Pastor

Erik was born and raised in Colorado Springs, CO and while in high school, came to know Christ through the youth ministry programs at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs. He studied English Literature at the University of Colorado in Boulder and then completed a Masters of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary in 2004. He was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PC(USA) in 2005 and received his first call to Shandon Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC, where he served as the Associate Pastor for Youth and their Families. In 2009, he completed a Masters of Sacred Theology at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC, and soon after received his second call, serving as the Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adult Faith Formation at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, IL. In 2012, motivated to understand better how one can be a church leader in our changing culture, he entered the PhD program in Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, working under fellow Presbyterian Bill Dyrness. He completed the program in 2017, while serving as the pastor at both Occidental Presbyterian and Eagle Rock Presbyterian Churches, two small congregations located in Northeast Los Angeles, and teaching as an Adjunct Professor at both Fuller and Azusa Pacific University. In 2018, he published his first book, the cheekily titled The Fit Shall Inherit the Earth: A Theology of Sport and Fitness. His wife is also a Presbyterian pastor, and they have a wonderful daughter. He enjoys training for and competing in cycling events, swimming with the Rose Bowl Masters team, watching film noir, and reading comic books.

Director of Music

Claire came to St. James in the fall of 1995 and has developed a vast library of sacred music over the years. As music director, she works with the minister, the worship committee, the band, the vocal musicians, the instrumentalists, and the bell choir. She considers it a privilege to have presented many hundreds of worship services and public concerts with the Chancel Choir and to create special music for the various holidays during the year. She considers the musicians to be wonderful colleagues and friends and couldn’t be more proud of the work done every single Sunday of the year.

Accompanist

Marjorie has been a part of the music program at St. James since January 2021. She plays the piano, organ, hand bells, melodica, and recorders for services. She also makes suggestions for the instrumental pieces and sometimes volunteers in writing special music arrangements. She enjoys the quality and variety of the music program, the wonderful dedicated music team, Claire's exceptional leadership, band member and longtime friend Jay's many stellar contributions, and Pastor Erik's openness and appreciation. She's been a music teacher on and off her entire life. She also made a living for several years on the road as a Broadway pit musician. For five years she worked as an arranger for Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, even living for awhile on the circus train. She loves watching films in movie theatres with good sound systems, and she is a house servant to two female rescue cats, Indigo and Peekaboo.

Office Manager

Jan is a lifelong Presbyterian and has been working at St James for over 35 years. She loves the people of St. James and being able to help them when a need arises. She keeps the office running smoothly and efficiently, and offers her generous knowledge of the church’s history to the staff. Although definitely now a Californian, she is a native of Pittsburgh, and enjoys knitting and needlework.

Bookkeeper

Maryam has been working at St. James since 2018. As the Bookkeeper, she is responsible for maintaining the financial records of the church. She is grateful for the culture of financial responsibility and accountability at the church. Maryam is originally from Iran, where she worked as a Sales Order Manager and Commercial Manager. She is grateful for the safety and freedom to worship that is offered here in the US, and she appreciates the wonderful support and encouragement of her church family at St. James.

Custodian