BACKGROUND, EDUCATION & MINISTRY

      I've described my faith life as like one of those funnel gadgets, being raised in the extremely narrow end of fundamentalism, then moving into the gradually widening scope of the evangelical, through orthodox Reformed theology, and gradually opening into more progressive.  My journey is bringing me to become more human, more incarnated and more a citizen of the Kindom (that spelling is on purpose) of God in the world God loves.

       This path is evident in my educational background - I actually began college at Philadelphia College of Bible in Philadelphia, PA, then to Wheaton College in IL; then to a PC(USA) seminary in Louisville, KY, and finally studying with Matthew Fox in Oakland, CA.

       Church-wise, I began in infancy, being taken my newly converted parents to an Independent Baptist Church.  In Bible College, I discovered Presbyterianism in Philadelphia at 10th Pres under Rev. James M. Boice while it was still in the UPCUSA (now its in the EPC).  I became a Student Affiliate Member there after my dad checked it out. (Shades of the hierarchical patriarchy!)  I loved the music, the doughnuts after church, and the lack of a weekly altar call. I also liked sermons that were deeper theologically, although I openly thank my Baptist background for my deep familiarity with Scripture and the passion of faith evidenced there in very spiritual people. I remember embracing the identity as 'salt' in the UPCUSA, and signing a petition against clergy women one Sunday after church (!).

      At Wheaton, I became affiliated with an Orthodox Presbyterian Church because my piano teacher was their accompanist, and had us students fill out his choir; we also practiced performing our jury pieces as Offertories.  It was a forward-looking church, experimenting with semester adult clas ses, movable seating, church in the round and wonderful art. I had little idea of the complexity of Presbyterian denominations at that time.

     After graduation, I worked as a Youth Etc Director at an American Baptist Church in Temple Hills, MD for 18 months, with a senior pastor that did his D. Min. at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS).  He's the one who told me that women were studying there and actually being ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and encouraged me to think about it for myself.  I decided to check out seminary, telling myself that, "if those Presbyterians were too weird, I'd just leave."  I didn't know enough about Presbyterianism to know there were various branches when I joined it.  I loved seminary, joined the denomination and came under care of Western Kentucky Presbytery through the Madisonville Presbyterian Church where I was a student intern.

       I learned about Presbyterians politically by attending the UPCUSA GA as a Seminary Advisory Delegate one year, and the PCUS GA as a Seminary Assistant the next year, staying up all night to run off & collate the trillions of reports from committees for the next day. I answered God's call to ministry and was ordained in 1983, and have gladly served since then in however I was called.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
D.Ministry, 2000      University of Creation Spirituality in Oakland, CA, started by Matthew Fox                 and associates.  Includes studies with Matthew Fox, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Hal Taussig, Jeremy
        Taylor, and more.

M. Divinity, 1983     Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.  Professors
       included  A.B. Rhodes, George Edwards, Dan Wessler, Johanna Bos and more.

B. Music, 1978        Wheaton College (Conservatory of Music) in Piano Performance, Wheaton, IL.           Primary piano teacher was William Phemister.

Other certifications:
   5 units Clinical Pastoral Education (Board Eligible)
   Interim Training, week 1 at Princeton and week 2 at Portland (Menucha)
   Certificate in Spiritual Direction, Tidewater Institute of Spiritual Direction - a 2-year program, 1999
   Hunger Action Enabler training
   Resource Center Director training
   New Church Development training conference
   Campus Ministry training conference

Recent Continuing Education Events:
   CREDO 2.2, for those of us getting on towards retirement age
   Vital Congregations Initiative, initial training, Atlanta, GA 2019
   NEXT Church, Seattle, WA   2019
   Mission and Ministry,  Hendersonville, NC 2017  (leader AJ Levine)
   Mission and Ministry,   Hendersonville, NC  2016  (Leader  John Phillip Newell)
   Festival of Preaching, Nashville, TN 2013
   Writing for Transformation, Ghost Ranch, 2011 (class w Bill Tammaeus)
 
WORK EXPERIENCE in the PC(USA)
Jamesville Community Church, Jamesville, NY, Interim Pastor, 8/1/19 - present
Indiantown Presbyterian Church, Hemingway, SC, Interim Pastor 8/1/17 - 7/31/19
Celebration Presbyterian Church, Myrtle Beach, SC, parish associate
First Presbyterian Church of West Plains, MO 2009-2013, Designated Pastor then Installed Pastor, full- time.
Ocean View Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, VA  2004-2006, Interim Pastor, full-time.
Campus Minister, Presbytery of Eastern Virginia , full-time
Education and Resource Facilitator, Presbytery of Eastern Virginia, full-time
Hunger Action Enabler and Resource Center Director, Presbytery of Eastern Virginia, both part-time