Open & Affirming

    Home   Meet Our Pastor   News Page   Community Outreach   Sermons

Rev. Cherie Marckx has been pastor of First Christian Church in Ukiah since 1997, the first woman ever called to this role.  She is a graduate of the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, with both a Master of Divinity degree in Pastoral Theology and a Master of Arts in Religious Education.  Before being called to pastoral ministry she served several churches as Director of Religious Education, and before that was active for many more years in a ministry of music.

Cherie is ordained in the United Church of Christ, one of the two partnership churches that make up First Christian.  She says, “My primary calling as a minister is to help open people’s understanding of the love of God.  I believe in a God who is open and welcoming – inviting everyone into the Reign of God, where there is hope and forgiveness, joy and a passion for creation, love and an unconditional invitation.” 

Pastor Cherie lives in Geyserville with her husband, Rev. Hilary F. Marckx, who is the pastor of the Geyserville Christian Church.  When not working, Cherie is a fiber artist and quilter.

Pastor Intern Gale Tompkins-Bischel is a teacher-turned-seminarian at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, and a commissioned minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Gale has a profound interest in the way that all religions are based, at their core, in selflessness and compassion. Her Christian ministry is one of guiding men and women to the saving power of God in Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection provide humankind with a model for personal and social transformation. She believes that once recognized and harnessed, God’s in-dwelling love can be used by liberated persons to benefit the earth and all of its inhabitants. Gale’s hope is that her work will help the Body of Christ stay committed to values of community, spirituality, and justice in order to affect understanding and peace in the world. She lives in Lake County with her husband, three children, two cats, and one spoiled dog.

Send mail to porter72158@yahoo.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 First Christian Church Of Ukiah
Last modified: 12/05/2011