BIO & CALL TO MINISTRY
Growing up in Northern Ireland I experienced a call to ministry during a gap year serving the Methodist Church in Ireland as a Conference-wide itinerant youth and children’s worker. After completing my undergraduate degree at University of St. Andrews in Scotland, I relocated to the US in 2008. There I earned my MA in Religion with a Graduate Certificate in Youth Ministry from Memphis Theological Seminary while serving a United Methodist church plant in Spring Hill, TN for 4 years.
Before embarking on an MDiv at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary I served for 5 years as the Pastor of Student Ministries in Newburgh UMC, in southwest Indiana. I was in Newburgh that I meant my now wife, Sloane and shortly afterwards transferred membership to Bethlehem United Church of Christ, where they led contemporary worship every Saturday evening. Myself and Sloane currently live in Louisville, KY with our two cats, Charlie and Belanna and little Samwise our 6lb cairn terrier/yorkie mix.
Based on my own experience, as well as witnessing the experience of other LGBTQ+ Christians, I feel the need to become a more vocal advocate for inclusion within all faith communities particularly as I seek to follow my call to ordained ministry within the UCC. This walk towards justice, mercy and love is how I understand the walk of Christ to whose Way I believe I am called to follow. During my time at seminary, I have been serving in ministry at St Andrew UCC in Louisville, KY first as my field education placement starting in 2019 and then subsequently called to serve as their settled Associate Pastor (January 1, 2022), and ordained to authorized ministry within the United Church of Christ on Sunday, August 29, 2021. I'm deeply expectant and hopeful as I seek to seek serve and minister in this community.
Before embarking on an MDiv at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary I served for 5 years as the Pastor of Student Ministries in Newburgh UMC, in southwest Indiana. I was in Newburgh that I meant my now wife, Sloane and shortly afterwards transferred membership to Bethlehem United Church of Christ, where they led contemporary worship every Saturday evening. Myself and Sloane currently live in Louisville, KY with our two cats, Charlie and Belanna and little Samwise our 6lb cairn terrier/yorkie mix.
Based on my own experience, as well as witnessing the experience of other LGBTQ+ Christians, I feel the need to become a more vocal advocate for inclusion within all faith communities particularly as I seek to follow my call to ordained ministry within the UCC. This walk towards justice, mercy and love is how I understand the walk of Christ to whose Way I believe I am called to follow. During my time at seminary, I have been serving in ministry at St Andrew UCC in Louisville, KY first as my field education placement starting in 2019 and then subsequently called to serve as their settled Associate Pastor (January 1, 2022), and ordained to authorized ministry within the United Church of Christ on Sunday, August 29, 2021. I'm deeply expectant and hopeful as I seek to seek serve and minister in this community.
PERSONAL STATEMENT OF FAITH |
UCC HISTORY, POLITY & THEOLOGY CLASS 2020 |
I believe in God, the source of all life,
our being, wholeness, and love,
who has created and is still creating,
who has spoken and is still speaking.
I believe that God is revealed and embodied in Jesus, who revealed
God’s will and ways for all humanity,
God’s determined presence in the world, and
God’s call to abundant life both now and forever.
I believe in the Holy Spirit as she lives among us, within us, and through us
moving over the waters of creation and over the earth,
an ever-present flow in and vibration of all things,
who yearns within us to pray for those things too deep for words.
I believe that God moves us to be together in communities of faith, hope, and love;
I believe that God is the potential for transformation in all relationships,
and that the church is called to be the continuing presence of God in this world.
I believe these things not out of certainty but out of faith.
our being, wholeness, and love,
who has created and is still creating,
who has spoken and is still speaking.
I believe that God is revealed and embodied in Jesus, who revealed
God’s will and ways for all humanity,
God’s determined presence in the world, and
God’s call to abundant life both now and forever.
I believe in the Holy Spirit as she lives among us, within us, and through us
moving over the waters of creation and over the earth,
an ever-present flow in and vibration of all things,
who yearns within us to pray for those things too deep for words.
I believe that God moves us to be together in communities of faith, hope, and love;
I believe that God is the potential for transformation in all relationships,
and that the church is called to be the continuing presence of God in this world.
I believe these things not out of certainty but out of faith.