In 1946 I was born into a military family and lived for two years (8-10) in Taipei, Taiwan and then for three years (14-16) in Ankara, Turkey. I graduated from Ohio State in 1969 (BA-Anthropology) and entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant. Following Airborne, Ranger, and Electronic Warfare courses I was stationed in Texas and then completed my military service with a tour in Vietnam.

While managing a hardware business in New Jersey, I joined the local United Methodist church and shortly thereafter had a “calling” experience into pastoral ministry. I graduated from Drew Theological School with both a Master of Divinity (1977) and Doctorate of Ministry (1981) degrees.

My first assignment in the Troy Annual Conference was as an associate pastor at Delmar UMC where I met and married Cheryl Marks. Three years later I was appointed to FUMC - Cohoes, where our first son, Gregory (now a senior at NYU in filmmaking) was born. While at Cohoes I entered the Army Reserves as a Chaplain. In 1987 I was invited to join the staff at Shenendehowa where my second son Eric, who has entered the US Navy (Nuclear Technology program) after graduating in June, 2005 from Colonie Central HS, was born. Nine years later I was appointed to Pine Grove where I served for nine years. In 1997 I graduated from SUNY-Albany with a Master of Social Work degree.

I have served on the District Committee on Ordained Ministry and the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the Wesley Learning Academy, and a variety of other groups and committees . In 1998 I “retired” from 10 years in the barbershop quartet I helped form, “The Sons of Glory.” In 2001 I led a group from Pine Grove on a tour of Israel. While at PGUMC I started a folk singing group “The Good News Singers.”

I’m a certified SCUBA diver, am 5 hours shy of a private pilot’s license, and I am an 11 gallon blood donor. I currently play in the Colonie Seniors Basketball League and am in a golf league at Van Patten. I have two years of Kripalu yoga training and another two of Tai Chi.

Most of my theology stems from the experiences of God in my life, starting with an event in the summer of 1968. I readily admit to hungering for historically accurate knowledge of the biblical world’s culture and customs, especially as that knowledge enhances my understanding of the Christ event(s) and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the life of the church.

Most of my continuing education for the last thirty years has been in the area of spiritual growth and pastoral care. Recently I have become enamored with the period of time immediately following Jesus’ death and resurrection and the first two hundred years of the emerging church until the reign of Constantine.

A paradigm of co-creating ministry at Jonesville is emerging as I envision this parish as a co-pastorate. My role is to serve as the ordained minister. Equally vital, though, is the role of the congregation who serve as ministers empowered and encouraged to share in parish administration, visitation, worship and fellowship.

Jonesville is a United Methodist congregation who’s distinguished past echoes through the sacred stories of its members since 1826. We enthusiastically take the call of God seriously as we develop our spiritual gifts and vision our ministry into the 21st century. May we continue to serve our Lord and all God’s people with compassion, grace, and in the love of Christ.

Be well; be whole; be blessed!