About our Pastor….

A native of Northern California, Pastor Denise moved to the Pacific Northwest in July of 1999 after completing graduate school at the Iliff School of Theology, a United Methodist Seminary, in Denver, Colorado.  She has served in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference for twelve years, and has served with four United Methodist congregations in Vancouver, Tacoma, Washougal, and now here with us in Tumwater.  Pastor Denise became an ordained minister when she realized that her interest in helping people find God and grow in faith could be lived out most fully in the setting of a local community.  She has a great passion for building relationships with those who don’t see themselves as “church” people, and building connections in the local community through service.  She believes that faith and life are deeply connected, and works hard to live out and communicate a faith that is meaningful and relevant to daily life.  Her sermons are filled with humor, scripture, life application, and frequent challenges.

Married to her husband Eric for eleven years, they have two children Daniel and Emily who bring them delight and wear them out on a daily basis.  When not working, she loves camping, reading, music, tye-dying, being at the ocean, hanging out with her family, and spending time with friends.  Since moving to the Tumwater area she has been enjoying discovering local parks, downtown Olympia, and haunting the local coffee shops.