Donovan Drake - Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Donovan Drake became the Pastor and Head-of-Staff at Trinity Avenue in February of 1998. Soon after Donovan arrived the church began an extensive revitalization, renovation and building program. Donovan enjoys preaching and leading worship, and he is also interested in developing avenues of ministry to help the church grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Donovan graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. He earned his Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from McCormick Theological Seminary. Donovan currently serves on the board of Housing for New Hope a non-profit organization that seeks to end homelessness in Durham.

He is married to Beth and has two children who make his life very interesting.
Email Donovan Drake

Elizabeth Michael - Associate Pastor

Elizabeth came to Trinity Avenue in August 2008 as our associate pastor. She grew up in Conover, NC where she learned to love warm weather and Carolina beaches. She studied music and religion at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, spent two years as a Director of Christian Education, and then received her theological education at Princeton Seminary. Elizabeth enjoys the breadth of work in the church but also has particular interests in worship, pastoral care, and fostering discipleship through education and small group ministry. She is thrilled to have the chance to continue learning and growing in ministry at Trinity Avenue. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys reading, making and appreciating music, listening to NPR, and spending time with friends and family.
Email Elizabeth Michael

Harry Jansen - Director of Music Ministry

Harry has served TAPC as organist and choral director since October 1996. He is also conductor of the Trinity Chamber Orchestra, a professional ensemble comprised of community musicians. Harry received the Master of Music degree in Church Music from Westminster Choir College in May 1987. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organ Performance from the University of Western Ontario (Canada) and followed that with advanced studies at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam (Holland). Prior to coming to TAPC, Harry was the Minister of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, Illinois where he also directed a full time music program. Active as a performer and conductor, he has appeared in concerts throughout Canada , central and eastern USA and the Netherlands. He has appeared on television and radio, including CBC Radio, and has made several recordings which feature him both as organist and conductor.
Email Harry Jansen

Graham McChesney - Parish Associate

Janet Burney - Office Administrator

Janet has served as our Office Adminstrator since 2002.  She is a native of Durham, NC. She has two children and six grandchildren, not including all the staff for which she has to care.
Email Janet Burney

Cheryl Medlin - Office Assistant - Email Cheryl Medlin

Chrissy Moore - Financial Manager - Email Chrissy Moore

Sloan Nuernberger - Christian Education

Sloan grew up in Lincolnton, North Carolina. She graduated from UNC-CH with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  Her college summers were spent in Montreat as part of the summer staff.  It was there that she met Doug, her husband of 10 years.  Sloan taught elementary school for six years before having children of her own.  She and Doug have three wild boys – Silas, Jack and Bo (8, 6, and 4 years old.)  In her free time, Sloan enjoys running and reading.

She has been involved with the Children’s Ministry program for quite some time.  Sloan is excited to have the opportunity to work with the children of the church as well as the members of the congregation to create a nurturing children’s ministries program
Email Sloan Nuernberger

Lori Hardin - Weekday School Director -  - Email Lori Hardin

Janet Stockburger -  Webmistress

Janet and her husband, Len, moved to NC in January of 1980 and joined TAPC in March of that year. She has worked with computers since 1983 through teaching in the Durham Public Schools and doing Computer Support at Duke University. Since retiring in February 2008, she is starting to work on her hobbies again and has lots of time for her grandchildren.
Please email her with any updates or additions for the website. Email Webmistress