Staff

Cindy and I married the weekend I graduated from MSU. I earned a degree from James Madison College at MSU in American Public Affairs. That same weekend, we moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where I attended Saint Paul School of Theology, a United Methodist seminary, and I served two churches, St. Peter’s UCC in Kan- sas City as Director of Children and Youth Ministries, and then at Country Club Congregational UCC as Ministry Developer, and then as Associate Pastor. In 1998, we decided to move home, and as the joke goes, “we got lost at Chicago” and moved to Wisconsin. I served First Congregational UCC, De Pere for six years, then started a new congregation (which never quite got off the ground) and then served as interim Pastor at Zion UCC, Dale, Wis- consin. In 2007, I became the Pastor and Teacher at First Congregational UCC, New London, Wisconsin, where I served for 13 years before coming to Gaylord.

I love innovation and challenge and look forward to both of those things happening while serving here. Cindy and I hope that the home we’ve purchased is our retirement home, so we plan to be here for a long, long time. It has been a dream of mine to live in Northern Michigan since I was a young child spending up north time at our family cabin near Cadillac.

I also love to learn. I have done many continuing education events throughout ministry, but two have been most important to not only my spiritual growth, but my professional growth as well. One is through Illuman, a men’s ministry started by Father Richard Rohr. I have attended the Men’s Rites of Passage in Sandstone, Min- nesota, completing my Rites in 2017. I’m hoping that several men of any age may take an interest in Illuman, whether or not they attend the Rites. If you are interested, I hope you’ll contact me. The second continuing educa- tion event meaningful to me has been the Living School for Action and Contemplation. I am in the 2021 cohort
of the Living School and cannot describe all the ways Living School has impacted my life and ministry. With the congregation’s support, I hope to complete the Living School curriculum and “ascend” (rather than graduate) in summer 2021. I’ve been exposed to so many areas of church, ministry, spirituality, world religions, poetry, con- templative prayer, and a host of other immeasurable, life-changing experiences at Living School. I hope to share many of them with you.

I also very much love to be involved in the community and will be looking for your help in finding the best places that I might serve. I presently serve as President of the Board of Samaritan Counseling Center, a spiritually based, fully licensed counseling center in Appleton, Wisconsin. I have also served on the ThedaCare Foundation – New London, the local food pantry, youth sports coach and partner with the School District of New London. In addition, I’ve served in many, many roles in the Wisconsin Conference and before that in the Missouri Confer- ence of the United Church of Christ. I am presently a member of the Wisconsin Conference Catalyst Team, which resources congregations for innovative ministries, and was the staff person overseeing our conference coaching program for the last year. I hope to also be involved in the Association and Conference here in Michigan.

All those things being said, my number one joy is serving with a congregation of engaged, innovative, faithful, courageous people, who would like to partner with me as together we learn and grow into what God has in store for us. I don’t have a specific plan in mind in Gaylord, but I was drawn here by not only your location, but your willingness to be open and affirming and progressive – continuing to open yourselves up to and welcoming those who are traditionally marginalized by the church. I believe that we best model Jesus’ ministry when all of us feel welcomed, included, loved, challenged, supported, and engaged. There is much for us to do, but more impor- tantly, for us to be in a time such as this. I look forward to being your pastor!