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Our Pastors and Leadership
A belief in egalitarian leadership leads to active lay ownership of all programs. We govern by small leadership teams and work groups, using consensus whenever possible. We are committed to integrating holistic spiritual practices, positive personal and corporate affirmations, and honest creative feedback in our work together.
We have established Passion Groups, which consist of members and friends working toward common goals to help DUCC and its ministries grow. Current Passion Groups include Worship and the Arts, and Service and Action.
Meet Rev. Katherine Gould Epperly, D.Min.
Ordained in 1979, Katherine “Kate” Epperly holds a Doctor of Ministry degree and a Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California. There her focus of study was human and faith development; gestalt, transpersonal, and Jungian counseling; and Wisdom theology. Her doctoral project was “Guidelines for Creating a Wisdom Style of Ministry.”
Kate co-leads spiritual formation and nurture groups for clergy at Lancaster Theological Seminary through their Alliance for the Renewal of Ministry program. She also teaches in the Lancaster Theological Seminary Summer Academy program. Along with her husband, Bruce, Kate consults with churches in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, area for church growth, healing, and wholeness.
Kate has been teaching reiki with her husband, Bruce, for the past four years. She is co-author with Bruce of Reiki Healing Touch and the Way of Jesus (Northstone, 2005).
Prior to moving to Lancaster, Kate served ten years as Senior Pastor of The Palisades Community Church in Washington, D.C., an independent progressive congregation affiliated with the International Council of Community Churches. Prior to that, she worked as a pastoral counselor, interim minister, and church consultant.
Link here to visit her professional Web site, Rev. Katherine Gould Epperly, D.Min.
Meet Rev. Bruce Epperly, Ph.D.
Bruce Epperly is a teacher, spiritual guide, writer, lecturer, retreat leader, and reiki teacher. The author of twelve books, he is Professor of Practical Theology and Continuing Education at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is also an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
A graduate of Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, in 1980, Bruce has served as a faculty member at Central Michigan University, Georgetown University, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Lancaster Theological Seminary. He also served as Senior Protestant Chaplain at Georgetown University. He regularly lectures, leads workshops and retreats, and gives reiki trainings throughout the United States and Canada.
Link here to visit his professional Web site, Dr. Bruce Epperly.
Our Other Leaders
- The Congregation, Ministers
- Diane Brandt, Assistant Pastor of Liturgical Arts and Music
- Irving Perez, Assistant Pastor of Community Outreach
- Todd Dickinson, Leadership Team—Chairperson
- Cynthia Clarkin, Leadership Team—Treasurer
- Peggy Allan, Leadership Team—Secretary
- Don Allan, Leadership Team—FinancialSecretary
- Kim Armstrong, Linda Van Brunt, and Darlene Zerbe, Leadership Team—At Large
- Adam Barkafski, Susan Costley, Barry Hammacher, Pastoral Relations
If you are in the south central Pennsylvania area, we invite you to attend one of our services in Lancaster, PA. We are a progressive Christian community affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
...a new seed of hope where there are no strangers...
