Rich serves as Pastor to First UMC's Access contemporary worship community and as Associate Pastor for Discipleship. As the Access pastor, Rich relates to the community built around our Sunday afternoon contemporary worship service (see www.accessgrace.tv). In his discipleship role, he is part of the Intentional Faith Development Team and works with Sunday school classes and small groups and on the implementation of the "Grow People in Christ" part of FUMCR's mission statement. Rich's favorite things about FUMCR are the warm welcome given to newcomers, the sense of teamwork that pervades the church, and the mission work we do locally, nationally and internationally to improve the lives of others.
Rich grew up in several small towns in Ohio before moving to Toledo, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science and Engineering. He went on to work as a database programmer for Owens Corning, a global building products manufacturer while volunteering at his local church. Rich left the IT world for full-time ministry in 1998 when he and his wife, Heather, moved to Dallas where Rich attended seminary at Perkins School of Theology at SMU.
After seminary the bishop appointed Rich to Lake Highlands UMC as an associate pastor where he served for 8 years. In 2003 Heather and Rich welcomed their daughter, Samantha, into the world. Rich began his appointment to FUMCR in January of 2011.
Rich enjoys SCUBA diving, science and science fiction, hard rock music, and walking, whether just around the neighborhood or hiking in the Ozarks.
Favorite scripture: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).