We are currently in a transition process that will lead to the calling of a Priest to replace our Founding Pastor and Founding Priest.
Dan Hood, Director of Music and Technology
What is a hobby that you enjoy that may surprise other people?
I enjoy mountain biking (when I can get out), and I enjoy writing and recording songs.
Name your best dining experience ever.
In Gent, Belgium I had the opportunity to eat at a small place on a river called “The beerhaus.” The weather was perfect, the food was great and I was introduced to some exotic Trappist beers that rival fine wines. The buildings along the river still had scars from WWII.
How many different countries have you visited?
A bunch, on short term mission trips. Brazil (2x), Romania, Hungary, Ethiopia, Holland, Belgium. A few of these I visited on the same trip.
How many different states have you lived in?
Just two: Michigan and North Carolina
How long have you been in Church Ministry?
I have been involved in some type of ministry for about 12 years. Some were paid positions, some were volunteer.
When and how did you hear or sense that Music was your call in life?
It sounded like a good idea at the time. Music has always been in the blood, but never a career aspiration. Sometimes God reveals himself in small ways. For me, it was a passing comment by a college professor, and another comment by a pastor when I was 19 about pursuing a worship leader career.
The mission at Church of the Beloved is important. What is the most challenging aspect of carrying out the mission?
For me, it is staying relevant to the congregation, while not being overly traditional. I come from a “modern worship” background with lots of loud guitars and simple pop songs. The challenge comes with continually remembering who is worshiping God to the music at Beloved and what they may be listening to outside of worship.
Name a moment or moments of overwhelming significance.
- My recent marriage to Anna.
- The first time I picked up the guitar at age 15.
- A trip to the guitar store at age 12 with my older brother. I helped him pick out the electric guitar that would one day be mine (didn’t know it then), and take me around the world (still have it!)
- An 8th grade beach trip where I decided to follow Christ.
Want to learn more about the Beloved Band? Click here
Michele Nichols, Administrator
What is a hobby that you enjoy that may surprise other people?
I like to mountain bike on dirt trails at local parks.
Name your best dining experience.
My best dining experience is at Gates and Sons BBQ in Kansas City, Missouri. I liked the “Hi can I help you?” welcome and the smokehouse smell each time I walked in the door of the restaurant.
How many different countries have you visited?
Six: Germany, Holland, Greenland, Mexico and Canada and Denmark
How many different states have you lived in?
Four: Indiana, Kansas, Missouri and North Carolina
Why do you feel led to serve on Beloved's staff?
I look out at our congregation and I realize that out of over 100 people in the worship space now, I only knew 3 others (my family) prior to 9 years ago, when we began to attend Beloved. God has called us to this place to worship with the Beloved faith community and I want to be here to welcome others.
The Mission of Church of the Beloved is important; what is the most
challenging aspect of carrying out the mission?
Reaching out to those not active in a faith community is difficult for me. I had been taught that it was not good manners to discuss religion or politics in public. Consequently, I did not learn how to share my faith with others.
Name a moment or moments of overwhelming significance.
A moment of overwhelming significance in my time at Beloved was when we looked at a picture of Osama Bin Laden on the projection screens on the Sunday after the World Trade Center’s were struck. I had read the words in the Bible that teach us to pray for our enemies, but at that moment, when I looked at his large face on the screen, I found this very difficult to do. But Sunday after Sunday, my heart was softened to acknowledge that he is God’s creation, as am I. That helped me to deeply understand that scriptural passage for the first time in my life and why God gave us this instruction.
Sally Brower, Assisting Pastor for Formation
What is a hobby that you enjoy that may surprise other people?
"Writing" sacred icons. It is called “writing” instead of “painting” because icons are scripture in image. During the classes, the group maintains contemplative silence. It takes about 40 hours to complete a small icon. I also write poetry, prayers, and articles related to the life of faith.
Name your best dining experience ever.
Ristorante Badia a Coltobuono, in an ancient abbey, that is also a cooking school, restaurant, and winery in Italy. Each of the four courses was accompanied by one of their wines. The golden washed plaster, stone and wood interior was once a stable. It looks out over the Tuscan hills. This picture of me was taken there.
How many different countries have you visited?
Eighteen. A pilgrimage to Canterbury, England at age 16 where we lived with English families; a Celtic pilgrimage to Ireland; a seminary pilgrimage to Israel and the Palestinian territories; and a clergy pilgrimage by riverboat to experience Orthodox Russia. As well as anniversary trips to Spain, Italy, the British Virgin Islands and U. S. Virgin Islands. I’ve been able to take trips with my family to France, Germany, the Bahamas, and Mexico. Other trips have included Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Holland, Belgium, and Finland.
How many different states have you lived in?
Four: Virginia, where I was born; Nebraska in the sixth grade when my Dad worked for Duncan Hines and brought home test cakes; North and South Carolina during 35 years of marriage.
How long have you been a Pastor?
I was ordained a Pastor on Pentecost, May 23, 1999 in the Lutheran (ELCA) church. I am now licensed to serve as a Priest in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina and am deeply joyful that Church of the Beloved is at the center of my homecoming.
When and how did you hear or sense that being a pastor was your call in life?
I had a counseling practice in an Episcopal church for eight years. I kept being asked to be a spiritual director in typically clergy positions. When my son's godfather, an Episcopal priest, asked if I had thought of the priesthood, I knew it must be God. He didn't believe in women being priests, just deacons. It took ten years from call to ordination and the willingness to follow God's call into the Lutheran Church.
The mission at Church of the Beloved is important. What is the most challenging aspect of carrying out the mission?
It is a challenge in any church for people to find meaningful ways to connect with each other outside of worship. In the midst of a shared life of prayer and service, individuals can discover their life's purpose. Part of my role in meeting this challenge is to awaken people to the mystery of God, risk holy encounter, and cross the thresholds of their heart's deep hopes.
Name a moment or moments of overwhelming significance.
Being adopted into a family with a Lutheran father and an Episcopal mother where church was the center of our lives. At age 46, I found out my “family of origin” had had no religion for 100 years. God's Spirit is always working through us to give our lives meaning and purpose. When I first came to Charlotte, I saw Church of the Beloved’s sign in the development office at St. Peter, uptown. I attended the Ascension Day service at Charlotte Latin School when Clare was baptized and Bishop Curry preached. I worshiped at Beloved at South Charlotte Middle School as I was planning an emerging worship service for my former church. After serving 6 years at that church, I followed the call of Abraham to step out in faith. A year later in July 2006, Brent and I decided to worship at Church of the Beloved. The third time we attended, I was the celebrant and preacher. After three requests to apply for the position of rector elsewhere, I accepted this call.
Deb Blackwood, Deacon
What is a hobby that you enjoy that may surprise other people?
While in Sarasota, FL my 2 recreational passions were sailing and kayaking – and I haven’t found a replacement in NC yet.
How many different countries have you visited?
Bahamas [most of the islands], Europe, UK, Canada
How many different states have you lived in?
6 West Virginia, Ohio, PA, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina
How long have you been a Deacon?
Ordained a Vocational Deacon June 12, 1999
When and how did you hear or sense that being a Deacon was your call in life?
God’s been calling since childhood – it just took me awhile to really listen. I “ran away from home” in 1982 to avoid the call to go to seminary from my bishop, only to have the new bishop make the same call 3 years later. It was another 10 years before I answered when at the communion rail, our associate rector put a piece of the priest’s host into my hand and the electricity generated floored both of us. She met me at the door after church with the comment “we have to talk – right now.” The result of our conversation at lunch that day was her probing question, “how long are you going to ignore this call on your life?” and I realized that I had to finally enter a discernment process.
The mission at Church of the Beloved is important. What is the most challenging aspect of carrying out the mission?
Challenging the faithful to move out of our typical comfort zones to “be Christ in the world” for and with those who do not know him.
Name a moment or moments of overwhelming significance.
Several come to mind:
- The change in my younger brother after his “conversion” at college through Campus Crusade … while I hated the awful bible tracts and simplistically fundamental theology … I couldn’t get past the change in him and his life and wanted to learn more. I attended the 1st Renewal Conference in the Diocese of WV with Terry Fullam, George Stockhowe and David Bennett and learned first hand what it was all about
- The “encounter at the altar” mentioned above which led to a parish discernment process and later ordination to the vocational diaconate
- Involvement as a youth and later young adult in the civil rights and anti-war movements and their formation of both my passivism and commitment to “do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” [Micah 6:8]
- Marriage to Dan and Kim’s life with us
