We are very excited to announce that Dave Swanson will be joining us on August 1 as
our next full-time pastor. Dave received his Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity
School. He has served in several pastoral roles before and during his years in
seminary. Earlier this year he left Pittsburgh Mennonite Church after nearly 12 years as
their pastor.

Dave grew up just outside of Philadelphia in Delaware County. He was first introduced
to Anabaptist authors and theologians while at Gordon College as he became
disenchanted with the evangelical church of his upbringing. The “holistic and dynamic
understanding of the call of Jesus” is one thing that drew him to make his home among
Mennonites. For Dave, following Jesus means “nonconformity to the world” and at our
best we live into creative tensions with the dominant attitudes towards wealth, power,
status, violence commodification-the tools of empire.

Dave will be relocating to eastern PA along with his wife and young daughter in July.
When Dave isn’t fulfilling his pastoral duties, you might find him sailing, playing guitar,
cooking with his family or taking long walks with his dog, Hugo.

We have found Dave to be extremely relational and fun loving and we are excited to
have him share his leadership gifts with us as we seek to learn and grow together,
becoming a light in the community and a place of welcome for all.