Who are our Ministers? EVERYONE!

Everyone is a vital part of the ministry at Park Hill Congregational Church. We value and seek to empower each and every person in the various tasks of ministry as we respond to our call to "increase the love of God and neighbor" (from our Mission Statement). In the United Church of Christ, we believe in the “priesthood of all believers.” Therefore, we have a pastor to lead us, but the members are in charge of the congregation through boards and committees, setting direction and guiding the congregation’s life. The congregation elects a Moderator every year to lead the Church Council and congregational meetings.

 

	The Rev. Dr. David Bahr was called to be our pastor and began in November 2007. From 1993 - 2007, he led Archwood United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio.  He was raised on a farm in North Dakota and graduated in 1983 from Northwood High School.  In 1987, he graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota.  During his senior year he served as the pastor of Letcher United Church of Christ and Loomis Congregational Church, small towns in South Dakota, before moving to Minneapolis for seminary. David received a Masters of Divinity from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minnesota in 1990 and a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. in 2006.  He also served as an interim pastor of the UCC congregation in Wishek, North Dakota, a Justice and Peace Intern for the UCC Office for Church in Society in Washington, D.C., and an administrative assistant for the UCC Hunger Action Office in Cleveland. For a more comprehensive biography, click here. Contact Rev. David at pastor@parkhillchurch.org Read Rev. Bahr's blog Postings from the Park Hill Pastor To see David’s Doctor of Ministry research, click here.
	Jane Dunaway is our office administrator. She was born in Seattle, Washington and raised in a small community in west central Wisconsin. Jane graduated with a B.S. degree in Management from the University of Wisconsin. She lives in Aurora with her two children, Kristin and Scott and two cats and one dog. Before coming to work at Park Hill Church, Jane designed and coordinated continuing medical education seminars for physicians and nurses for over 15 years and worked for Rose Medical Center and the Association of Operating Room Nurses. She enjoys gardening, cooking, bicycling, travel, reading and spending time with my family and has been to all 50 states as well as many parts of Europe, Canada, Mexico and Australia. Contact Jane at office@parkhillchurch.org
	Our Music Director, Organist and Pianist is Billie Busby.  Billie received a Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Salem College, Winston-Salem, N.C. and a Master of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Colorado-Boulder.  She currently serves as Director of Music and organist at Park Hill Congregational Church and has served as musician for such churches as King of Glory Lutheran Church and Macedonia Baptist Church.  She has taught at the college level and privately, as well as performing as an organist, harpsichordist and accompanist.  Billie is an officer of the American Guild of Organists, a member of the Alphonse Robinson African American Music Association (ARAAMA) and a former member of the Executive Board of the Colorado Symphony Guild.   Billie is a retired hospital administrator and enjoys being a transplanted Southerner in Denver.  She loves to volunteer for a variety of non-profits, including the Colorado Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness and Grand Design.  She also enjoys walking, the outdoors, gardening and making all kinds of music.  She continues to lobby for a 30 hour day!    You are invited to participate in the music ministry. Please contact Billie at: music@parkhillchurch.org
	Our Christian Education Director / Youth Coordinator is Jeremy Shaver. Jeremy joined the Park Hill Congregational Church staff in July 2008. He previously served as the Director of Christian Education and Family Ministries at Christ Congregational Church in southwest Denver for more than four years. In addition to his work in religious education, he serves as the Executive Director of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado (TIA-CO). TIA-CO is a statewide interfaith, member-driven, grassroots organization that strengthens democracy in our culture; serves as a progressive voice of reason, moderation and mutual respect for communities of faith; and promotes religious freedom, understanding and diversity. TIA-CO has more than 800 individual members and 14 congregational partners, including Park Hill, across Colorado.   Jeremy graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from the Iliff School of Theology in May 2005. He is pursuing ordination in the United Church of Christ. Before entering seminary, he received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Colorado State University and worked as a religion reporter for the Greeley Tribune and Scottsbluff Star-Herald. He also worked as Internal Communications Director for Banner Health System, which has four hospitals in northern Colorado.   Jeremy’s educational philosophy can best be summarized in his belief that children and youth are the present of the church, not simply the future of the church. He strives to create educational programs that nurture the spiritual lives of children and youth and provide them real-life opportunities to put their faith into practice through experiential service and worship activities.   Jeremy and his partner, David Claypool, live in northwest Denver. They enjoy gardening, making homemade wine, sharing meals with family and friends, and renovating their 1930 carriage house. Contact Jeremy at youth@parkhillchurch.org
	Senior High Youth Coordinator.
	Karen Truesdell is our moderator – the elected lay leader of our church who chairs the Church Council and meetings of the congregation. See the list of other officers and board members below.
	Our Youth Choir director is Jock Yoder.  He was a public school music teacher for 4 years in North Dakota, has led youth choirs in churches for a number of years and is a charter member of the PHCC Wind Ensemble.  Jock sings tenor with Sine Nomine as well as with the Park Hill Choir.
	Dennis Rawley directs the Park Hill Flutes and Park Hill Early Music Ensemble. Dennis graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado.  He has most recently studied flute with New Zealand flutist and recording artist Dr. Alexa Still. He was music director and conductor of the Rocky Mountain Flute Choir in Denver from 2001-2005. Dennis has over 30 years teaching experience and maintains a private studio at Kolacny Music Center in Denver. He taught at the Community College of Aurora as Instructor of private flute from 2005 - 2007.  Dennis is presently piccolo/3rd flute with the Denver Pops (Mostly Strauss) Orchestra.  In addition to music Dennis enjoys computers, gardening, biking and weight lifting.

Officers:

• Moderator – Karen Truesdell

• Clerk – Randy Livingston

• Treasurer – Tom Creighton, Jr.

• Financial Secretary – Carol Spensley

 

Church Council At Large Members (Council also consists of one member from every board):

• Kate Goodspeed

• Lloyd Bourdon

• Guy Harris

• Steve Lederer

• Rob Socolofsky

• Skip Spensley
  
   

Board of Trustees:

• Guy Harris

• Andy Hartman

• Joe Lawrence

• Chris Lines

• Joe Meyers

• Linda Siderius

 

Board of Social Justice and Outreach:

• Melinda Townsend, co-chair

• Lucy Loomis, co-chair

• George Woodward

• Jane Blackstone

• Marie Myfanawy

• Karen Hickey

 

Board of Christian Nurture:

• Collette Cressy, chair

• Steve Lederer

• Marie Myfanawy

• Charlene Parris

• Bev Long

• Lucy Creighton

 

Board of Deacons:

• Joan Root

• Bernice Goens

• Jane VanBuskirk

• Nancy Vaughn

• Becky Rickert

• Nancy Branch

 

Board of Stewardship:

• Billie Busby

• Melody Hardy

• Randy Livingston

• John Beltz

• Harriet Milnes

 

Board of Worship:

• Laura Harris, chair

• Eileen McCarron

• Nancy Branch

• Judy Waldren

• Tom Creighton, Sr.

 

Board of Fellowship:

• Nancy Niero, co-chair

• Blake MacLeod

• Eileen McCarron

• Melanie Bertotti

 

Bucket Committee:

• Robb Lapp, chair

• Laura Harris

• Becky Rickert

• Sue Wofford

• Lucy Creighton

 

Pastoral Relations Committee:

• Skip Spensley, chair

• Robb Lapp

• Amelia Lawrence

 

Personnel Committee:

• Rob Socolofsky

• Sue Wofford

• David Conger

 

Long Range Planning Committee:

• Karen Ashmore

• David Bahr

• Kate Goodspeed

• Daniel Hartman-Strawn

• Amelia Lawrence

• Bob Lederer

• Nancy Niero

• Larry Ricketts

• Rob Socolofsky

• Karen Truesdell

 

Delegates to the Rocky Mountain Conference and Metro Denver Association:

• Kate Goodspeed

• Lloyd Bourdon
   

To contact any of these people, please go through the church office

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