Clergy, Staff, Vestry, Delegates

The Rev. Dr. Joan Beilstein is a native Washingtonian and cradle Episcopalian. She earned her Master’s in Divinity degree (M.Div.) from General Theological Seminary in New York City and her Doctor of Ministry degree (D.Min.) from Virginia Theological Seminary. She has been an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church for 30 years. During this time, she has served as a chaplain in hospitals, mental health facilities, and senior living centers; as an interim rector assisting churches to move through times of transition when there is change in leadership; and as a rector. For the last 16 years, Joan has served as Rector at Church of the Ascension, Silver Spring. In addition to parish ministry, Joan is a seasoned retreat and pilgrimage leader, spiritual director, seminarian supervisor, and clergy mentor. Joan’s philosophy of ministry: “It is an honor and privilege to serve God’s people, to do ministry with them, and to walk alongside them no matter where they are on their spiritual journey.” Joan lives with her spouse, Libbie Griffin, and their beloved rescue animal companions, their two dogs Clyde and Sweet Pea, and Nabba, their calico cat.

The Rev. Terri M. Murphy serves as a deacon at Church of the Ascension. A former educational psychologist and Massachusetts native, Terri was ordained in 2012 and serves as Director of Christian Education. In this role, Terri teaches, leads retreats and pilgrimages, and oversees sacramental preparation. In addition to serving in these roles at Ascension, Terri also leads a vigorous homeless ministry and is deeply involved in local interfaith ministries. Terri was one of a team that established a disaster chaplaincy team to work with local police, fire and emergency services agencies. She served as co-chair of the disaster chaplains for five years. She has worked with the State Department in their International Visitors Program, where groups from several countries would travel together and come to the U.S. to learn, among other things, new ways for diverse faiths to get along with each other. Terri is finishing up six years of service on the Diocesan Commission on Ministry and is on the faculty of the Deacons School of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington where she teaches and supervises internships. Terri has three grown children, Adam who lives with his wife Sammie Jo in North Carolina, Colleen and her husband Matt who live in Maryland, and Leigh and her husband Brandon, who live in Maine. Terri resides in Montgomery Village, MD.

A cradle Southern Baptist, Jane came to Ascension in 2015 and has loved the variety of experiences and learning that Ascension offers. She spends her time working out, meditating, socializing, and traveling, and lives with her dog, two cats, and, occasionally, her fabulous daughter.

Leticia has been a member of Ascension and the coordinator of Ascension’s Sunday School program since 2000. Since her retirement in 2017, she has also been in charge of Ascension’s buildings and grounds.

Cathy is an occupational therapist for Montgomery County Public Schools. She enjoys cooking for her family, her husband and her sons. For fun she likes to paint, hike, see friends, and read.

Barb, her wife Heidi, and their daughter Anna have been members of Ascension since 2014. In addition to serving on the Vestry, Barb is a volunteer on the tech and counting teams.  Outside of church, Barb has spent most of her career as a public servant in the Federal government.

Deb, married with two children, was raised Episcopalian and has been at Ascension for around 20 years. In that time, she has been a choir member, Altar Guild member, and Lay Eucharistic Minister.  

Brenda has been a member of Ascension since 2012.  She retired in 2012 from the Department of Agriculture, where she worked in the Foreign Agriculture Services division as an International Economist.  She regularly attends the 8 am church service as well as Evening Compline Prayer Services. She volunteers with the Altar Guild and Conversations on Race.  She has participated in two seminarian discernment committees and two Ascension pilgrimages. Brenda has two adult sons and one lovable dog named Winnie who is a 13 year old retired Affenpinscher. Her hobbies include reading and she is vice president of the Woodside Park Civic Association. 

A 66-year-old New York City native, Tom moved to the DC area in 1985 and has lived on Long Branch Parkway in Silver Spring for the past 20 years. He was baptized as an adult at Ascension around that same time. Some highlights of his career include:

• 38 years as a GEICO employee, including in customer service and as a software development project manager
• Completion of a Master of Science in Information Systems Management
• Six years of service as a local PTA president, including two years each at Blair High School, Eastern Middle and Rolling Terrace Elementary Schools
• Five years as Commander of the Sons of the American Legion at the local Silver Spring post

Having retired last year, Tom stays busy with a part-time job at Enterprise Mobility (the rental car company), playing pool in a local league, and playing jazz guitar with the Jazz Workshop in Tyson’s Corner.

Robert and his husband Harrison have attended Ascension since 2016. Their daughter Holley was baptized here in 2017. At Ascension, he has served as a Sunday School teacher. Outside of church, he works as a special education attorney in the District of Columbia and volunteers with daughter’s Girl Scout troop.

Dick has been a member of Ascension since 1980. He has served as Senior Warden, Junior Warden, and volunteer Parish Administrator. He chaired the Building Renovation and Rector Search Committees, served on the Finance and Outreach Committees, and belongs to the Chancel Choir. He chaired the Diocese’s Honduras Committee and was a member of the Latino Advisory Committee. Dick also served on the Boards of the Pan American Health and Education and the International Eye Foundations as well as that of Interfaith Action for Human Rights. He remains active in peace and justice issues, including visiting immigration detainees and supporting Action in Montgomery initiatives. In May 2024, Dick completed his third and last year on Ascension’s leadership team for the Diocese’s Tending Our Soil program, bringing innovations and accomplishments to Ascension.

Fred Paul is a cradle Episcopalian, originally from Montgomery, AL, and has been a regular communicant at Ascension since Fall 2012. In addition to his role as Assistant Treasurer, he has been a member of the vestry, a lay eucharistic minister, and an acolyte trainer. He graduated from Auburn with a degree in Theatre Management and has worked at Olney Theatre Center since 2011.

Jacki Smith found Church of the Ascension in 2008 and has been a received member of the Episcopal Church since 2009. She was on the Ascension vestry and served one year as Senior Warden.  Acting with members of a parish policing action committee, the vestry, the Senior Warden, and rector, she helped develop and submit to the 2021 Diocesan Convention a resolution on Supporting Racial Justice Through Police Reform, which was passed by the convention.  She has participated in Ascension’s ongoing Conversations on Race and also in the Sacred Ground program. She was responsible for organizing the weekly coffee hour and other hospitality activities and was a member of a lay seminarian committee.  She also co-hosted a puzzle and game night that she hopes can be repeated in the near future. Her spiritual growth and connection to the Ascension community outside of church services has grown with the women’s retreats and the Lenten and Advent series, among other activities.

Deb, married with two children, was raised Episcopalian and has been at Ascension for around 20 years. In that time, she has been a choir member, Altar Guild member, and Lay Eucharistic Minister.

Leona has been a member of Ascension since 1990. She assumed the role of Treasurer in 2021 and is also a long-time member of the Altar Guild.