Staff

Meet Our Staff

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Rev. Matt Bates

Senior Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Bates, Centenary’s senior pastor, was born in Oklahoma and grew up in mostly small towns where his father was a United Methodist pastor. He met his wife, Amy, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX where she was working on a Master’s degree in piano pedagogy, and Matt was a student at Perkins School of Theology. After finishing their education, they moved to North Carolina, Amy’s home state, and began ministry in the Western North Carolina Conference. He served churches in and around Kannapolis, Concord, and Hickory, NC.

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In 1997, they moved to Richmond where Matt began work on a Ph.D. in Theology and Ethics. Feeling called to urban ministry, Matt served Central UMC in Richmond for 7 years before a 3 year stint at Verona UMC in the Shenandoah Valley, and then had the privilege of being appointed to Centenary in 2011. Matt, and his whole family, love Centenary’s warmth, commitment to mission, its excellent worship, and its desire to reach out in love to all of God’s people.

Matt has served beyond the local church in several ways. He has been a member of the Virginia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, and is currently a member of the Pace Center for Campus and Community Ministry Board and chairs the Richmond District Committee on the Superintendency. He also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Randolph-Macon College where he has taught courses in History of Christianity, Eastern Religions, Western Religions, and Christian Ethics.

Matt likes to pick around now and then on the guitar and imagine that he’s Johnny Cash or Hank Williams. He loves sports of all kinds and has become a Nationals fan since living in Richmond. He enjoys spending time with Amy and his two adult children Rachel and Justin, who try to help continue his education for living in the modern world.

Matt holds the following degrees: B.A., Theological and Historical Studies, Oral Roberts University; M.Div., Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University; Th.M. Duke University; and Ph.D. Union Presbyterian Seminary. His dissertation was an effort to find answers that had long intrigued and confounded him from his work in ministry, trying to find ways to resolve and understand some of the tensions in major strands of Protestantism. The title of his dissertation was Growing the Church, Resisting the Powers, Reforming the World: Three Options for Ecclesial Faithfulness in North American Protestantism. If you’re ever having problems with insomnia, he’ll be glad to loan you a copy.

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Carina Brackin

Director of Music

Carina Brackin earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts studying with Dr. Timothy Olsen. She spent the following year studying organ at the University of Notre Dame with Dr. Craig Cramer and working at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

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In addition to playing numerous solo concerts including recitals at the Spoleto Festival, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, and Bruton Parish Church, Carina competed in the Quimby/AGO Competition for Young Artists, placing second in the Mid-Atlantic regional competition in 2017. She served as organ scholar for the Royal School of Church Music Carolina Course at Duke University in 2017, the Organist for Main Street United Methodist Church in Kernersville, NC, and Organ Scholar for Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, VA.

While she was growing up, Carina stayed heavily involved in church choirs and played both fife and harpsichord for Colonial Williamsburg. She became an avid hand bell ringer at an early age and has previously directed thriving handbell program of 54 ringers. In addition to handbells, she has directed a Spanish language choir.

Carina, her husband T.J. and daughter Norah are happy to be part of the Centenary community.

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Lee Covington

Pianist

Lee Covington is a VCU grad, where he studied piano with Landon Bilyeu and composition with Doug Richards. In addition to his duties at Centenary, he works as an accompanist / music teacher at St. Christopher's School, and is a member of the Butterbean Jazz Quartet, a Richmond staple since the early 1990s. Mr. Covington has been a working musician in the Richmond area for over 30 years.

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Laura Nealley

Administrative Assistant

Laura Nealley is our Administrative Assistant. She runs the office and manages the church calendar, newsletter, and many other important things! She has 10+ years of experience in church offices and enjoys the wonderful community at Centenary. She has one husband, two grown children, and one special needs cat.

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Al Richardson

Facilities Manager

Al Richardson is the Facilities Manager at Centenary. He makes sure that Centenary’s members, volunteers, and visitors feel welcome and have a clean and safe environment for our church activities. Al enjoys football, listening to gospel and jazz music, attending Masonic Lodge meetings, and spending time with his family. He is proud of his grandson, who plays football with the New York Jets. Al is from Richmond, and his favorite thing about Centenary is the way you always feel welcomed with open arms. He likes being able to make people happy and uplifting his homeless friends.

Adella Barrett

Coordinator for Ministry to Seniors

Adella has been happy to call Richmond home for the last nine years. She has worked in a range of contexts from early childhood education, to small scale farming, to end of life ministry, most recently working as a hospice chaplain. Some of her great loves include hiking through the great outdoors, exploring global cultures through travel, music and food, and being an Aunt to three beautiful little ones.

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Melissa Martinez

Sunday School & Nursery

Melissa Martinez has been a Nursery Worker and Sunday School teacher at Centenary since 2010. In her role she educates the children about God and helps them grow in their faith. Her favorite thing about Centenary is the history and the way it feels like a family. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, grew up in Henrico County and attended the Center for the Arts High School for dance. She continues to dance today and also enjoys working with kids in the community through the YMCA.