THE STAFF OF PLYMOUTH WELCOMES YOU! ​

Our staff members come from many backgrounds
and have extensive training and experience in ministry.
From experts on Celtic Christianity and
Christian Formation for children and youth
to backgrounds in sacred music, hospice,
and LGBTQ-affirming ministry...
our staff have resources and connections
for everyone (members and visitors alike) at Plymouth. ​

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​The Rev. Hal Chorpenning,
​Senior Minister
(On sabbatical through Nov. 15)

Hal has been Plymouth's senior minister since 2002. Before that, he was associate conference minister with the Connecticut Conference of the UCC. A grant from the Lilly Endowment enabled him to study Celtic Christianity in the UK and Ireland. Hal's sabbatical blog about both Christianity and Empire as well as Celtic Christianity is here. Together with Sarah and Dom Crossan and Jane Anne Ferguson, Hal led a pilgrimage in Ireland in 2015, and he and Jane Anne also led a pilgrimage in Scotland in 2017. Prior to ordained ministry, Hal had a business in corporate communications first in the Silicon Valley and then in Boulder. He has two sons and a golden retriever, and is married to the Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson. Pronouns: he/him.

Hal's academic background:
M.Div., with distinction, Iliff School of Theology
Postgraduate program in Int'l History, London School of Economics
B.A., magna cum laude in history, University of California, Santa Barbara

The Rev. JT Smiedendorf, 
​Bridge Associate Minister

J. T. comes to Plymouth as an experienced interim pastor, most recently, as Bridge Minister at University Congregational UCC in Seattle. Previously, he served congregations in Denver, Laramie, and Forest Grove, Oregon. J. T. is a veteran men’s retreat leader, is trained in advanced shadow work, and is a certified 4Gateways Coach. J. T. is passionate about discovering and practicing new, evolving, and potent ways of being and leading spiritual community. He is constantly asking how we might bring the best of the established wisdom traditions together with the best of what is emerging now. Originally born and raised in southwest Michigan, J. T. is a naturalized Coloradan, arriving in 1990 and now living northwest of Boulder with his wife, Allison. Pronouns: he/him

J.T.’s Academic Background:
MDiv, Iliff School of Theology
MS, University of Arizona
BA, Magna Cum Laude, Albion College
CPTR (Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Research), California Institute of Integral Studies

Brooklyn McBride, Dir. of Christian Formation For Children & Youth

Brooklyn joined the Plymouth staff in 2021. She has served in local church and student ministries for the past several years. A native of northern Colorado, Brooklyn has professional experience leading in worship, youth, and children’s programs. She is passionate about contemplative spirituality and transformative Christian education. She loves empowering students and families to lead whole lives modeled after the way of Jesus, rooted in emotional health and shalom. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband and their two dogs. They enjoy live music, good food, good coffee, and traveling. Pronouns: she/her.
 
Brooklyn’s Academic Background:
MAPSC (Master of Arts in Pastoral and Spiritual Care) student, Iliff School of Theology
B.A. Colorado State University

Barbara Gregory, 
​Office Manager

Barbara joined the Plymouth staff in March 2008. She was raised in International Falls, Minnesota, and her first job was at Boise Cascade's Research Dept. In 1980 she moved "south" to Minneapolis where she worked at Regis Corporation. After several visits to Colorado to visit her sister, Barb moved to Ft. Collins the summer of 1986 and was employed as Office Manager for a group of psychotherapists for 13 years. She sold her home at Horsetooth Reservoir and moved to Oklahoma in 2000 where she was employed as Office Manager at the Henry Law firm. In late 2004, Barb returned here to be near her elderly mother and worked as Office Manager for AATA International before finding Plymouth. She rescued a lovable Black Lab mix dog, Daisy, and she enjoys movies, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Pronouns: she/her.

The Rev. Ron Patterson, 
sabbatical interim Minister

From August 16 to November 15, the Rev. Ron Patterson is with us again, having served as a sabbatical interim five years ago, and then serving as our interim conference minister during The Rev. Sue Artt’s sabbatical, and bridge associate minister last year. Ron retired as Senior Minister of Naples United Church of Christ in Florida. Ron and his wife have family here in Fort Collins: their daughter is a member of Plymouth, and their grandchildren are active in Sunday school. Pronouns: he/him.

Ron's Academic Background:
BA cum laude Heidelberg College
M.Div. cum laude Andover Newton Theol. School
D.Min. Eden Theological Seminary
MBA Dowling College
DD Heidelberg University

The Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson, 
​Associate Minister

Jane Anne has great depth of experience in Christian formation, having been director of Christian education at the Church of Christ in Yale (Battell Chapel) and First Plymouth Congregational Church in Denver. She has served as associate minister at First Plymouth in Denver and interim associate at Plymouth in Fort Collins, as well as interim pastor of Community UCC in Boulder and Henderson Community UCC in Henderson, CO. Jane Anne is a writer, storyteller, and contributor to Feasting on the Word, a popular biblical commentary. She was also the writer of sermon-stories.com, a lectionary-based story-commentary series. Pronouns: she/her.

Jane Anne's academic background:
M.Div. Yale Divinity School
M.A. performance studies, Northwestern University
​B.A. Oklahoma Baptist University

Mark Heiskanen, 
Director of Music

Mark has been Plymouth's Director of Music since September 2017. Originally from Northeast Ohio, he arrived from Cincinnati after several years of post-graduate study in organ and conducting at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Mark also has experience and great interest in a diverse range of musical styles including jazz, rock, musical theatre, and gospel. He is thrilled to serve a congregation and staff that values diversity and inclusion in all facets of life. Pronouns: he/him.

Mark's academic background:
M.M., Cleveland State University
​B.M., Cleveland State University

Phil Braudaway-Bauman, 
Church Administrator

The son of Methodist missionaries in India, Phil spent his childhood exploring the Himalayan mountain environs of his boarding school. Later, he lived in three different intentional Christian communities, including Koinonia, founded by Clarence Jordan as a beacon of racial justice in southern Georgia (and from which Habitat for Humanity was founded). Work in the peace movement and for a historic Boston church led to 19 years in nonprofit administration and finance at a long-term care home. His family moved to Longmont in 2016 when his wife, Chris, became Senior Minister of First Congregational UCC, Boulder. Their children are Sam, a graduate student, and Nicki, a public school teacher. Pronouns: he/him.

Phil’s academic background:
B.S., Emory & Henry College

Anna Broskie, IT & Communications Coordinator

Anna joined the Plymouth staff in 2018. She was born and raised in Northern NJ and is ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister. She was Communications Coordinator at St. Luke’s Episcopal and Foothills Unitarian in Fort Collins; prior to that she served churches in the Boston area, Santa Cruz, CA, and Fenton, MI. She is married, has two kids (17 and 19), and two dogs. Pronouns: she/her.

Anna’s academic background:
M.Div., Harvard Divinity School
​A.B. Comparative Literature (French/English), Smith College

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