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 and then went on to receive her Juris Doctorate Degree from Howard University School of Law, graduating with honors. She spent 10 years practicing law in the areas of 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 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 2017, she accepted the call to serve as the Senior Pastor here at the Church at Clarendon, becoming the first woman pastor in our church's storied history.
Pastor Danielle founded Joy4Life Ministries, LLC in 2013 and is certified in marital and pre-marital counseling through the Prepare-Enrich Counseling Program. She is a member of the Fairfax County Community Chaplain Corps, an interfaith group which provides chaplain care and support to community members during and after an emergency or disaster. In 2018, she published a devotional entitled, Vantage Point. This 20-Week topical devotional helps readers expand their perspective, enlarge their faith, and experience God anew. Pastor Danielle is an active member of the NAACP and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Pastor Danielle founded Joy4Life Ministries, LLC in 2013 and is certified in marital and pre-marital counseling through the Prepare-Enrich Counseling Program. She is a member of the Fairfax County Community Chaplain Corps, an interfaith group which provides chaplain care and support to community members during and after an emergency or disaster. In 2018, she published a devotional entitled, Vantage Point. This 20-Week topical devotional helps readers expand their perspective, enlarge their faith, and experience God anew. Pastor Danielle is an active member of the NAACP and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Dr. William L. Lake
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).