Candidate 17

Dear Friends:

“We are not alone, we live in God’s world.” Over the last couple of years, I have returned to these words over and over again. They have long been my favorite words of affirmation of faith, used in both public worship services and in my private moments of prayer. I love them because I need the reminder that I’m part of something bigger than myself; that I am connected to the Source of life and to a community engaged in the work of loving, serving, and caring. I’m not alone, and that makes all the difference.

I grew up a child of the church, baptized as an infant, confirmed as an adolescent, in Sunday school and worship week in and week out. From a young age, I loved the bible and the great hymns of faith. And yet, there was something that was missing. As I came of age, I began to sense a call to something more, along with a profound sense of conflict about my own identity. Coming to terms with [redacted] and a follower of Jesus, I wrestled and struggled like Jacob with the angel, ultimately gaining both a blessing and a charge: you are loved and accepted, but you must let others know that they are as well. It was in that moment that I found my calling to ministry. I believe that I am called to serve God and God’s world by reminding others that they are loved, that they are not alone, and that they have a purpose. That together, we can build a world of justice, of peace, and of compassion—a foretaste of the Kingdom of God.

I was ordained to Christian ministry in 2008, and have served both rural and urban congregations, from Texas to the northeast. In my current role, I have served a rapidly growing, theologically progressive, and socially engaged congregation as part of a dynamic ministerial team. My primary areas of responsibility have been adult spiritual formation, justice and mission, stewardship, communications, and worship leadership. I led the creation of an alternative worship gathering following the “dinner church” model; created a small groups ministry that has become a thriving component of our community; shepherded a team that revamped our communications, leading to a new website, logo, and new quarterly magazine-style newsletter; and have been the primary pastoral leadership with the stewardship ministry, helping to plan and execute successful annual pledge campaigns, resulting in record levels of giving. I also initiated and led the process of creating an endowment fund, working closely with the denominational investment fund representatives to create the plan and guiding documents. As part of my ongoing professional development, I recently completed the online Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising course through the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I designed our streaming setup and equipment upgrades, and I have regularly preached and planned and co-led worship alongside the senior pastor, staff, and lay leadership.

My philosophy of ministry is centered in relationships. Developing and nurturing relationships within and among the gathered community, and with the local community beyond the walls of the church, is at the heart of my sense of call. As an ordained minister, I understand my calling to be one of empowering the congregation to live into its baptismal identity as the people of God—all who have been baptized into Christ are ministers. All the people of God are called to minister in Christ's name to a hurting world. Ministry is not reserved for a certain special class of people who have been seminary-trained and ordained—it is the work of the whole church. The role of the ordained minister is to empower ministry to happen in everyday life, to help identity and nurture the gifts and graces of God's people, and to lead a community into the vision of God's reign which is already breaking in among us. My core spiritual values include spirituality—developing a deep and abiding connection to God and God’s world; justice—seeking and pursing God’s justice for the world; community—nurturing loving and meaningful community where people can deepen their connection to God and to others; and courage—the strength to love oneself and others through the Spirit.

I have been privileged to lead several loving and dedicated congregations over the last decade, leading congregations through times of discernment and visioning that helped to grow participation in worship, education, and mission. As my spouse and I have been in discernment about where we feel called to be in the next phase of our life and careers, we feel called to return to the northeast, to be closer to his family and to greater opportunities for both of us.

In light of my experience and interests, trusting in God’s call on our lives, and believing that the opportunities that Church on the Hill offers to create and nurture vital faith for all ages would be well suited to my gifts, I would like to submit my application for Pastor.

In Christ,

Professional Profile

Experienced, passionate and justice-oriented minister, with measurable impact in leadership, innovation, and visioning; demonstrated commitment to and passion for congregational ministry.

Professional Experience

Associate Pastor, Friends Congregational Church UCC, College Station, TX, 10/2016—present

As the first full-time Associate Pastor, I have led in the areas of Spiritual Life, Social Justice, Worship, and new member integration. I created a “Dinner Church” worship service, launched a small groups ministry, led the congregation through the process of becoming a Sanctuary Church, and helped administer a grant to build a sanctuary network in the Brazos Valley. During Covid, I’ve led the technology upgrades to our sanctuary and have been the primary editor of online services. I have also been the lead in our Stewardship Ministry, and have led the congregation into the creation of an endowment fund. 

Designated Pastor, St. John’s United Church of Christ, Egg Harbor City, NJ, 4/2015—9/2016

I served in a temporary, designated term capacity as Pastor for a small congregation South Jersey as they navigated a time of significant transition. I led them to expand their welcome and deepen their engagement with the surrounding community, and interpret their strategic plan.

Pastor, St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Philadelphia, PA, 3/2011—11/2013

St. Luke's is a progressive, Open & Affirming congregation in a largely blue-collar community in northeast Philadelphia. They are a compassionate and welcoming community that takes seriously the call to hospitality and radical inclusion.

  • Led an increase in average worship attendance of approximately 19%

  • Led a Strategic Planning Process

  • Restart of a children's Sunday School, which did not exist upon my arrival

  • Led volunteers in the launch of a new ministry geared toward LGBTQ teens called the "Rainbow Cafe," to provide safe space for teens and allies

  • An increase of over 42% in volunteer hours given to the church

  • Budgetary leadership: church and church-owned pre-school

  • Supervision of a staff of 4: 1 FT Director of Day School, 3 PT church staff

  • Led the restructure of the pre-school board to bring it more fully under church management

Director of Faith Formation, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Glenside, PA, 9/2010—3/2011

Upon relocating to Pennsylvania to be with my partner, I served at a program-sized Episcopal church during my search and call process.

  • Oversaw Godly Play program for children

  • Journey to Adulthood program for middle and high school youth

  • Assisted Rector with long-range planning around faith formation ministries

Stated Supply Pastor, First United Church UCC, West, TX, 7/2009—8/2010

Served as stated supply pastor for a small-town congregation on an interim basis. 

  • Provided worship leadership

  • Pastoral care

  • Christian education, having led the congregation to re-start its Sunday School offering.

Pastor, St. Paul United Church of Christ, Marlin, TX, 2/2003—8/2006

Served as part-time pastor for small rural congregation:

  • Preaching, worship planning, and pastoral care duties.

  • Initiated and helped to plan and lead regional All Saint’s Day gathering of area UCC congregations, November 2005. Led the congregation to become a “Still-Speaking” church in the UCC and led the process of adopting a new hymnal.

Education

Master of Divinity, Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX—May 2007

Honors: 

  • Dean’s List

  • Faculty Book Award in Preaching, 2006

  • Faculty Book Award in Pastoral Care/Pastoral Theology (LGBTQ Pastoral Care), 2007

Coursework included: 

  • Congregational Leadership

  • Conflict and Resolution

  • The Church’s Educational Ministry

  • Sexual Orientation in Pastoral Theology, Care, and Counseling

  • Jewish-Christian Inter-Religious Dialogue

  • Pastoral Care and the Theology of the Cross

Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, Baylor University, Waco, TX—May 2001

Professional and Community Activities

  • Ordination to Christian Ministry, United Church of Christ—February 2008

  • New Church Development Task Force, Pennsylvania Southeast Conference UCC

  • Board of Directors, South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ, 2017—2021

  • Board of Directors, UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns, 2007—2009

  • New Church Leadership Institute, Atlanta, GA—August 2009

  • Godly Play Training, 2010

  • American Legion Massachusetts Boys’ & Girls’ State—Counselor and Program Chaplain

  • Singing Member, Philadelphia Chorus

  • Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, 2021

Professional References

Available upon request