Rev. Dave N. Knipel
Co-Interim Pastor, Central Baptist Church of Woodbury

David N. Knipel is an ordained American Baptist minister and lawyer, currently called as Co-Interim Pastor of Central Baptist Church of Woodbury, along with his wife Dr. Carla Romarate-Knipel. Rev. Knipel is an Interim Ministry Specialist with Interim Ministries – ABC and also works as general legal counsel to American Baptist Churches USA. He previously served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Long Branch, as interim pastor at First Baptist Church of Woodstown, as co-interim pastor, along with his wife Carla, at First Baptist Church of Norristown, PA, and as a pastoral intern and associate pastor with Chesterfield Baptist Church. Dave has served as an adjunct faculty member at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Central Philippine University. He and Carla have also served in the Philippines as Volunteers in Mission under American Baptist International Ministries. Dave also serves on the Board of Directors of BuildaBridge International, an arts education and intervention organization based in Philadelphia ministering to children, families and communities in the tough places of the world, both locally and internationally. Dave and Carla have one son, eight-year-old Isaac.

Carla A. Romarate-Knipel, D.Min.
Co-Interim Pastor, Central Baptist Church of Woodbury

A third-generation Baptist minister, Carla A. Romarate-Knipel, was born in Iloilo City, Philippines. She made a decision to commit her life to Jesus Christ when she was ten years old; began training in Christian ministry when she was 16 years old; and was commissioned as a pastor at the age of 24. Carla received her Bachelor of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from Central Philippine University (CPU); and her Doctor of Ministry in the Renewal of the Church for Mission at Palmer Theological Seminary (formerly known as Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary).

Prior to her ministry in the United States that began in 2001, Carla served as pastor in churches affiliated with the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, a mission partner of the American Baptist Churches USA. She also taught at the Religion Department and the College of Theology at Central Philippine University. It was in CPU where she met her husband, the Rev. David N. Knipel. They are blessed with a son, Isaac Norman.

Carla enjoys singing, reading, and writing. Her articles on the first ordained Filipino Baptist woman pastor and Baptist missions in the Philippines were published by the Baptist History and Heritage journal in 2006 and 2007, respectively. She is also a featured author in the book, Chapters in Philippine Church History edited by Anne Kwantes and published by OMF Literature in 2001. Carla volunteers as Special Assistant for Philippines Relations, Board of International Ministries, ABC-USA.

She sums up her vocation and ministry in these words: “I have come to know the power of God’s love through Jesus Christ and am committed to sharing it with anyone who is willing to listen.”