Meet the Pastors
Amanda Sheldon-Park
Amanda K. Sheldon-Park (she/her) serves our church as a first-time local church pastor. After years of working at the intersection of Christian faith and refugee, asylum and migration accompaniment, Amanda felt the Spirit calling her to local church ministry after serving Field of Hope UCC as a seminary intern (this after swearing off local church ministry…look at God!).
Originally from Illinois but raised in Roseville, CA, Amanda is rooted by her Midwestern values of faith, family, community and hard work (also shared by many Californians, of course). Growing up in the UCC, and attending Methodist and Lutheran churches as an adult, Amanda says the UCC taught her that the work of the Gospel is the work of justice, the Methodists taught her to feel the Spirit in worship and life, and the Lutherans taught her to take seriously both her theology and the sacraments. Her theology is influenced by Augustine, Julian of Norwich, Karl Barth, James Cone, Wilda Gafney and Joann Marie Terrell. Her ministry interests include global partnerships and the global church, migrant rights, women’s Christian faith formation, children’s ministry and multi-faith connection and conversation.
She holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of California, Davis in Political Science and International Relations, a Master of Arts from American University in International Development, and a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary. She previously worked for the American Civil Liberties Union, International Organization for Migration, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and as national program staff for Refugee, Asylum and Disaster Ministries for the United Church of Christ.
She loves spending time with her husband, their children and her extended, multicultural, multi-faith family. She also aspires to be a polyglot and is working on learning her sixth language: Korean.
Co-Pastor
Jack Dawson
Jack grew up in the Chicago area where the heart of life was involvement in the church. Camp and conference; youth group; helping out in worship. These were the things that caused him joy. It was at camp when Jack was 16 that he felt God calling him to ministry.
Jack graduated from Eden Theological and was ordained in The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). After serving churches in the Midwest, he was called to serve United Congregational Christian Church in Lodi where he served for 10 years. He then accepted a call to the United Church of Cloverdale where he served for 6 years.
Since coming to CA, Jack became heavily involved in the Northern California/Nevada Conference where he served on the Committee on Ministry; Annual Gathering Planning Team; Conference Moderator, and then as President of the Conference Board of Directors.
Co-Pastor
LUKE ZIMMERMAN
Luke serves as the Regional Director of Youth Ministry for Parkside, Elk Grove, and Loomis UCCs. Prior to launching this ministry, he lived and worked in New York as an actor.
Aside from his work in the arts, Luke served as a peer advocate for Transgender youth, Trans folks in the performing arts, and Transgender people of faith. He also continues to perform virtually on the worship team at Forefront Church in Brooklyn and as a musician with Loomis Basin UCC.
Returning home to the greater Sacramento area where he was born and raised, Luke shares life with his wife Ana and their two rescue mutts, Captain and Willow.