Dr. Bill Carrell, Pastor - Dr. Carrell has served as the pastor of University Baptist Church since June of 2008.  Before coming to UBC, he served as Professor and Dean of the College of Christian Studies at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor from 2002-2008. He also taught at Bluefield College in Virginia from 1995 to 2002.  His previous church experience includes pastorates at the First Baptist Church of Cisco, Texas and Lakeview Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. He has also served as a church planter in Indianapolis, Indiana, a minister to university students in Austin, Texas, and as an interim pastor in several churches in Virginia, West Virginia, and Texas. He received his Ph.D. in Theology from Baylor University in 1993 and his Master of Divinity Degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1982. Dr. Carrell and his wife, Martha, came to UBC for many reasons. One was the proximity to Johns Hopkins University and the other was the urban setting in Baltimore.  “We like the fast-paced city, the rich history, and the cultural activities. “About 20 years ago, we served in a university church in Austin, Texas. We remember that experience as among the best in our years in ministry, so we have come to UBC with great expectations.” Dr. Carrell says that coming to Baltimore is both an end and beginning of a journey. “We see coming to Baltimore as the coming together of all of our past experiences in the hope that God will use these to make a difference in Christ’s kingdom through UBC.” The Carrell's have two grown sons, Adam, who lives in Baltimore and Nathan who lives in Texas.

Robin Anderson, Associate Pastor, Education and Outreach - With a background in theater, Robin Anderson brings a liveliness to the pulpit, a spirit to her sermons, and a passion to her outreach. It is one of Robin’s gifts to be able to connect with people of all ages: youth, college students, young adults, median adults, and seniors. At UBC she currently teaches youth Sunday School and adults at Wednesday night Bible Study. Robin received a BFA in Theater Performance from Webster University in St. Louis, MO, and her theatrical skills are seen in how she approaches prayer, Bible study, and simple human interaction. Robin and her husband Rev. Marty Anderson both received their MDiv from the McAfee School of Theology, and then Robin went on to serve as the Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults at the First Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. They planted roots in Baltimore in 2004. They had a baby girl named Sophia in 2005 and are now expecting the arrival of twins this February! What has been your favorite memory of working at UBC? I love having the opportunity to sit down and chat with people about the stuff that’s really important in life. More than any one memory, my favorite part of ministry is the moments that take place in a hospital room, over a cup of ice cream, or just sitting in my office having a conversation with someone about faith or life, you know, the questions stirring in our souls. I cherish those moments which have taken place with some of the wonderful people at UBC.

Marty Anderson, Associate Pastor, College Ministries - Johns Hopkins University is directly across the street from UBC, and that proximity keeps the Associate Pastor for College Students, Marty Anderson, busy and happy. “I enjoy being a part of college students’ discovery of who they can be, and discovering who they are, and seeing that transformation happen,” says Marty. A large part of Marty’s time is planning The Gathering, an informal service on Sunday nights that includes music, testimonies, Scripture readings, and a message. “We cover topics that will meet a need in their walk with Christ,” he says. During his time here, The Gathering attendance has grown so much that the service was moved from the chapel to the larger sanctuary. Marty’s favorite thing about working as a minister is the relationships he builds with people, and especially at UBC, he loves “the diversity of the people that come.” Marty received a degree in Educational Psychology from Mississippi State University and his MDiv from the McAfee School of Theology. Marty loves spending time with his wife and co-worker Robin and their daughter Sophia, playing his guitar, and watching college football, particularly his alum team, Mississippi State.

Ron Gretz, Director of Music - I remember going to church [St. Timothy’s Lutheran] at a very young age. I always enjoyed singing the hymns. When I was in my early teens I joined a Youth Choir. If we did not have an anthem for a particular Sunday the director would always ask me to sing a solo. For some reason I was never nervous even though I had just learned the solo at choir rehearsal on Thursday evening [Ah youth!]. I started playing the piano at age 14 but I still loved singing. I had several high school friends who sang in a choir [Dundalk Methodist church] so I joined. After graduation from high school I was accepted at the Peabody Conservatory of Music on a full scholarship. One Sunday as I was getting ready to go sing I received a frantic call from an organist who could not play a service at Patapsco Methodist church. I played the service and was asked back. I stayed for four years. After graduation from Peabody I became the conductor for the Handel Choir of Baltimore performing the great choral repertoire accompanied by members of the Baltimore Symphony. At the same time I became the chorus master for Baltimore Opera. I co-founded the Chesapeake Opera company where I conducted about 3 or 4 operas a year. In 1983 I became the Artistic Director/Conductor for the Annapolis Opera and remain in that position. In 1993 I became the conductor for the Gettysburg Symphony and then in 2003 founded the Maryland Philharmonic Orchestra. I have accompanied singers in vocal recitals and conducted musicals at Cockpit and Court during the summer. All of these things while teaching music theory full time at CCBC Essex and being organist and choir director at various churches in Baltimore. So I have had the opportunity to conduct choral, opera, musicals and orchestral works. I came to University Baptist Church as an interim organist while the church looked for someone for the permanent position. That was in 1988. I have been there ever since. I loved the music that the church was accustomed to: a mixture of classical standards [Handel, Mendelssohn, Bach, Mozart] as well as spirituals and some contemporary pieces. But it is the choir, the ministers and the congregation that has kept me there. I have never met a more loving, caring group of people in all of the years that I have directed and played.