Northbrae’s Staff

Education and Background

University of California at Santa Barbara, BA Religious Studies, 1975
Indiana University, MA Religious Studies, 1978
Yale Divinity School, Master of Divinity, 1981
Ordination, United Church of Christ, Middleburg, PA 1981
Christy is the mother of a grown son and daughter— Jonathan, a writer in Los Angeles and Rebecca, an artist in New Mexico.

Continuing Education

A vast array of continuing education gives us hints of Christy’s variety of skills and interests. They include San Francisco Zen Center at Tassajara, Center for Courage and Renewal in Eagle Creek, Oregon, Racial Justice Training at Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC in Petaluma, CA, Chaplaincy Institute in Berkeley, CA, Iona Workshops in Scotland, Interim Ministry training in Oregon, San Francisco Art Institute and New England School of Photography. Buddhist education was at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and Sati Center for Buddhist Studies In Redwood City, CA.

Favorite Things To Do For Fun

Christy enjoys hiking and spending time in nature. She likes to swim and has loved water skiing in the past. During her years in the east, she enjoyed cross country skiing paired, of course, with drinking hot chocolate! She loves plants and enjoys sharing her living space with them, and even decorating sacred spaces with them. Photography is one of her loves as well as gathering shells on beach walks. She loves to travel and has spent wonderful time exploring interior and exterior landscapes. And, like so many of us, she loves to read!

Social Justice and Collaboration

It is clear as you get to know Christy that she cares deeply for those who are marginalized and she enjoys inspiring others to feel the same. She has participated in Racial Equity Challenge in summer of 2020 and Rise for Climate March in SF. Interfaith Prayer Vigil at West County Detention Ctr, Refinery Native American Healing walks led to highlight the danger of refineries and the need to heal the earth. She is a supporter of LGBTQ rights and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. She has helped organize CROP Hunger walks and tutored children who were in shelters. She is very sensitive to societal needs.  If you would like to schedule an appointment with Christy, please email her at cparkram@aol.com or call the church office at 510 526-3805.

Debra’s professional life has been dedicated to music.  She grew up in a musical family, singing with her mother and four sisters, and performing in choral concerts in her youth.  Her vocal performance experience includes solo recitals, opera, musicals, and professional choral singing.  She sang with the acclaimed Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Chorale for over 15 years and she has concertized throughout the United States and Mexico with classical guitarist Jon Harris.   She recorded biographical songs about Bay Area women artists featured in Amy Gorman’s book “Aging Artfully.”  For Oakland’s Rockridge Chorale she accompanied and performed as vocal soloist in India and England.  A master’s degree in choral conducting deepened her interest in sharing the joy of singing.  She has been accompanist, soloist and assistant conductor for SF Lyric Chorus.  She has long been the Music Director and organist for Northbrae Community Church in Berkeley and has had a long and varied association with Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra.  In previous years, she has been the accompanist for BCCO, was a soloist, and has recorded many of the vocal rehearsal tapes.  She is currently part of the musical staff as the Vocal Coach and Guest Clinician, and she is the Director of the Berkeley Women’s Community Chorus. Her teaching includes private voice and piano, and classroom general music including directing youth musicals. Her bachelor’s degree in music is from Michigan State University and her M.A. in choral conducting is from San Jose State University.  She has studied modern and flamenco dance, acting, and classical voice in San Francisco, New York City and Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Deb’s life is “deeply and richly woven with music, but she also engages with the world in many other ways: she is an intellectual who loves to read, a feminist and social activist, an ardent animal lover, and a talented visual artist who loves to paint, and take photographs.”  Deb appreciates nature, “especially the desert, and the fabulous night sky. “ She holds family, friends and her pets dear to her heart. Contact Debra at dgolata@yahoo.com or by leaving a message at the church office.