Parish Associates
Dr. Thomas Laird (Tom) Jones
Since early 2007, Dr. Tom Jones has served as one NPC’s Parish Associates. In this volunteer capacity, Tom leads in worship with the senior pastor and associate pastors.
Having served Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) as Vice President and founding Managing Director of its Washington Office since 1991, Tom Jones was named in 2005 Ambassador-at-Large in the office of Habitat’s CEO. He continues to serve on the HFHI Senior Leadership Team.
Prior to his tenure with Habitat for Humanity International, Tom served as pastor of large Presbyterian congregations in Louisville, Ky., Orlando and Miami, Fla., and for 12 years was senior pastor of the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. In the academic world, he has served as vice president for a theological seminary and faculty member at two seminaries. He served as a national staff person of the Presbyterian denomination. He is a speaker of national reputation, including a variety of national radio and television appearances. He has served on many denominational, ecumenical, national, community, college and other boards. He is the author of one book and many articles. Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary honored him with its Distinguished Alum Award.
He has earned the Bachelor of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees, and has received the Doctor of Divinity honorary degree. A native of St. Petersburg, FL, he has resided in Chevy Chase, Md., for the past 29 years.
Rev. Donna Marsh
Rev. Donna Marsh, Parish Associate at National Presbyterian Church, is currently serving as NPC’s Interim Congregational Care Visitor. This is a part-time role on NPC’s Congregational Care team.
A lifelong Presbyterian, Rev. Marsh is a graduate of Smith College and Princeton Theological Seminary. She served as the Associate Pastor of Darnestown Presbyterian Church in Maryland before taking time off from full-time ministry to be with her daughters, Lauren, age 4, and Jamie, age 10 months. Donna, her husband Ken, and family live in Bethesda, MD.
In ministry to the larger church, Rev. Marsh was a Commissioner to the 2006 PC(USA) General Assembly and served on the Health Issues Committee for that assembly. She currently serves on the board of Presbyterians for Renewal, and also sits on the presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Commission as well as the presbytery’s Bills and Overtures Committee. She has been active in mobilizing Presbyterian involvement in Montgomery County Habitat for Humanity and served for three years on an Advisory Board to the Pastoral Care Program at Georgetown University Hospital.
Being at National is a homecoming for Rev. Marsh who was a seminary intern here in the summer of 1996. Since rejoining the NPC family, she has been part of the MOMS group, taught occasional adult classes, and assisted in worship.
John Wagner
John Wagner, one of National’s Parish Associates, leads in worship in this volunteer role. He also serves as the Senior Vice President for the Eastern Division of Young Life. John first began with Young Life in 1982, working with kids in the Shaw community of Washington, DC. He later became the YL Metro Director, overseeing all of the city’s urban work. Following that, John served as a Regional Director of the DC Metro Region, overseeing Young Life ministry in both the city and surrounding suburbs.
John grew up in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, earned his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and his Masters in Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. He was ordained in the PC(USA) in 2003.
John and his wife Gae currently live in Gaithersburg, MD. Together they have three kids: Michael, 16; Jessi, 14; and David 9.