Ministerial Staff

Dr. Michael J. Clingenpeel — Mike Clingenpeel began his ministry as the fifth Pastor of River Road Church on September 7, 2004. He previously served as Editor and Business Manager of the Religious Herald, the news journal of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.Prior to that position, Mike served pastorates in Indiana, Michigan, and Virginia, the latter as Pastor of Franklin Baptist Church for over eight years. Mike grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. In 1972, he graduated from the University of Richmond with a major in Sociology and membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. Dr. Clingenpeel earned his Master of Divinity degree (1975) and his Ph.D. (1979) from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Later in 1993, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from his alma mater, the University of Richmond. Mike is married to the former Vivian Stephenson and has a son, Timothy James Clingenpeel, a graduate of Wake Forest University.  
Email: mikeclingenpeel@rrcb.org

Dr. Robert L. Dibble — Bob Dibble has served as Minister to Adults at River Road Church, Baptist since 1989. Prior to coming to Virginia, he served as Minister of Education and Administration to churches in New Orleans, Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi. A graduate of Chaminade University of Honolulu, he received his M.Div./R.E. and Ed. D. degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Bob served from 1995-2005 as an adjunct faculty member at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. He is married to the former Clarice Florence Vaughan and has four children and six grandchildren.
Email: bobdibble@rrcb.org

Mr. E. Carl Freeman — Carl Freeman has served as the Minister of Music at River Road Church, Baptist since 1968. Under his leadership, River Road Church's music ministry has become one of the most highly respected in the area. His leadership focuses on the development of all aspects of the music ministry, including the Chancel Choir, Youth Choirs, Children's Choirs of all ages and Adult and Youth Handbells. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University in 1962. Carl is an accomplished and recognized choirmaster and organist and has played recitals extensively throughout the East. In 1999 he received a House Joint Resolution from the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia commending him for his leadership and contribution to music in the Richmond area.
Email: carlfreeman@rrcb.org

Rev. Barbara J. Massey — Barbara Massey came to River Road Church, Baptist in March 2002 as Minister to Children. Prior to coming to River Road, she served as editor for Children's Missions curriculum for 22 years at the Woman's Missionary Union in Birmingham, Alabama. A graduate of Mississippi College with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education, she received her M.R.E. degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. She has additional graduate studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is a certified Pediatric Chaplain, receiving her Clinical Pastoral Education at Baptist Medical Centers and the Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. In her role, she oversees the coordination of all ministries related to children (and their families) from birth through fifth grade.
Email: barbaramassey@rrcb.org

Rev. Ka'thy Gore Chappell — Our Minister to College Students is Ka’thy Gore Chappell. Ka’thy is Associate Dean for Student Life/Enrollment at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.  She is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville with a Masters of Religious Education.  She has worked in two North Carolina churches in youth ministry, and came to Richmond after more than 18 years as Associate Pastor, College Students at Forest Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh. 
Emai: kchappell@btsr.edu

Rev. Rachel L. Hoffman — Rachel came to River Road Church in October 2006 as our Minister to Youth.  For the previous two years Rachel served as Associate Student Minister at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Glen Allen. Rachel grew up in Richmond, graduated from Mary Washington College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French. She is a graduate of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Rachel’s husband, Ben, is sports director at the Tuckahoe YMCA.
Email: rachelhoffman@rrcb.org

Dr. James H. Slatton — Jim Slatton is the Pastor Emeritus at River Road Church, Baptist. Jim served as Pastor for over 30 years. He is a native Texan, having received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University in Waco and his Bachelor of Divinity (1957) and Doctor of Theology (1965) degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth. Jim served as pastor of churches in Dallas, Texas and Altavista, Virginia prior to coming to River Road Church, Baptist in 1971. He is married to the former Elberta Lee Thornton. They have three children and two grandchildren. Email at: jimslatton@verizon.net.

Preschool Development Center Staff

Margaret S. Collins — Margaret Collins serves as Director of the Preschool Development Center at River Road Church, Baptist. She earned her undergraduate degree from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina and a Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since becoming director in 1987, the Preschool Development Center has grown to become one of the top development centers in the nation and received national accreditation in 1987 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Margaret was honored as the National Child Care Center Director of the Year in 2002 by the National Association for Child Care Professionals. She is married to Russell Collins and has two children and two grandchildren.
Email: margaretcollins@rrcp.org

Wendy Graves — Administrative Assistant, wendygraves@rrcp.org

 

Administrative Staff

Ken Lantz — Church Administrator, kenlantz@rrcb.org

LeAnne Lane — Financial Secretary, leannelane@rrcb.org

Margaret Darby — Administrative Assistant, margaretdarby@rrcb.org

Steve Harmon — Administrative Assistant, steveharmon@rrcb.org

Sandi Bassett — Pastor's Secretary, sandibassett@rrcb.org

 

Chuck Ursiny — Sexton

Mary Mosely — Housekeeper

Raymond Street — Sexton