our pastoral team

The Rev. Dr. Steve Schaick (“Shike”) accepted the call to be the Kirk’s Bridge Interim Head of Staff, beginning August 29th, 2022. Steve was born and raised in a United Church of Christ Church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. His calling to ministry came as a college student at the University of Wisconsin, where he also met Denise, his wife of 39 years. Following the completion of his MDiv at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, he served for three years as Associate Pastor of Mt Zion UCC in Beavercreek, Ohio. In 1988, he entered the United States Air Force as a Chaplain. Originally ordained in the UCC, in 2006 Steve was accepted into the Florida Presbytery as a PC (USA) chaplain. Steve and Denise served God’s people in Arkansas, Germany, Arlington National Cemetery, Alabama, the US Air Force Academy, Turkey, Florida, Virginia, San Antonio and DC. Last summer, after 35 years of uniformed service, he and Denise retired from the Air Force. Steve was assigned to the Pentagon his last six years and served the last three years as the US Air and Space Force Chief of Chaplains. Upon retirement, Steve and Denise left Washington DC and moved to Chapel Hill (their 21st move!) to be near two of their four amazing grandchildren…and their parents, too.

Steve and Denise love to bike, golf and love on their grandbabies. They also look forward to partnering in ministry with the amazing, gifted and loving Saints of the Kirk.

Stephanie Arnold Workman – Associate Pastor at Kirk of Kildaire, Presbyterian, a church in Cary, NC.

Stephanie is Associate Pastor for Christian Nurture and Mission. She has been at the Kirk since 2003 and was ordained in 2005. While she moved many times in her younger years (Oxford, England; New Mexico; Illinois; Texas; New Jersey; and Louisiana) she claims Louisiana as home, though she has now lived in North Carolina for longer than anywhere else.

She received her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Religion from Wake Forest University and her Master of Divinity from Princeton Seminary. During her time at the Kirk, Stephanie has gotten married to James “Jim” Machado Workman, another Presbyterian minister. Together, they have a very active and adorable son, Clinton, and a rescue dog named Sandy.

Rev. Molly Smerko is a child of God, twin, daughter, and friend. She grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, where her faith was nurtured by her parents and the saints of First Presbyterian Church, as well as her love for salt, sand, and seafood. When she was ten, her family moved back to Raleigh. Her faith and call to ministry continued to be nurtured by White Memorial Presbyterian Church. Molly is a graduate of Broughton High School in Raleigh (International Baccalaureate program). She continued her education at Meredith College (B.A, Religious and Ethical Studies, Spanish) and Union Presbyterian Seminary (M.Div). She has served PC(USA) churches in Richmond and Roanoke, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. She was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the New Hope Presbytery. Molly’s heart for pastoral care has been nurtured through completing units of clinical pastoral education (CPE) at UNC Rex Hospital and UNC WakeBrook Hospital in Raleigh. Molly is a Spanish speaker, and she finds great joy in building bridges of connection and hospitality through both speaking and tutoring Spanish with others.

Molly is delighted to be worshipping and serving at the Kirk, living closer to both her immediate and extended family.

For fun, you can find her reading, enjoying live music, spending time with her loved ones, or playing soccer with her German Shepherd, Ginny.

Molly sums up her life philosophy like this: She believes that the story of God’s love for humanity is the greatest story ever told; she yearns for every second of her life to reflect that story.

Dr. Larry Abernathy, Director of Music at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church in Cary NC

After being away from his home state over twenty-years, Dr. Larry Abernathy was called to serve as the Director of Music Ministries and Arts at the Kirk in January 2010. Prior to being called to the Kirk, he served Reid Memorial Presbyterian in Augusta, Ga. He has served congregations in Columbia, SC, and Petersburg, VA. He has one son, Lawrence.

Larry’s education includes a DMIN degree from Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA, a Master of Music degree from Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY, where he was awarded the performance award in organ performance, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Wingate University. He has had post-graduate studies in Organ Performance and Choral Directing at the University of South Carolina and Peabody Conservatory.

His choirs have recorded for the Georgia Public Broadcasting Network and been invited to sing at Westabou Arts Festival and at the yearly Lessons and Carols service with the Augusta Collegium. The Kirk choir has been invited to lead in worship at Montreat Summer Worship. In addition to presenting in the public school system in SC, and serving as clinician at handbell festivals, he has served as a presenter for LOGOS Systems Associates for several years.

Dr. Moon Choi joined the Kirk staff in 2016. A native of South Korea, he is a pianist, organist, and collaborative musician. He earned a master’s degree at New England Conservatory of Music under Professor Victor Rosenbaum. At the Conservatory, he received multiple scholarships and won the conservatory’s honors piano competition. Granted a full scholarship, he earned another master’s degree in Collaborative Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at Michigan State University. Since coming to the USA, he also studied Organ under Dr. Tom Handel, Dr. David Lynch, and Mr. Christopher Jacobson at Duke Chapel.

As a solo recitalist and guest artist, Dr. Choi has enjoyed an active performing career throughout the United States, South Korea, Russia, and Italy. He performed at Jordan Hall in Boston and was invited to perform in the Carnegie Weill Hall in New York City.

Dr. Choi was a pianist for the Korea National Opera and performed more than 50 concerts with their artists. He worked as staff pianist for the New England Conservatory in Boston and he was invited to be an instructor for young musicians at the Iksan Art Center in South Korea.

Previously, he served as pianist for the First Presbyterian Church in Holt, Michigan, and as Music Director and Organist for the University Baptist Church in Lansing, Michigan. Now, he serves as Associate Director of Music and Organist at the Kirk.