Rev. Heidi Bolt is the new Interim Pastor and Head of Staff here at First Pres Portland as of September 2024. She just completed serving as the Transitional Pastor at Saint Mark Lutheran Church in Salem. She has served churches in Oregon, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota in designated, supply, interim, associate, and co-pastor positions within the PC(USA), Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and United Church of Christ denominations.

Heidi also worked on the staff of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area as the COM Coordinator. She is trained as a spiritual director and has served as a hospice chaplain. Heidi currently serves on the A Corporation Board of Directors for the PC(USA) as well as the Funding Model Development Task Force of the General Assembly.

Heidi is married to another Presbyterian pastor, Greg Bolt, and they have two children at home.

Rev. Brenna Dykman serves as the Associate Pastor for mission and outreach, helps with pastoral care, and leads in worship.

Education:

She received her Bachelor of Science at Portland State, and her Master’s degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary in Divinity, Christian Education, and Theology & Philosophy. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Ministry in Christian Spirituality.

Brenna’s Favorites:

Favorite thing about Portland: Forest Park and all the trails to explore right in the city!

Favorite hobbies: Traveling, hiking, doing most things outdoors, reading, podcasts, and more!

Favorite Portland restaurant: How can you have a favorite restaurant in Portland when there are too many good ones to choose from?

Rev. Carmen Goetschius coordinates the Children’s Ministry program, helps in pastoral care, and leads in worship.

Education:

She has a BA in Political Science and Drama from the University of Washington and an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. She has led educational trips to the Holy Lands, Greece, and Turkey.  She values a global perspective on Christian faith and has a particular passion for the continent of Africa, which she developed following a year of service in Zambia in 2007 and 2008.

Family:

Carmen’s husband, Rev. Clark Scalera, is the Presbyter for the Presbytery of the Cascades. They have two daughters.

Carmen’s favorites:

Favorite thing about Portland: The nearness of family, spectacular greenspace, and long summer days spent in local parks.

Favorite books to read: A collection of poems by Billy Collins or a long novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Sherman Alexie.

Favorite hobbies: Backpacking in the Southwest, exploring new hiking trails in Oregon, and photographing her family and the world around her.

Favorite Portland restaurant: Eager for recommendations!

Rev. David Dornack joined our staff in 2021 after he retired from serving more than 20 years at Rose City Park Presbyterian in Portland. Previously, he served churches in Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Education:

He has a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and did his M.Div. at Louisville Seminary, with additional study at McCormick Seminary. He has served as Co-moderator of the General Assembly Committee on Justice for Women, and in the Presbytery of the Cascades as chair of the Commission on Ministry.

Dave serves as a part-time parish associate at our church. His ministry involves pastoral care, visitation, assisting in worship, and acting as a pastoral liaison to the church’s Deacons. He brings a caring heart to his ministry with our congregation.

Greg works closely with the clergy and staff of FPC to provide opportunities for spiritual growth for the congregation. More specifically, he assists in planning worship services, prepares members of the music ministry to lead worship music, and, of course, plays the organ/piano and leads the choirs. He does this all for the glory of God and in service to God’s people…and loves it!

Education:

Greg has a Master’s degree in Organ Performance (2002), and Bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance (1999), both from Indiana University Bloomington. He also earned the “Associate” certification (AAGO) from the American Guild of Organists in 2004.

Family:

Greg has an amazing wife (Leah), two amazing parents (Eli and Mary Jean) in Gainesville, FL, an older brother (Drew) in FL, an older sister (Amy) in GA, and a clowder of kitty-cats.​