That we are made in the image of God means in part that we are creative and loving beings. Creativity and reconciliation are important values that drew me into careers that fostered them. From each of my careers in engineering, law, and ministry, I have learned and practiced the skills that I believe are not only important for our careers, but for our lives as God’s people.
Born and raised in Davenport, Iowa, I migrated to California in 1979 where I completed my engineering degree at U.C. Santa Barbara followed by a long career in defense electronics at Delco Electronics, Goleta and Raytheon, El Segundo. I also went to law school and after passing the California bar exam in 2003, my husband Dick and I fled the smog and traffic of Los Angeles to live in God’s country here in Humboldt County. I started a law practice in the areas of small business, intellectual property, and nonprofit law and at the same time enrolled in a small group seminar study program called Education for Ministry (EfM), a four-year distance program of theological study out of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN.
It was during EfM that I discerned my call to ordained ministry and by 2011, I had entered the formal process toward Holy Orders in the Diocese of Northern California. I acquired my seminary education at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin in their hybrid distance program and earned a Master of Arts in Ministry degree in 2014. My Clinical Pastoral Education was taken at Genesis Medical Center in Iowa. As a seminarian, I trained at St. Alban’s, Arcata for my field education. Before ordination, I served as a volunteer chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital and as a chaplain intern at Hospice of Humboldt.
Since my ordination to the priesthood in January 2015 at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka, I have served with gratitude as an Associate Priest at both Christ Church and St. Alban’s, Arcata and as a supply priest to area Episcopal congregations including St. Francis, Fortuna; St. Paul’s, Crescent City; Shepherd by the Sea, Gualala; and Sts. Martha & Mary Episcopal Mission in Trinidad.
Since 2017, I have been an EfM mentor and currently serve on the Episcopal Foundation of Northern California Board, chair the Diocesan Convention Resolutions Committee, coordinate the Semper Virens Deanery Regional Discernment Group, am a Title IV Intake Officer for the diocese, and was elected to a four-year term on the Standing Committee at the 2025 Diocesan Convention. I am also a graduate of the “Best Skills Best Churches” program offered by the Nonprofit Management Institute at Arizona State University.
Besides preaching and presiding for services, my ministries are focused on liturgy, music, adult Christian formation, spiritual practice, and evangelism. Music is an essential part of my life, and I play flute and piano, and sing in the Christ Church choir and the Eureka Symphony Chorus. When I am not studying theology or playing music, I love to read British mystery novels, take long walks, and practice yoga.
Christ Episcopal Church Eureka 