Pastor David’s passion is congregational health and vitality. He has decades of experience leading and working with a variety of congregations and organizations in transition. 

David desires for his churches to discover their place of most potential and opportunity. He is relentless in his efforts for the congregations he coaches to develop a purpose, goals, and a plan. One of the defining scriptures for his life and ministry is Jeremiah 29:11-14, which says in part: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope…”

This driving interest is communicated to his seminary students by teaching them about the locus of culture and context for ministry. David was honored when one class asked to extend their week-long intensive so that he could teach them about intersectionality. The faculty requested a presentation, too. David even taught UCC polity at the request of several students.

But David has never forgotten his early roots having once wanted to be an economics major. The way he tells it, his mother was a bookkeeper, so he learned how to run a double-entry column of figures and read a spreadsheet before he began grade school. David says that both God – and the devil – are found in the details.

David is married to Janet, and they love to travel. They have lots of stories: sleeping out under the stars on the ice of Antarctica is a favorite one. He loves to cook and try new foods. (Sushi is the exception – he grew up where raw fish is called “bait”). David is a religious devotee of college football, especially the Alabama Crimson Tide. (He will point out that the University is actually referenced in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel – of course).

He is not a patient driver. Always has a good quip, joke, or story. Loves dogs. Loves good scotch. And loves good coffee.