The Reverend David Buck, Rector

The Rev. Buck is a 1971 graduate of Davidson College, where he earned a B.A. degree in French, cum laude.  He continued his studies at Princeton, where he earned his Masters of Theology degree, and at Emory University, where he was awarded a degree as Doctor of Ministry in Theology, magna cum laude.

He was ordained a minister in the Baptist church in 1974 and served for three years as an assistant pastor at a church in New Orleans, then was called to be Senior Pastor at Terrill Road Baptist Church in Scotch Plains, NJ.  He moved to Huntersville in 1991 and served as Senior Pastor at Independence Hill Baptist Church on Eastfield Road through 2001.

The Rev. Buck was increasingly drawn to the Episcopal faith, and after serving as an assistant at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Mission in Mooresville in 2002, made the decision to return to seminary and study to become an Episcopal priest.  He received a diploma in Anglican Studies from General Theological Seminary in New York in 2003 and was ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in 2004.

You may contact Father David by calling the church office at: 704-892-0173 or by e-mail: dbuck@gostalbans.org

The Reverend Elizabeth Marie Melchionna,

   Associate Rector and Davidson College Campus Minister

The Reverend Elizabeth Marie Melchionna is a 2002 graduate of Davidson College where she received a B.A. in English, magna cum laude. She completed her seminary studies at Yale Divinity School where she received a Masters of Divinity, summa cum laude, in 2006. While at Yale, Elizabeth Marie also earned a Diploma in Anglican Studies from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and a Certificate in the Study of Religion and the Arts from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.

Elizabeth Marie has worked previously in New Zealand as an Outdoor Educator for the University of New Hampshire’s Study Abroad program “EcoQuest.” Following seminary she received a fellowship from the Henry Luce Foundation and worked as a visiting professor at the McGilvary College of Divinity and at Payap University’s Institute for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Peace. For the last two years she has served as Assistant Rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Arlington, VA, and as an Arlington County Fire Department Chaplain.

Rev. Melchionna is excited to be back in Davidson serving half-time as Associate Rector with St. Alban’s. She also works for the Diocese of North Carolina and serves half-time as Episcopal Campus Minister at Davidson College.

When not at the church or on campus Elizabeth Marie enjoys reading, taking long walks, canoeing, playing tennis, knitting, and eating homegrown tomatoes.

You may contact Mother Elizabeth Marie by calling the church office at: 704-892-0173 or by e-mail: em@gostalbans.org.

The Reverend Rebecca Yarbrough, Vocational Deacon

Rebecca is a Charlotte native, married to Dave for 34 years, who lives in Charlotte with a dog and two cats. A graduate of Queens College and the UNC School of Government's County Administration Program, she's also the mother of Nancy and Kathy, incoming freshmen at USC and UNC-W respectively. She was ordained to the diaconate in June, 2008, and came to St. Alban's in July, 2008.

As a vocational deacon, Rebecca's call is to "bridge" between the Church and the needs of the world. This means helping to bring world and community needs to the attention of St. Alban's and helping St. Alban's to organize to meet those needs. Right now, that work includes supporting St. Alban's Helping Empower Local People Core Team (H.E.L.P. is an IAF-affiliated community organizing group), assisting the Outreach Team with a variety of projects, and coordinating the “Carolina Connection” of multiple Episcopal churches with Christ Church in Bay St. Louis for Hurricane Katrina rebuilding there and in Waveland, Mississippi. Rebecca also works part-time for Centralina Council of Governments as Assistant Director, working on environmental issues and the CONNECT regional vision.

You may contact Rebecca by e-mail at: or ryarbrough@gostalbans.org or ryarb1@carolina.rr.com.