As a child, I thought church was the best!As a young adult, I thought church was irrelevant.As a slightly older adult, I discovered the point of it all is Jesus, and that God’s grace comes to us without limitations.Now I believe that while the church can always improve, God created us to live in community.Church provides community and, with God’s help, we can become the church God calls us to be.
My Journey to Clayton UMC:
I arrived at Clayton in July, 2008, about ten years after sensing that God was inviting me into ministry. I was actually on a mountaintop in Sedona, Arizona when I decided to explore becoming a pastor.I’ve served United Methodist Churches in the St. Louis area, most recently at Maplewood as Pastor and at Green Trails in Chesterfield as Associate Pastor.
Family Facts:
Married to Kent. We have one daughter, Amanda who recently graduated college and is now working in Tennessee for the Appalachia Service Project.We also have cats, dogs, and a turtle.Kent is a geological engineer and partner in WH Heyden Associates, a commercial real estate appraisal company.He loves photography, bikes and kayaks.
Education:
B.A. Concordia University; M.Div Eden Theological Seminary.
Where I Went to High School:
To answer St. Louis' favorite question, "Where did you go to high school?"
I went to West Harrison in Mondamin, Iowa.I grew up in Modale, Iowa.There were about 50 people in my graduating class.
Being a pastor means…Helping people recognize how God affects their lives and how the church can be engaged in transforming the world.
More Experiences that changed my life: Marriage, parenthood, Guatemala 2000, Heifer Project 2005.
When I was growing up I wanted to be: Carol Burnett
