This page gives a little detail about some of the religious leadership roles that I have taken over the years.

Skyland Community Church, Los Gatos

Skyland is my current UCC church home. At Skyland I sing in the choir and preach on occasion. I served on Skyland’s committee to revise and update the church’s Open and Affirming (ONA) Statement. The revised statement was adopted at a congregational meeting by a unanimous vote. As part of my work on the ONA committee, I created a class on “Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression.” I have taught sessions of this class at Skyland Community Church, Valley Ministries MCC, the Community Congregational Church of Benicia, the Annual Gathering of the Northern California / Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, and the First Congregational Church of San Jose.

In early 2026, I will be the sabbatical coverage pastor for three and a half months when Pastor Melanie goes on sabbatical from January through early April.

2023-present

Berkeley Chinese Community Church

At Berkeley Chinese Community Church, I served as the sabbatical coverage pastor for three and a half months while their regular pastor was away on sabbatical. I planned worship, created liturgy scripts, worked with the music team to plan and perform music, did a children’s moment and sermon each week, created and published the church’s monthly e-Newsletter, helped publicize special events in partnership with other organizations, did occasional posts to the church’s Facebook account, and did congregational care as needed.

August 2025 – November 2025

Valley Ministries Metropolitan Community Church, Stockton

Served as the Provisional Interim Pastor at Valley Ministries. Led the church through its first-ever pastoral transition after its founding pastor retired after 24 years. Led the board in developing a covenant that guided them in their relations with one another and the rest of the congregation. Led the church in developing an identity statement that answered four questions: What makes us special? Whom do we want to attract? What difference do we want to make in the world? What’s our message? The resulting identity statement was unanimously approved by the congregation at a special congregational meeting.

Helped the church’s food pantry through a period of substantial growth. Helped lead charitable drives to support local farm workers and others in need. Participated in the Stockton Area Interfaith Network. Served on the San Joaquin Pride Center’s committee to organize the Stockton Pride Festival. Organized a group of local faith leaders to give the opening blessing at Stockton Pride in 2023 and 2024. Participated in cooperative worship services with other churches. Served as a volunteer chaplain at the UCC’s Camp Tamarack.

2023-2025

Foothills Congregational Church, Los Altos

Foothills is my original home church in the UCC. While I did not have a formal pastoral role at Foothills, I sang in the choir, performed vocal and instrumental solos, helped with the music program for family camp and youth arts camp, led youth group sessions, served on the music committee, and preached when needed.

During COVID pandemic, I helped the church music program by organizing and editing our first virtual choir videos. I also helped our music director as he learned to create virtual choir videos on his own.

2011-2023

College Heights Church, San Mateo

Part-time pastor at a church with a wide array of activities and a strong culture of lay leadership. Participated in church activities including Breakfast and Books, Centering Time, Morning Watch, Worship and Arts Committee, Taizé services, movie nights, yoga, and choir. Provided congregational care as needed. Helped organize joint events with other churches, including Ash Wednesday and Good Friday services, a book signing, and a concert. Served as a volunteer chaplain at the UCC’s Camp Tamarack.

2015-2017

The Metropolitan Community Church of San José

Recruited, trained and supervised church volunteers and staff.  Led staff meetings, board meetings, worship planning meetings, and congregational town halls.  Oversaw a variety of regular weeknight activities.  Helped start new ministries and programs.  Helped members of the congregation develop their skills as ministers, worship leaders, and group leaders.  Worked with other local churches, non-profits, and governmental agencies to do cooperative events.  Met with state and local legislators to encourage them to support LGBT rights.  Spoke at a variety of local colleges, high schools, and community events.  Interviewed in the print media and on television, the radio, and the Internet. Started an online video ministry that attracted viewers from 137 countries around the world. 

2003-2010

Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley

Editor of community newspaper for the Pacific School of Religion.  Began work after an eight-month period during which the newspaper was not published.  Recruited more than 130 volunteer writers and editors, including students, faculty and staff.  Intentionally worked to make the publication represent the full spectrum of diversity on campus, including active outreach to underrepresented groups.  Recruited an editing team so that all decisions regarding the publication could be made by a group representative of the diverse voices present on campus.  Assisted in the hiring and training of a new Editor-in-Chief.  

2001-2003

Northwest District of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches

Responsible for financial planning and bookkeeping for denominational body.  Prepared budgets and cash flow forecasts.  Helped District handle dramatic fluctuations in income.  Established cash reserve and spending priorities, completely paid off substantial old debt, and resolved problems with IRS filings done by District prior to my term in office.  Gave workshops on church finance, evaluated grant proposals and made funding recommendations.  Served as a District representative and pastoral presence at a variety of local church events including funerals, weddings, ordinations, anniversary celebrations, church closings, and church annual meetings.  Received the 2001 Service Award from the Northwest District Commission on the Laity for my work as District Treasurer and my work at New Life MCC.

2000-2002

New Life MCC, Berkeley

Worked with pastor and congregation to analyze the church’s financial situation and prepare a new budget and financial plan for the church.  Worked with creditors, paid all current bills, established cash reserve, and provided monthly reports to the congregation.  Helped the church double its income and completely pay off its old debt.   

2000-2001