Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults

Rev. Elizabeth Murray is an ordained pastor in The United Methodist Church. Originally from metro Atlanta, Georgia, she has spent the entirety of her ministry in Columbia, South Carolina. Previously, she served as the Coordinator for Hispanic/Latinx Ministries of the South Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She has been the youth pastor at Lexington United Methodist Church in Lexington, South Carolina since July of 2016. Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Duke University’s Divinity School. Elizabeth’s seminary internships took her to a non-profit in Kenya, faith-based advocacy work in Washington, DC, a local church in eastern North Carolina, and as a hospital chaplain. She is passionate about reading, travel, social justice, and is an avid fan of American football, especially her alma mater— the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Associate Pastor in Residence

Born and raised in California, Rev. Don Lee graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts and began his career as a professional musician, piano technician, and music retailer. He served as Music Director at First United Methodist Church in Redding, California for 25 years before being called to ordained ministry. Rev. Lee graduated from the Pacific School of Religion and served Sierra Pines UMC for 11 years and Sacramento First UMC for six years, before retiring in 2016. Rev. Lee’s ministry involvements include serving on boards of the Human Rights Council in Redding, Hospitality House ministry to the homeless, Habitat for Humanity, and Family Promise. In addition, he and his wife, Rev. Tana McDonald, have led many mission trips to Palestine and Mexico, as well disaster relief teams in the US.

During the pandemic lockdown, he helped create a co-op grocery market in the neighborhood. He also picked up his tenor sax again (after several decades), and enjoyed playing on the street corner for free. Don and Tana have three sons and are looking forward to becoming a part of the ACP congregation.

Director of Children's Ministry

Allison attended Ohio Wesleyan University, graduating with degrees in Religion and Theatre in 2008. After graduation Allison remained in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, teaching theater classes for children and teens at various institutions and working as a Volunteer Management Intern for the Available Light Theatre Co. During this time she was also heavily involved in the youth program at Northwest Christian Church.

Allison and her husband, Jonathan, came to Paris in January of 2011 after he accepted a post-doctorate research position in physics here. Since that time she has been involved in both the youth and Children’s Worship ministries at ACP. She also began work towards her Masters of Divinity at Phillips Theological Seminary in the fall of 2011.

Allison and Jonathan are the proud parents of Josephine, Benjamin, and Isaac.

In her free time Allison enjoys exploring Paris’ beautiful museums, parks, and churches, as well as cooking, reading, and singing (although these days it’s mostly rounds of “Old MacDonald” to keep the baby entertained). She also enjoys spending time with her family travelling and seeking new adventures.

You can contact Allison here.

Rev. Dan Michalek is ACP's Visiting Pastor

Dan Michalek is a retired pastor, having served the First Presbyterian Church of Brighton, Michigan, for nineteen years. His wife, Francine, served as director of worship and music at the Brighton church, and together they have two grown children, Krista (married to Jordan) and David, and one grandchild, seven year old Emilia Jean.

A native of Flint, Michigan and a graduate of the University of Michigan Flint and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, he served two churches in Pennsylvania for a total of twenty years before returning to his home state.

Dan currently serves on the Board of Directors of LACASA, Livingston County’s nonprofit organization that ‘protects, advocates for and empowers victims and survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault,' and is also president of the board of directors of the House of Healing Foundation, the agency that oversees a comprehensive mission in Guatemala. He has made numerous mission trips to Guatemala and participated in the United Nations' annual Consultation on the Status of Women, having participated in three presentations there.

Fran recently retired from her position as Worship and Music Director at First Presbyterian Church in Brighton where she served for 14 years. She directed the adult traditional choir in works that included Rutter's "Requiem" and Vivaldi's "Gloria," and led the adult handbell choir as well. She also helped develop a new contemporary service and band in 2005. She worked with teen and children's choirs in the performance of a personally composed musical along with others such as "Godspell." She led children's music camps, developed creative worship services and supervised the direction of children's chimes and teen handbells.

Prior to her church work Fran taught vocal music in a public middle school and served as music director and choreographer for high school musicals. She has performed in musical theater herself but her greatest joy is preparing and directing others.

Fran has served on the House of Healing Foundation Board, volunteered in Guatemala, designed and led women's retreats and directed two choir tours to Scotland. Her most recent work has been at a hobby store selling seed, binoculars and feeders for wild birds. She is an avid "birder" and is looking forward to watching the unique bird species in France.

Contemporary Music Director and Coordinator of Music Ministries

"Leading worship brings together everything I love and value most; it's an opportunity to testify to who God is and what he has done, in fellowship with other musicians, through music that I love. 'Because your love is better than life, my lips will praise you…with singing lips my mouth will praise you.'"

Natalie is a native of Richmond, Virginia who came to Paris after 7 years in Milan, Italy. After graduating from the Peabody Conservatory of Music with a Bachelors of Music in voice performance under Phylis Bryn-Julson, she continued her vocal studies with Renato Cazzaniga of La Scala. In Milan she performed in classical and jazz concerts and lead worship at the Milan Bible Church. Natalie has lead the Contemporary Service since it began in 2008, and joined the ACP staff as Contemporary Music Director in 2009. "I love the diversity of what we can do as a worship team at the ACP.  The extraordinary diversity of our backgrounds and blend of classically and self-trained musicians allows each of us add our own unique style and faith experience to the blend."

Director of Children’s and Youth Music Ministries

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Sara was raised in Miami, Florida. Her first experience in music was playing the xylophone for a school play at age 5, and piano lessons soon followed. She studied both piano and later the organ, and became organist at a local church at age 15. Sara earned a BA from St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge where she studied English Literature and served as Organ Scholar. She then returned to Miami and served as organist and handbell director first at Christ the King Lutheran Church (1999-2006), and later at Coral Gables Congregational Church (2006-2008). While in Miami she obtained a Master of Music from Florida International University, whilst also serving as an adjunct professor. Sara has been a music teacher for many years, and currently teaches at École Jeannine Manuel for students at collège level. Sara has lived in France since 2008, and resides in Villejuif with her family.

Visiting Artist and Scholar in Residence

ACP is privileged to welcome Rev. Dr. Lisa Allen McLaurin as Visiting Artist and Scholar in Residence soon. She will conduct the adult choir from January to June 2023.

Dr. Allen McLaurin joins us while on sabbatical from The Interdenominational Theological Center where she is the Helmar Emil Nielsen Professor of Church Music and Worship and Department Chair. An accomplished choral conductor, pianist, singer, composer, author, and musicologist, she holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She has undergraduate degrees in music education and piano performance.

Nationally released video presentations won her a Webby in 2020 for A King’s Place: Atlanta, Georgia and an Emmy in 2015 for Reflect, Reclaim, Rejoice: Preserving the Gift of Black Sacred Music. (19:42ff , 28:21ff , 31:50ff)

Her recently published fourth book, The One Word Worship Model: A New Paradigm for Church Worship Planning explores the art of worship planning. She is a sought-after conference speaker, musician and musicologist.  Dr. Allen-McLaurin joins our ACP family bringing her wealth of experience as a choral conductor, scholar, pastor and minister of music.

Executive Secretary

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Reception

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