Staff
Rev. Jay Shirley is Pastor of Northminster Presbyterian Church, and as pastor is responsible for Sunday Worship and leading our staff, deacons, and session. Pastor Jay comes to us from El Montecito Presbyterian Church in Montecito, CA where he served as their Associate Pastor for 5 years, and subsequently as their Interim Pastor for nearly 2 years where he led them through a difficult period of transition. He also has 25 years of youth ministry experience including working as a Youth Minister at the Village Church in Rancho Santa Fe for 11 years, Solana Beach Presbyterian church for 9 years, and Oneonta as a Associate Pastor with a focus on youth ministry for 5 years. It was at Oneonta that he was ordained and discovered the importance of living out grace and trying to love others unconditionally as Christ modeled.
Pastor Jay was raised in a Christian home in south Texas, where he made two major decisions at age 11 that have affected his life to this day. While attending a church summer camp with his Methodist church he discovered a personal relationship with Jesus and he bought his first surfboard. Surfing eventually led him to Santa Barbara to attend Westmont College. After graduation from Westmont in 1976 Jay worked in the oil fields of Texas for Conoco Oil Company. In 1978 he moved to San Diego where he met his wife, Donna. Jay attended seminary at Gordon Conwell but transferred to Bethel West in to finish his Masters of Divinity and to marry Donna. In addition to his wife, family, and ministry, his passions have included travel (especially to Europe) and surfing. Donna and Jay have two adult children both living in San Diego. Their son D.J. lives in North County with his wife Becca and son Corbin.
Daughter, Katie, lives in San Francisco and works in the Tech Industry.
Joel Marple leads the worship music at NPC. Born and raised in California, he graduated from Bethany University in Scotts Valley, California, with a BA in Music Education and a Secondary California Teaching Credential. Leading worship is Joel’s passion. He comes from a musical family that all sing and play different instruments. Since graduating, Joel has served in Santa Cruz, Sacramento and San Diego churches as a worship pastor and creative arts director. He has written and recorded 3 different live Worship service CD projects. Joel produced and directed local San Diego Broadway style musicals, “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “The Christmas Carol”. As an Easter outreach for the San Diego community, he wrote the Easter “Passion Play”, which was performed at the historical downtown San Diego Balboa Theater in 2010, 2011 and 2017.
Joel and Shelly live in Northern San Diego. They were married in the Fair Oaks Sacramento Presbyterian Church in 1981. They have 2 children, 2 Grandchildren and have another grandson on the way. Shelly is a hair stylist in Solana Beach, CA. Joel and Shelly enjoy music ministry together as a team, running, exercise and especially being grandparents.
Sharon Halle, became the director of Northminster Preschool in the Summer of July 2019. There have been quite a few changes since then but the one thing that remains the same is the strong sense of community and love we have for our Northminster families.
Sharon is originally from Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin La Crosse graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. Sharon worked at The Company Store as a photography director, and then for a professional photo studio in Dallas Texas where she was the sales representative for JC Penney corporate, next as a production coordinator for a busy catalog company in San Diego. She took a few years off to raise kids and then started at Northminster Preschool in 2009 as an assistant teacher and became a lead teacher in 2014.
Sharon married Kevin Halle in 1996. They have 3 children and one grandchild.
Sharon enjoys reading, country music and vacationing with family.
“We are so blessed to have your children attend Northminster Preschool. Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s first years of school.” -Sharon Halle
Support Staff:
Linda Qua, Administrative Assistant, Bookkeeper, Media Assistant
Sheila Mura, Treasurer
Johana Smith, Clerk of Session
Leigh Moyers, Preschool Administrator Assistant
Nate Landis, Urban Youth Collaborative Parish Associate