“I love leading an historic urban congregation that is unafraid of taking risks and setting out on bold adventures in the name of Jesus, so all may know the full, inclusive love of God.”
Tim first sensed a call to ministry when he was a 19-year-old student in Ecuador. A decade later, he surprised family and friends when he enrolled in seminary. He served as Pastor-Head of Staff at Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco before coming to Westminster in 1999.
As the leader of this large, active congregation, he preaches on almost all Sundays September through June, leads the work of a large and dynamic staff, and provides strategic leadership as the congregation thinks creatively about the future.
Tim is passionate about Westminster’s mission to be fully engaged in the life of the city and in transforming lives and systems in pursuit of the love and justice of Jesus Christ. “Westminster is a community thoroughly engaged in living faithfully in complex times. I am grateful that the church is willing to learn and change, to grow and take risks, all in an effort to fulfill the gospel mandate to ‘love God and neighbor.’”
Tim is an active member of the wider community, serving on the Macalester College Board of Trustees and the Downtown Council of Minneapolis. He is a founding Board Member of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians and one of the initiators of the NEXT Church movement. He also serves on the boards of Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, and his alma mater McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Born in Kansas and raised in Chicago, Tim earned his undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University, master’s degrees from University of Texas, Austin, and McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, and his doctorate in ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
After walking the 500 miles of El Camino de Santiago in Spain in 2013, Tim and his wife Beth, also a Presbyterian minister, committed themselves to taking one pilgrimage each year as long as they are able. Since then they have taken long walks in Wales, England, Scotland, Israel, and France. Their most recent pilgrimage was a 4,000-mile road trip through the American South, exploring the roots of our nation’s racial injustice. An avid cyclist, Tim rides his bike to Westminster as often as possible. He and Beth are proud parents of three young adults and two grandchildren!
Presbyterian Principles: It is our duty to exercise mutual forbearance toward each otherMay 14, 2023 - 3:17 pm
We Had HopedApril 23, 2023 - 1:35 pm
Macalester SundayApril 16, 2023 - 3:44 pm
Visit to Bethlehem: Our Hearts and Minds Were OpenedMay 26, 2023 - 1:55 pm
Second Set of Distributions from Mission ComponentMay 15, 2023 - 11:09 am
May Community Partner HighlightsMay 8, 2023 - 11:26 am
Enduring Hope Campaign Update: Chapel Re-DedicationMay 3, 2023 - 3:39 pm
Hate Has No Place HereMay 1, 2023 - 11:24 am