Staff & Leadership

Rev. Jason Grimes

Senior Pastor

Jason began serving as our pastor in January 2021. Before arriving at APC, Jason served at High Bridge Presbyterian Church in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia for eleven years. Prior to High Bridge, he pastored a church as a stated supply pastor outside Richmond, Virginia for two years.

Raised on Edisto Island, South Carolina, Jason graduated from Charleston Southern University with degrees in U.S. History and Religion. He later moved to Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Union Presbyterian Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity. While in Richmond, Jason met his future wife, Dilshani, who worked at Virginia Commonwealth University as an advisor to international students. While working at VCU, Dilshani served with a non-profit in Sri Lanka that provided micro loans to female dairy farmers. Jason’s and Dil’s passion for mission and ministry started a conversation around a dinner table that led to marriage. They are the proud parents of two elementary-aged children, Abby and Ben.

Jason is passionate about finding ways to nurture people’s faith in Jesus through worship, Christian education, and a conversation over a cup of coffee. His ministry goal comes from the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:13, “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”

In his free time, Jason enjoys playing with family, hiking, gardening, reading, running, and travel.

jgrimes@ardmorepres.org

Gary Garletts

Director of Music/Organist

With over 40 years of experience in professional music leadership (24 at APC), Gary directs vocal and handbell choirs for adults, youth, and children, and plays, conducts, and/or coordinates music for all worship services. He also leads special events such as semi-annual cantatas, biennial choral festivals, and biennial children & youth musicals. During APC’s centennial year (2007), Gary led its Chancel Choir on a tour of Scotland and Northern England, and completed “My Top 100 Organ Pieces,” a 14-month series of concert-level preludes and postludes.

Gary grew up in Fayette County, PA, where he later directed programs for Trinity Presbyterian Church (Uniontown) and the Greater Uniontown Chorale. In the 1990s, he led a comprehensive music ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA. Gary earned music degrees at Oberlin College and Duquesne University, and is an Associate of the American Guild of Organists. He is also Artistic Director/Conductor of Chester County Choral Society, an 80-voice auditioned community chorus (www.chescochoral.org).

ggarletts@ardmorepres.org

Rev. Graham Robinson

Parish Associate

Reverend Dr. Graham Robinson is the Program Director of the Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, and has overseen the expansion of the program since 2011. He brings exceptional educational, spiritual, and leadership skills, and twenty years of pastoral and teaching experience. Robinson has served as a guest lecturer and facilitator for Yale Divinity School, Hartford Seminary, and the Alban Institute, and he has been invited to preach from Oregon to Puerto Rico, and from Washington state to Washington, D.C.

He received his Doctor of Ministry in 2012 from Columbia Theological Seminary, his Master of Theology in 1999, and his Master of Divinity in 1993, both from Princeton Theological Seminary. Identified upon graduation as a leader within the church, Robinson was awarded the David B. Watermulder Prize for Church Leadership from Princeton Theological Seminary.

During the past six years, Pastor Graham has enjoyed the kindness, wisdom, and good humor of the APC Grief Care and Support Group.

gjmtk5@gmail.com

Michelle Butera

Director of Ardmore Presbyterian Preschool

Michelle has a background in finance and management, 20+ years of parenting experience, 25 years as member of APC, a decade of Sunday School teaching, and 15+ years of preschool teaching experience. She loves to see the happiness and joy that come from each child. Michelle is proud to continue some of the long-standing traditions of Ardmore Preschool while maintaining the nurturing environment APWPS offers. She brings her faith, her heart, and her wisdom to help the children in the preschool have an amazing experience.

Michelle is originally from Cherry Hill, NJ. She has her undergraduate degree from Drexel University and her Master’s Degree from Penn State University. Michelle is the mother of two adult daughters and lives in Havertown with her husband, Louis.

mbutera@ardmorepres.org

Emily Polhamus

Church Administrator/Director of Communications

Emily Polhamus grew up in South Jersey, went to college in North Jersey, and now lives here in Ardmore. She has worked in communications, marketing, and fundraising roles for several Philadelphia area non-profits and museums including Please Touch Museum, Appel Farm Art and Music Center, and the National Constitution Center. Emily is a life-long Presbyterian, an ordained Elder, the daughter of a church music director, and and an alto in the APC Chancel Choir. She enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, spending time with her husband, and spoiling their pit bull mix Coco.

 epolhamus@ardmorepres.org

Maggie Reif

Children's Ministry Coordinator

Maggie Reif moved to the Philadelphia area in 2021 for a position as a college level German professor. She grew up outside of Denver where she was active in children’s programs at her church, volunteering for Vacation Bible School for many years. She has taught piano to students in Kindergarten through 5th grade, was a Fulbright English teaching assistant at a German High School for a year, and has served previously as our VBS director . 

 mreif@ardmorepres.org

Irena Reynolds

Ardmore Presbyterian Preschool Administrator

Upon completing her degree in Public Administration from the Technical University of Varna, Bulgaria, Irena arrived in the United States in 2003 for a year-long internship. The following year, she earned her Masters Degree in Central and Eastern European Studies from LaSalle University.

While rearing three children of her own, she has become a Cub Scouts of America Den Leader and is currently a Cub Scout Pack Chair Woman. Residing in Ardmore with her family, Irena very much enjoys being involved with her children’s schools and volunteering.

After her youngest child started attending Ardmore Presbyterian in 2014, Irena began helping as a substitute teacher, and has assisted in most of the classrooms since. She is currently the preschool administrator and also a two-day class teacher.

 ireynolds@ardmorepres.org

Scott Welden

Finance Manager

Scott worked in the healthcare industry for over 30 years and his experience includes serving as CFO for a financial consulting practice experience, Budget Director for Jeanes Hospital as well as an Auditor for Campbell Soup Company.

Scott graduated with a B.S. in Management from Villanova University and has an MBA in Finance from Drexel University. Scott resides in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania with his wife of over 35 years, Eve and is the father of two adult sons. Scott’s hobbies include reading, golf, baseball, sailing and spending time with his family. Since his retirement two years ago, Scott has become deeply involved in volunteering for non-profit organizations such as the National Constitution Center, Broad Street Ministries in Philadelphia and City Team in Chester. Scott is a member of the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church where he has served twice as Elder.

swelden@ardmorepres.org

Bill Waters

Facilities Manager

Bill grew up in Havertown and has now lived in Ardmore for close to a decade. After working for the Cradle of Liberty and Del-Mar-Va Boy Scout Councils for years in an odd variety of roles, he most recently worked in fundraising at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. He is very excited to once again be working with his hands and interacting with folks. He enjoys camping, hosting backyard gatherings, board games, and giving his dog all the attention in the world.

  wwaters@ardmorepres.org

Elders

CLASS OF 2023
Jody Brumbach
Elaine Giese
Don Poorman, Clerk of Session

CLASS OF 2024
Chip Cobb Jr.
Robie Lawlace

CLASS OF 2025
Barry Jeffries
Frank Miller
Ben Yurchak

*In our Congregation, Serving Elders are also Trustees of the Corporation

Deacons

CLASS OF 2023
Isla Grant, Moderator
Graham Fuller
Kristy Cobb
Anne Toal McComiskie

CLASS OF 2024
Dan del Duca
Carol Fritz
Sara Schreiner, Co Moderator

CLASS OF 2025 
Jim Coath
Stephanie McGrory
Jan Terwiesch 

In the tradition of the Presbyterian Church USA, our church is governed by a group of elders called the Session. Elders are elected by the congregation, and serve for specific terms of service. Together with our pastor, elders are called to exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline, and have responsibilities for the life of the congregation, as well as the whole church.

Likewise, our congregation elects members to serve on the diaconate. It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith. Our deacons visit with members, organize support for those in need, and lead us in celebrations.