Enthusiastic progressive clergywoman advocating for church transformation and justice in the world!
My Linked In Profile
God has both called me and gifted me with many skills for ministry. I am rather unique in that I personally have come all the way across the theological spectrum. I understand the process of a growing and expanding faith and coming into a more inclusive theology over time.
I was born into an Evangelical Baptist family of German immigrants who came to the United States after WWII. Feeling God’s call to ministry even as a young girl, I questioned the limited roles for women of my North American Baptist denomination and by high school I was arguing scripture with my Bible teachers at Grace Christian School. I refused to attend Bob Jones or Liberty University which my Grandfather offered to pay for, and instead I decided, rebelliously, to go to Calvin College.
Calvin, at the time, was an absolutely liberating environment for me. But it was only the beginning of my theological exploration and world view expansion. In college I discovered and married a very wonderful (formerly) Catholic man named Bill. Together Bill and I searched and tested various denominations, and ultimately we both felt at home and joined the Presbyterian Church (USA). It was in the PC(USA) where I finally was able to follow God’s call into ordained ministry. I have served in both large and small churches, and have been in both paid and volunteer leadership of many non profit organizations over the last 25 years. 
Bill and I have now been happily married for thirty three years. We live in house that we are still perpetually renovating in Grandville, Michigan. Our grown up, gender fluid child, Vox, is a gifted sculptor and an amazing artist. Our foster daughter, Shantel has grown up now too and has blessed us with two wonderful grandchildren, David and Isabella. They all live here in Grand Rapids.
As a family, we enjoy books, computers and board games. We are gamers and nerds. Annually we travel to a board game convention to test the latest game releases. Personally, I enjoy trivia night with my friends, photography, flying kites and growing rose bushes, even though the bushes are a real challenge to plant and grow in our very rocky backyard. While I love all animals, especially horses, currently we are owned by and are the faithful servants of two cats, Titania and Maddie.
PS. I also sometimes have enough faith to walk on water! (Under certain specific circumstances!)
