Meet the Staff

Rev. Deane Kemper, Interim Pastor

Since completing a 13 year pastorate at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in San Francisco in 2000, Deane has been an interim ministry specialist. He has completed four interim pastorates – two in New Hampshire and two here in South Carolina . For the last five years, Deane and his wife Joan have lived in Mt. Pleasant . Deane’s focus in ministry has been divided between seminary and the parish – for 18 years he taught at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston and while pasturing in California , he was an adjunct faculty member at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Joan is a retired elementary school teacher, having taught last at Cathedral School for Boys (Episcopal) in San Francisco . In the time that is their own, Deane and Joan enjoy reading, antiques, and the symphony. The Kempers have four children scattered around the country ( Washington , D.C. , Boston , Charlotte , and Denver ) and six grandchildren. They now lavish all their parental care and devotion on Tituba, their Rhodesian ridgeback.

Deane can be reached by e-mail at deanekemper@bellsouth.net

Dorothy Blackwelder

Rev. Dorothy Taylor Blackwelder, Associate Pastor

Dorothy came to Dorchester after receiving her Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in 2006. She graduated from Presbyterian College with a BA in Religion-Christian Education in 2003. She is also working toward becoming a Certified Christian Educator. This is her first official call as pastor, though she has served as a ministry intern in several churches in Atlanta, GA and Fort Mill, SC. Currently, Dorothy works primarily with the Youth, Christian Education, Fellowship, and Mission Ministries at Dorchester.

She and her husband, Russ, have one daughter. Their family enjoys spending time with their friends and extended families, going to USC sporting events, renovating their first house, and traveling.

Dorothy can be reached by e-mail at dorothy.blackwelder@yahoo.com.

Barbara Melton, Administrative Assistant

Barbara began working at Dorchester in January of 2010. She has served churches and educational institutions in an administrative capacity for over two decades. She loves working in a church office and considers it a ministry position. She holds a B.S. degree from Libery University.

Barbara is a native of Ohio, but has lived in South Carolina for most of her life. She ahs been a Baptist pastor's wife for over 25 years where she was involved in the teaching and music ministries of the church. Together she and her husband, Jim, have three children and five grandchildren. Barbara enjoys singing, teaching, cooking, and crafts.

Barbara can be reached by e-mail through the church office at dpcusa@bellsouth.net.

Karene Feltner

Karene Feltner, Bookkeeper

Jennifer & Kevin Gossett

Kevin Gossett, Music Director

Kevin has served as Music Directors at Dorchester Presbyterian Church since 2000. He loves working with the Adult Choir and Children's Choir and enjoys playing guitars with the other church members. Kevin grew up as a member of Hayne Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC. As a teenager, he served as an usher for the church, which brought about his baptism and began his education about service to the church. He served as interim choir director in 1990. Kevin is the director of bands at Sedgefield Middle School, having taught instrumental music since 1994.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Furman University, a Master of Tuba Performance degree from Northwestern University, and has most recently studied at the American Band College of Southern Oregon University. He is a professional rock and jazz bassist in Charleston. He is married to Jennifer Gossett, director of bands at Bishop England High School in Charleston, and has two young sons.

Angie Krouse, Organist

Angie has a Bachelor of Music degree from Campbellsville University in Kentucky. She is a management accountant with Roper Saint Francis Healthcare, is married to Rick and has one daughter, Emily.

Joan Farrell

Joan Farrell, Director of the Good Shepherd School

Joan is in her sixth year as director of the church's preschool. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has been in child care for 40 years now. She loves the wonderful children. She is married with three children of her own who are grown and six grandchildren. She moved to S.C. from Rochester N.Y. 14 years ago. Her hobbies are gardening, scrapbooking, and collecting dolls, angels, and Jim Shore figurines. She says, “I love Jesus and am so happy to be with His children nurturing them and helping them grow. It is truly a blessing and an honor for me.”

Joan can be reached by e-mail at goodshepherdscho@bellsouth.net.

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