s as a leader including Beneath It All and The Breathing of the World. In 2004 he founded Kids Empowered By Your Support (KEYS) which provides piano, violin, cello, guitar, winds and brass lessons to Bridgeport school children who cannot afford them.
He has been Director of Music and a member of Talmadge Hill Church since 1995. Echoing Talmadge Hill’s worship style, Rob offers music that is inclusive, personal and expansive and features both traditional church hymns as well as music sung to the words of artists such as Rumi, T.S. Elliot, Robert Frost, Pablo Neruda, Emily Dickinson and W.B. Yeats.
Dorothy McClure, Sunday School Teacher
Dorothy McClure received her Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from McGill University, and an MS in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education. She taught preschool for many years before becoming a middle school art teacher. Dorothy was drawn to the Godly Play curriculum because of its individualized instruction methods, the encouragement of open-ended conversations, and ‘wondering’ about God and the meaning of life.
Jonathan Parker (JP), Church Administrator
Jonathan Parker (JP) serves as the Church Administrator at Talmadge Hill Community Church. Originally from Elkin, North Carolina, his path has taken him through Tennessee, Alabama, and Connecticut. He holds two undergraduate degrees in Music Performance and Worship Arts from Catawba College and a master’s degree in Jazz Bass Performance from the University of Tennessee. Prior to joining Talmadge Hill, Jonathan was a touring musician and a program manager developing educational and community initiatives at the Northwestern Regional Library. He values being part of a community where people gather to worship, create, support one another, and he is grateful to serve the church in this role.
He and his wife, Taylor, live in New York City, where they enjoy exploring the neighborhood, spending time with their animals, and performing.