Our Staff
Brendan Curran (He/They+)
Pastor
Office hours: Monday 10am – 4pm, Wednesdays 3pm – 5pm
Contact Hours: On-call for urgent pastoral needs
Brendan grew up outside of Boston, MA where he enjoyed an interfaith upbringing as the child of an Irish immigrant, served as an Americorps Volunteer, and went to college at UMASS Boston. Brendan discovered their call to ministry through the extensive study and practice of diverse wisdom traditions, earth/ancestor-based spiritual traditions, service, and activism. He completed his MDiv. at Episcopal Divinity School, where his theological studies focused on LGBTQ and eco-feminist Liberation Theologies. He served as the Associate Pastor of the Barrington Congregational Church in Barrington, RI, from 2014-2020, before being called as the pastor at FGUCC. Brendan is passionate about nurturing and supporting the church as a place where we explore, find meaning, and build the beloved community together. He enjoys dancing, karaoke, gardening with his two cats, reading, drag trivia, and exploring the glorious forests of the Pacific Northwest.
Elena Parker (She/Her)
Office Manager
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am – 4:30pm
I have been blessed to serve as office manager for the Forest Grove United Church of Christ since 1993, and this has truly been a dream job. I’ve had the honor to serve many ministers and the lovely members of this congregation over the years. In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends and family and outdoor activities including hiking, running and walking with friends. I enjoy baking, reading, and spending time with my two adorable cats.
John Davis (He/Him)
Sexton
Office Hours: Sunday – Wednesday 7:30am – 3:30pm
Ella Tignor (She/Her)
Learning Community Coordinator –
Office hours: Sunday 9am-12pm, Monday 11am-4pm, Tuesday – Thursday availability by appointment
Contact Hours: Sunday – Thursday 8am – 4pm
I am Ella Tignor the Learning Community coordinator. I work with the youth at FGUCC to provide a rewarding journey during this exciting time on their path toward a lifelong connection with God and Jesus. It has been a joy and privilege to spend time with the fabulous youth at UCC. I plan to continue developing activities to enhance these children’s lives.
My life has been divided into many sections. As a professional college student and waitress, working with my husband in his different businesses, motherhood, back to college for special education endorsement and teaching license, teacher, widow, retired, new life. What will my next chapter be?
Jesse Montez (He/Him)
Tech & Media Specialist
Hours of contact: Sunday – Friday 4pm – 8pm
Hi, I am Jesse Montez, I am the Tech & Media Specialist. I create the slides you see on Sundays, record and post Sunday’s worship and other special events going on at the church. When I’m not working at the church, I work at a local lumber yard in Forest Grove as a class-A truck driver. When the day is done I like to spend time with my Wife, and our fur children – dog and a cat.
Deeva Harris-Williams (She/Her)
Parish Nurse
Contact through email or Call the church office.
I am Deva Harris-Williams and I am a registered nurse serving our community through the lifespan of the 42 years of my Nursing Career. I’ve been A NICU Nurse, Birth Nurse, Hospice Nurse, Camp Nurse, and the past 27 years a Hospice Nurse and Doula. My role as the Parish Nurse is to provide support and education through life’s health challenges and transitions. Walking alongside people during changes in living situations, people dealing with acute and chronic illness, deaths, and births. People needing caregiving resources and preparations for medical visits and surgeries are my primary focus.
Hope Montez (She/Her)
Social media assistant – Hours of contact Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
I am Hope Montez I am the Social media assistant to the Media Tech Specialist. I help put together Social media posts and work on the website. When I’m not working on the church socials or my own socials I have my nose in a book, am walking my dog, or spending time with my husband.