Who We Are » Staff

The Rev. Dr. Eric T. Myers, Pastor

pastor@frederickpresbyterian.org

Eric has been the Pastor of Frederick Presbyterian Church since September 2006, having previously served churches in Virginia and North Carolina. He has several ministry emphases, including worship that is active and participatory for all, and a congregation that is mission-focused.

Originally from Hopewell, Virginia, Eric first entered the ministry as a Director of Music and Organist, before entering Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1991) in Decatur, Georgia. Continuing his study in the area of worship, Eric completed a second master’s degree in Liturgical Studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana (2003). He furthered his studies in worship and preaching at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois (Ph.D., 2006).

Eric has taught worship and preaching classes at Garrett and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Worship at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He is the co-author of The Work of the People: What We Do in Worship and Why (Alban, 2007), a guide to help congregations and worship committees think about the worship of the church. Eric served the larger church as a member of the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song (PCOCS) which produced, GLORY TO GOD: The Presbyterian Hymnal (2013).

Eric is married to Lisa Nuernberger Myers. Eric and Lisa have three daughters.

Brian Bartoldus, Director of Music and Organist

music@frederickpresbyterian.org

Brian Bartoldus coordinates every aspect of music at FPC, including leading the Festival, Sanctuary, and Handbell choirs. He also serves a church organist for weekly services. In addition to his work in Frederick, Brian is the Artistic Director of Handel Choir of Baltimore, a critically acclaimed choral ensemble celebrated for its yearly performance of Handel’s Messiah with period instrument orchestra.

Brian earned his DMA in choral conducting from the Yale School of Music, studying with Marguerite Brooks, Masaaki Suzuki, Jeffrey Douma, and Simon Carrington. He studied composition, organ, and conducting at Shenandoah University, where his primary teachers included William Averitt, Steven Cooksey, and Robert Shafer. He is the Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of the professional vocal ensemble Third Practice. During his tenure as Artistic Director, Third Practice won plaudits from major publications, praising their “unfailing technique,” (Cecelia Porter, The Washington Post), “first-rate” musicality, (Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, The New York Times), and “ethereal voices” (Patrick D. McCoy, Washington Life Magazine).

Brian has prepared choirs for both the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. He lives on the campus of Virginia Theological Seminary, where his wife is studying for the priesthood.

Ashley Simms, Director of Youth Ministry

youth@frederickpresbyterian.org

Ashley coordinates weekly youth fellowship meetings and summer mission trips for thegrowing community of young people at FPC. In addition to working with the youth, she leads the tech team that runs the online Worship service and regularly plays trombone and hand bells during Sunday services.

Ashley grew up in the Presbyterian church as a “PK” (Pastor’s Kid) and participated fully in available youth programs. Currently, she teaches Sunday school; assists with youth group activities, including lock-ins, service projects, and mission trips; and directs an intergenerational sign language choir. Ashley has degrees in Music Education and
Trombone Performance from Ithaca College and the University of Oklahoma. She taught middle school band, choir and orchestra both in upstate New York and
Montgomery County, Maryland.

Ashley has been attending FPC since moving to Frederick in 2013. She and her
husband, Greg, were married in this church in 2017 and they welcomed their daughter, Eva, in May 2024. Together they have loved becoming a part of the dynamic faith community.

Lindsay Dingman, Director of Family Ministries and Education

families@frederickpresbyterian.org

Lindsay serves as Director of Family Ministries and Education, gleaning from her lifelong involvement in the Presbyterian church to design, implement, and lead learning opportunities for all age groups.

Growing up in Virginia, she fondly recalls, “I never dreaded rising early on Sunday morning!” The abundance of activities she sought out at church — Sunday School, Confirmation Class, Choir, Youth Group, lock-ins, mission trips, and more — kept her excited, engaged, and forged deep bonds with her church family. Lindsay desires to develop and strengthen the same lasting connections to faith for the community of FPC.

Lindsay’s easy rapport with young people inspires trust and never fails to generate fun! She honed these gifts coaching gymnastics for over a decade; and at FPC, continues to delight in her joy of working with kids by teaching Sunday School and helping organize Vacation Bible School. She also participates in the Festival Choir. She and her husband Scott have been members of FPC since 2020.

Lindsay is grateful to be able to help enrich the spiritual lives of the FPC families as well as the personal enrichment she reaps through building loving relationships with them and the larger church family.

Niki Lyons, Office Administrator

office@frederickpresbyterian.org

Niki is often the friendly face and voice that members and visitors encounter first, and she brings warmth and enthusiasm to her role every day. After more than 20 years as members of a local non-denominational church, Niki and her family found a new spiritual home at FPC in 2019.

A lifelong Frederick resident, Niki married her high school sweetheart, Jonathan, and
together they’ve raised four wonderful daughters. Now, one of her greatest joys is being “MomMom” to her cherished grandchildren, Asher and Aria. Niki and Jonathan love exploring the world through travel, kayaking, hosting game nights with friends, and spending quality time with their family.

Niki’s passion for social justice and equality has been deeply influenced by her
coworkers and fellow congregants, shaping her commitment to making a positive
difference in her community.