experience & education

MINISTRY

  • Pastor/Head of Staff, Escanaba, Michigan, September 2024 to present
    • First Presbyterian Church of Escanaba, Presbytery of Mackinac
    • 82 members, average of 50-55 in worship, small town/county seat setting
    • Supervises staff of 6: Music Director, Pianist/Musician, Sexton/Organist, Treasurer, Office Assistant, Nursery Attendant
  • Pastor/Head of Staff, Franklin, Kentucky, July 2020 to August 2024
    • Franklin Presbyterian Church, Presbytery of Western Kentucky
    • 68 members, average of 55-60 in worship, small town/county seat setting
    • Supervised staff of 5: Office Administrator, Music Director, Organist, Nursery Teacher, Community Connections Director
  • Full-Time Student Pastor, Petersburg, Alaska, June to Aug 2018
    • First Presbyterian Church of Petersburg, Presbytery of the Northwest Coast
    • 40 members, average of 25-30 in worship, island village setting
    • Supervisor: Rev. Hanna Peterson-Shearer, Senior Pastor, Kennewick Presbyterian Church, Kennewick, WA
  • Student Pastor, New Washington, Indiana, Sept 2018 to May 2019
    • Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Ohio Valley Presbytery
    • 40 members, average of 20-25 in worship, rural/small town setting
    • Supervisor: Rev. Cindy Cushman, Pastor, Corydon Presbyterian Church, Corydon, IN
  • Hospital Chaplain Intern, Louisville, Kentucky, May to Aug 2019
    • University of Louisville Hospital, Level One Trauma Center, 620+ beds, urban setting
    • Supervisor: Rev. Les Small Stokes, CPE Supervisor, UofL Hospital
    • Completed Clinical Pastoral Education requirement
  • Student Body President, Louisville, Kentucky, May 2019 to May 2020
    • Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
    • Student body of 125 Master’s level students
    • First level pastoral care and leadership for students and community
  • Student Chapel Coordinator, Louisville, Kentucky, Aug 2018 to May 2019
    • Average of 30-50 attendance in twice weekly services
    • Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Caldwell Chapel
    • Direction and leadership for student and faculty conducted worship services
    • Volunteer, Aug 2017 to May 2018

CAREER

  • Contract Writer/Editor, Louisville, Kentucky, Aug 2017 to Present
    • Office of the General Assembly, Feb 2020 to July 2020
    • Various faculty and academic authors, Oct 2017 to Present
    • Longstanding contract writing and editing work, 2000 to Present
  • Pre-Seminary Career
    • 5 years as Editor/Writer, Publishing Industry, Chicago, Illinois, 1999-2004
    • 13 years as Writer/Creative Director/Strategist, Marketing Industry, Benton Harbor, Michigan 2004-2017

SERVICE TO THE CHURCH

  • Member, Commission on Ministry, Presbytery of Mackinac, September 2024 to present
  • General Assembly Motion Coordinator, Office of the General Assembly
    • 226th General Assembly, Salt Lake City, UT, June/July 2024
  • Moderator, Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Presbytery of Western Kentucky
    • July 2022 to August 2024; served on committee since January 2021
  • Moderator, Engage Team, Presbytery of Western Kentucky, July 2022 to August 2024
  • Member, Oversight Commission, Presbytery of Western Kentucky, July 2022 to August 2024
  • Member, Commission on Ministry, Presbytery of Western Kentucky, Jan 2021 to August 2024
  • Member, Administrative Manual Task Force, Presbytery of Western Kentucky, May 2023 to February 2024
  • Co-Leader, Commissioned Pastor Education Program, Presbytery of Western Kentucky, Jan 2023 to August 2024
  • General Assembly Motion Coordinator, Office of the General Assembly
    • 225th General Assembly, Louisville, KY, June/July 2022
  • Member, Transition Team Task Force, Presbytery of Western Kentucky, Mar 2022 to Aug 2023
  • General Assembly Motion Coordinator, Office of the General Assembly
    • 224th General Assembly, Louisville, KY, June 2020 (virtual)
  • General Assembly Student Assistant, Louisville Presbyterian Seminary
    • 223rd General Assembly, St. Louis, MO, June 2018
  • General Assembly Ruling Elder Commissioner, Presbytery of Lake Michigan
    • 222nd General Assembly, Portland, OR, June 2016
  • Ruling Elder, Benton Harbor, MI, Session: Dec 2012 to Dec 2018
    • First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor, Presbytery of Lake Michigan
    • 80 members, average 60 in worship, urban/small town setting
  • Trustee, Benton Harbor, MI, Term: Jan 2015 to Dec 2018
    • First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor, Presbytery of Lake Michigan
  • President of Board of Trustees, Benton Harbor, MI, Term: July 2016 to Dec 2018
    • First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor, Presbytery of Lake Michigan
  • Member, Greenwood Administrative Commission, Presbytery of Lake Michigan, Dec 2016 to Dec 2020
  • Student Representative, LPTS, May 2018 to May 2020
  • Member, Church Growth Committee, Presbytery of Lake Michigan, Sept 2015 to June 2016

EDUCATION

  • Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary – 2017-2020
    • Master of Divinity degree (May 2020)
      • Certificate in Black Church Studies
      • Alumni Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior recipient
      • Joseph T. Sudduth Award for excellence in Biblical Studies recipient
      • E.L. Bell Memorial Prize for excellence in Biblical Studies recipient
      • Alfred E Schaap Scholarship & Presidential Merit Scholarship recipient
      • Apollos Scholarship recipient ~ Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation
      • Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Study Grant recipient
  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – 1995-1999
    • Bachelor of Arts, History of Christianity
    • Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies
  • Grand Valley State University, Allendale (MI) – 1993-1995
    • Studied Business Administration