Pastor Danielle
Rev. Danielle L. Bridgeforth
Senior Pastor
Reverend Danielle L. Bridgeforth is a native of the District of Columbia and was raised in Hopewell, Virginia. She attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics. She then went on to receive her Juris Doctorate Degree from Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC., graduating with honors. She spent 10 years practicing law specializing in Plaintiffs' Medical Malpractice and Pharmaceutical litigation, before answering the call to serve in ministry. She made the career change to become an Associate Pastor and the Youth Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA, where she served with her father in ministry, the late Rev. Dr. Lee A. Earl, for many years. She earned a Masters of Divinity Degree with high honors from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.
In 2017, she accepted the call to serve as the twelfth Senior Pastor here at The Church at Clarendon, becoming the first woman pastor in our church's storied history. Reverend Bridgeforth is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and serves as a Chaplain for the Arlington County Police Department. Reverend Bridgeforth is also an accomplished writer and has published a devotional entitled Vantage Point, which is available for purchase at Redemption Press.
With a visible joy for life and a genuine love for God’s people, Reverend Bridgeforth truly lives what she preaches. She is enjoying her journey one season at a time, using her ministry and her life example to encourage others to do the same.
In 2017, she accepted the call to serve as the twelfth Senior Pastor here at The Church at Clarendon, becoming the first woman pastor in our church's storied history. Reverend Bridgeforth is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and serves as a Chaplain for the Arlington County Police Department. Reverend Bridgeforth is also an accomplished writer and has published a devotional entitled Vantage Point, which is available for purchase at Redemption Press.
With a visible joy for life and a genuine love for God’s people, Reverend Bridgeforth truly lives what she preaches. She is enjoying her journey one season at a time, using her ministry and her life example to encourage others to do the same.
Dr. Lake
Dr. William L. Lake, Jr.
Worship Leader
Dr. William L. Lake, Jr., Worship Leader at The Church at Clarendon, is a native of Cambridge, Maryland and has served as a church musician for thirty-three years. He has played in a variety of church denominations including: United Methodist, Episcopalian, Apostolic, and Baptist. As a fluid musician with experiences in a wide array of music from classical, jazz, traditional gospel, contemporary gospel, and tradition sacred musical genres, Dr. Lake strives to create musical offerings that resonate with the unique worship identities of each congregant.
William is the recipient of four degrees in music: a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Jazz Studies Piano Performance with Post-Baccalaureate Studies in Music Education from the University of Maryland – College Park, two Masters Degrees (Music Education [Boston University] and Music Performance – Wind Conducting [University of MD]), and a Doctor of Music Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Prior to coming to The Church at Clarendon, Dr. Lake served as Organist, Praise Team Director, and Men’s Choir Director at St. Paul United Methodist Church (Winston-Salem, NC), and Minister of Music at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (Washington, DC).
William is the recipient of four degrees in music: a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Jazz Studies Piano Performance with Post-Baccalaureate Studies in Music Education from the University of Maryland – College Park, two Masters Degrees (Music Education [Boston University] and Music Performance – Wind Conducting [University of MD]), and a Doctor of Music Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Prior to coming to The Church at Clarendon, Dr. Lake served as Organist, Praise Team Director, and Men’s Choir Director at St. Paul United Methodist Church (Winston-Salem, NC), and Minister of Music at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (Washington, DC).