Gresham United Methodist Church
Gresham United Methodist Church is a spiritual community, rooted in the Christian tradition that welcomes everyone. We are intentional about seeking God, living out the example of Jesus and following the inspiration of the Spirit of God.
Gresham UMC is a place of worship, friendship, education, caring and action. We had regular Sunday worship services at 9:00 am and 11:00 am before the covid pandemic. Currently, we have one service at 10:00am.
Gresham UMC takes seriously the call to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have a passion for people and a commitment to justice. We are committed to personal holiness, individual spiritual formation and growth. We are also committed to the prophetic voice of speaking truth into a world that can be unjust. However, we do not want to stop by simply talking about injustices and needs in our community. We serve the hungry, offer opportunities for music education, free tax services, art and more.
We strive be a 21st century church, active, relevant, listening, responding and caring for all people.
Our mission is to be a Teaching Church that Feeds the Hungry, Partners with our Community and makes Disciples of Jesus Christ.
These are not just words. They are the foundation for ministry and learning. We are a teaching Church, committed to an environment of learning and listening, creating an atmosphere of inquiry all leading toward a greater encounter with God. All are welcome to journey with us and bring the easy and the hard questions of life into a spiritual community that seeks the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
At Gresham United Methodist Church, it is important that all people feel welcomed and loved. As a reconciling congregation, we believe that ALL people are welcome in the family of God and that churches must be safe spaces for people to live deeply into spirituality and explore their faith. Churches have too often been sources of pain for the LGBTQ2SIA community. Our mission is to welcome everyone regardless of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, or wealth and to be a place of healing and acceptance. Please consider a visit and explore the spiritual journey with us.
OUR PASTORAL STAFF:
Rev. Dr. Troy Carr
Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Troy Lynn Carr is an elder in the Pacific Northwest Conference United Methodist Church (PNWC UMC). She is the newly assigned pastor of Gresham First United Methodist Church (GUMC), Gresham, Oregon. Dr. Carr is the first woman and first person of Color assigned as the Senior Pastor of GUMC. Before her assignment to GUMC, Dr. Carr worked with the General Commission on Religion and Race for the Global United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. She has served churches in the PNW UMC as Senior Pastor and Lead Innovator. Dr. Carr was contracted with the Innovation Team of the GNW as an Anti-Racism Research Consultant. Dr. Carr earned her B.S. in Social Work from Roberts Wesleyan College (University), Rochester, NY, M. Div. from Gettysburg Theological Seminary (United), Gettysburg, PA, and she is a double alumna of Seattle University, receiving her D. Min in 2020 and Masters of Nonprofit Leadership in 2022. Dr. Carr also completed her Clinical Pastoral Education Residency (Riverside Hospital, Newport News, VA) and an Internship (WellSpan, Gettysburg, PA) and is board-eligible. Dr. Carr thrives in the community and plans to develop strategies to connect Gresham UMC with community partners to enhance its public square presence.
Meet The Gresham UMC Team
Solveig Nyberg
Music Director
Solveig Nyberg has a passion for sacred music that comes naturally: her mother still serves as organist for Trinity Lutheran Church in Yankton, SD, where her father still sings in the church choir. Solveig received her undergraduate degree in music education from Yankton College and a Master of Music in vocal performance from the University of Nebraska. She has directed vocal and bell choirs in Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian and Methodist churches in Minnesota, South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska and Idaho. Since moving to the Portland area in 2008, she has sung with Portland Symphonic Choir, Oregon Repertory Singers, Resonance Ensemble and Portland Vocal Consort, as well as teaching at Mt. Hood Community College and Sam Barlow HS. Solveig loves the inspirational beauty that surrounds us in the PNW.
Laura Maas
Accompanist for Choir
Laura moved to Portland from Nashville in December of 2022. She is from San Diego originally, so she is glad to be back on the West Coast! She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2015, with a bachelor's degree in music education, and then from Colorado State University in 2019 with her master's. She has spent the last seven years teaching elementary music and has recently made a career change to teaching private piano lessons. Laura has been a church pianist since 2011, and considers herself so fortunate to do what she loves for a living! In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, spending time with her cats, and going out to explore nature with her partner, Stephen.
Brendan Fitzgerald
Custodian
Terrie Ham
Lay Leader
Sandy Brooks
Assistant Lay Leader
Tina Heal
Church Council Chair
Troy Carr
Tina Heal
Terrie Ham
LaVerne Lewis
Sue DeFranco
Julia Wakeham
Sandy Brooks
Paul Mills
Council Members
Joanne Stewart
Frances Volking
Laurel Grimsted
Mark Snyder
Mike Vest
Ron Gustafson
Jeff Dalles
Adam Jenkins
(Jeff Dalles & Julia Wakeham- not pictured above)