Pastor and Head of Staff
The Rev. Dr. Bryan Franzen
Bryan came to San Jose from Hightstown, New Jersey in January 2012. Bryan received his Master of Divinity with an emphasis in World Christianity from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CA and Doctor of Ministry in Gospel and Culture from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Bryan has served congregations in California, Illinois, North Carolina, Iowa, and New Jersey in various capacities.
Through his ministry, Bryan’s passion has been issues of justice and inclusion. This passion has taken him on diplomatic missions to South Dakota, China, and Cuba and working missions to Jamaica and Ghana. Bryan has also been involved in advocacy for the LGBT community, special-needs children, and both mentally and physically handicapped adults and children. Bryan’s current concern in our culture is with the need for civility and a faith focused on how we build each other up. He believes that the church should be a place where we welcome all types of families and individuals, young and old. Bryan also knows that the strongest faith comes when people are encouraged to explore and question, be challenged, and ultimately grow in their own understanding and relationship with God.
“I believe that something incredible is starting to happen at Westminster Presbyterian Church, I hope that you can come and be part of it!!!” –Bryan
Through his ministry, Bryan’s passion has been issues of justice and inclusion. This passion has taken him on diplomatic missions to South Dakota, China, and Cuba and working missions to Jamaica and Ghana. Bryan has also been involved in advocacy for the LGBT community, special-needs children, and both mentally and physically handicapped adults and children. Bryan’s current concern in our culture is with the need for civility and a faith focused on how we build each other up. He believes that the church should be a place where we welcome all types of families and individuals, young and old. Bryan also knows that the strongest faith comes when people are encouraged to explore and question, be challenged, and ultimately grow in their own understanding and relationship with God.
“I believe that something incredible is starting to happen at Westminster Presbyterian Church, I hope that you can come and be part of it!!!” –Bryan
Our Leadership Team
The Session
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CLASS OF 2018
Heather Escoto Ross Barrons Cathy Akem |
CLASS OF 2019
John Notor Jennifer Seguin |
CLASS OF 2020
Bill Musgrave Neneth Ross |
The Deacons
Care and Mission Outreach
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Christy Frost
Kristina Musgrave Lorraine Chretien Steve and Karren Jenks |
Betty Slater
Nick Molle Claudia Salazar Judy Schierling |
The Ministry Team
Parish Associate
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Christian Education
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Revive Team Leader
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Traditional Worship Music Staff
Music Director
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Organist
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A native of Georgia, she has lived many years in Silicon Valley. Mary Anne has a degree in French from Duke University and a Masters in Choral Conducting from San Jose State University. She has conducted adult choirs, children's choirs, and handbell choirs at several area churches. She has also been a regular performer with Camerata California early music performance ensemble in San Jose. Choral music has been Mary Anne's particular passion since childhood. She believes in enabling willing singers to make the best musical offering possible each Sunday in worship. Mary Anne enjoys an eclectic taste in music and loves helping coordinate music with the theme of worship.
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Grandchild and daughter-in-law of Armenian genocide survivors, Christine Merjanian has a very rich heritage. When the Lebanese civil war started in 1975, her parents and their five children immigrated to the United States. Christine attended Fremont High School in Sunnyvale her senior year. The following year, she moved to Biola University, where she was a piano performance major. After graduating, she worked in a school and taught piano lessons privately.
The Merjanians homeschooled their three children, focusing on music. All three children have been active in community music programs and in church music. Christine tells us she lives a simple but a very busy life being a mom, a church musician (since high school), and a piano teacher. |
Office Administrator
Ann Sherman
A fourth-generation Californian, Ann grew up in Bakersfield, and can attest that Baskets is not actually filmed there. She has degrees from UC Davis and Berkeley, and has called San Jose home since 1988. In addition to working in WPC’s office, Ann is a freelance inkslinger and a poet. She started the Luna Park Chalk Art Festival held every September in the Northside neighborhood, where she raised her sons Devin and Owen. Ann still lives there with her husband, Chris Jones, who runs South Bay Blinds, and two constantly shedding dogs. Besides being a certifiable dog nut, Ann enjoys swimming, meditation and yoga.