MEET THE STAFF
Rev. Dr. Debra L. Duke
Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Debra L. Duke has served as Senior Pastor for The Community Church of Mountain Lakes since June 2012. She is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, where she earned both her Master of Divinity degree, as well as her Ph.D. in Mission, Ecumenics, and History of Religions. Dr. Duke received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a Masters degree from Washington University in St. Louis, both in Engineering. Dr. Duke also studied at the Universite de Toulouse in Toulouse, France and served as an appropriate technology extension worker in the United States Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa.
In her free time, Dr. Duke enjoys running, singing, dancing, kayaking, hiking, reading and eating ethnic foods. She and her husband, Peter, have three young adult daughters, two very smart dogs and three adorable cats.
Betsy Broome, M. Div.
Parish Associate for Community Engagement
Betsy Broome is a Member in Discernment, seeking ordination in the NJ Association of the Central Atlantic Conference of the UCC. She earned her M. Div. at Drew Theological School in 2021. As part of her supervised ministry, she trained as a palliative care chaplain at Overlook Medical Center and completed three units of clinical pastoral education.
Betsy grew up in Barrington, Rhode Island and was raised in the New England Congregational tradition. She attended Sunday School, was confirmed and married at the Barrington Congregational Church. Betsy earned her BA in English at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. After college, she earned her MBA in health care administration at The University of Hartford and became a member of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, where she trained in lay pastoral care and her two children were baptized.
Betsy moved to New Jersey with her family in 1996. She has been an active member of the CCML since then. She has served on the Boards of Christian Education and Outreach and as a faith formation teacher, women’s group leader, retreat coordinator and as a Stephen Ministry leader. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in her home church and community.
Director of Music
We are seeking another wonderful musician to partner with us in our ministry. The Director of Music responsibilities include overseeing the Music Ministry of our congregation and having input on all aspects of music in our ministry, playing organ, piano, and/or other instruments for Worship on Sunday mornings at 10:00 am and other special Worship occasions, directing our choirs (vocal, bells, chimes, orff, etc., both children and adults) and serving as a member of the Worship Team. The church has a rebuilt Casavant-Freres pipe organ, digitally enhanced with Ahlborn-Galanti electronic voices, and a Steinway grand piano for use during Worship. This position is part-time. For more information, please visit our website at comchurchmtlakes.org/director-of-music.
Ms. Sue Sullivan
Director of Children's Engagement
Ms. Sue’s studies in Elementary Education at Indiana University, with her major in English and minor in Drama, working at Frelinghuysen Jr. High in the Morris School District, and volunteering in almost every position possible in Children’s Ministries have led her to her current position at The Community Church of Mountain Lakes. At Frelinghuysen, she was not only School Secretary but Organizer for the week-long camp for the 6th grades; Director of 3 School Musicals, “Annie," "Oliver," and "The Sound of Music"; and the Newspaper and Yearbook Advisor. Most recently she served as Director of Children’s Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Burbank, in Burbank, California.
Sue’s love of drama spans from seeing Broadway shows to involvement in community theater. Reading and traveling along with four grandchildren, (ages 7 years – 4 months), occupy the rest of her free time. She is hoping to add a rescue cat or dog to her home sometime soon.
David Benson
Office Administrator
David joined our staff in January of 2022. He studied computer science at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, with computers and computer science as a lifelong passion of his. Prior to joining us at the Community Church of Mountain Lakes, David served as the Executive Assistant to the CEO at the Hamilton Wharton Group, Inc.
In his free time, David enjoys nothing more than spending time with his dog Chitika, and enjoying a quiet evening cooking (and, of course, eating!). His other passion is travel, having spent a great deal of his youth visiting or working abroad in countries such as France, Senegal, & China.
Ms. Linda Steenbock
Financial Administrator
Ms. Linda joined us in April of 2015. She previously did the books for her family business. Outside of work, Linda enjoys gardening and exercise. Linda also helps Brookside Community Church with their books.