I grew up in a small town north of Anchorage, Alaska where my family were founding members of a small mission congregation that still exists today. I found growing up in Alaska to be an absolute gift–the wildness of the spaces, the daily opportunities for outdoor activities, and the frontier spirit of the people. I still have family in Alaska and all up and down the West coast.

I spent a lot of time as a kid either studying music (both my parents are music teachers) or in church. Church was a safe space for me as a child, and I sometimes think that my adult desire to make churches warm and hospitable comes from my early experiences of a church that embodied those qualities. I knew fairly early that I wanted to be a pastor, and I changed my major to Religion quickly after starting college. At Gustavus Adolphus College, I also studied Russian language and music, while spending a lot of time in the chapel–singing in the choir and attending services. I think it was in college where my sense of call formalized and I thought seriously about joining the clergy. After a formative summer at Holden Village–a Lutheran retreat center in the Cascade mountains of Western Washington–I entered the seminary.

Being a gay seminarian twenty three years ago was a different experience than it is now, and I did find the prejudices of the church difficult to handle in those years. I found a great deal of support with two mentors–both gay Episcopal priests–one a hospital chaplain and one a rector. Following their lead, I served as a hospital chaplain for almost nine years before moving into parish work. In those years, I was living in Chicago, where I met and married my husband, Travis. He was working in non-profit development, and after a discernment experience of his own, completed a masters degree and currently works as a psychotherapist.

We both wanted to live in a smaller city, and when the position at St. Mark’s in Milwaukee opened, we were intrigued. The parish seemed ready to work hard to welcome newcomers, and my skills seemed to be a good fit for their needs. It’s been the honor of my career being their rector, and watching the parish double in size in seven years–-while wrestling with a pandemic, no less–-made me so proud of the excellent ministry of the laity and grateful for the work of the Holy Spirit in that place.

I have nieces and nephews and godchildren who are all important to me, and I have a few longtime friends who, at this point, feel like family. I love swimming and reading sci-fi novels–though not usually at the same time. I’m working on a doctorate at The General Theological Seminary, studying hospitality and newcomer retention in churches. I’m enjoying the program greatly and hope to graduate in May of 2024. Travis and I travel as much as time and resources allow. Our favorite cities so far are Edinburgh and Montreal, though this summer we are going to see what Stockholm has to offer. I’m very lucky to be a priest. It’s work that suits me well, and I'm thankful that God shows up in the lives of the people I serve. I find a lot of humor and joy in the ministry, even though sometimes the work can take on a serious tone. The work is a lot like life–full of joyful moments right alongside the heartbreaking ones. And yet God blesses it all and never leaves us to our own devices, for which I’m grateful.