Introducing The Reverend gretchen Sausville
- tomkatx3
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Why First Pres. Howard County
I am humbled and thrilled to accept the call to serve as your next Pastor and Head of Staff! From the very first conversations, I’ve been blown away by the warmth, care, and integrity of this community. You are a congregation that puts heart at the center of everything, where faith, laughter, and thoughtful questions live side by side, and where people genuinely live out the gospel in real, human ways.
What really drew me to Howard County wasn’t just your commitment to ministry, it was the way you care for one another. I see a community that listens, supports, and welcomes; a congregation willing to ask the hard questions while also celebrating joy, connection, and life together. This mix of courage and kindness, curiosity and care, is rare and beautiful.
I can’t wait to join you in this next chapter -to worship, serve, and grow alongside you. I hope to bring my gifts, creativity, and whole-hearted energy to support the ministry you’ve built and nurture the incredible Spirit already here. I’m excited to learn from you, dream with you, and see what God will do through us as we share this journey together.
Thank you for welcoming me with open hearts. I’m honored to be called to this place, and I am excited to see what we will build together, in faith, with laughter, and a whole lot of heart.
Fun Facts about gretchen:
The lowercase “g” in my name is not a typo—it appears that way on my birth certificate because my mother loved the artistry of the lowercase letter.
I love the art of crafting worship and will happily geek out over biblical exegesis.
I love history and learning people’s stories—past, present, and unfolding.
Yes, I play the New York Times word games. Daily. Faithfully.
Homemade soup is always in season, and I love to cook.
I am a devoted pet parent to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Beaken and Banks.
I am the descendent of a long line of Quakers who arrived in the colonies with William Penn.
My brother and I raised goats as children (yes, really).
I love all four seasons—each one has something to teach us.
My mother and brother will be within daylight driving distance of Columbia, Maryland, and my five-year-old nephew and his parents—both professors at the University of Maryland—live in Washington, D.C. WIN!
Dame Judi Dench made me tea for my 30th birthday.
Did I mention I play guitar (it has been awhile), sing, and ski (yes Baltimore has a ski club)?
Resume Highlights
Pastoral and Head of Staff Experience
Presbytery of Denver: Stated Clerk - 2023-2026
The Merging Congregations of Arvada (Colorado): Co-Pastor and Head of Staff - 2021-2023
Arvada Presbyterian Church (Colorado): Pastor and Head of Staff - 2017-2022
Westminster Presbyterian Church (Connecticut): Acting Head of Staff - 2011-2012, 2014; Associate Pastor - 2007-2017
Education
University of Northern Colorado (B.A. in Performing and Visual Arts)
Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div with a Women’s Studies Emphasis)
Selected Accomplishments and Continuing Education
Westminster Woods Camp & Conference Center: Women's Conference worship leader - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019, 2024; Keynote speaker - 2026
Colorado Council of Churches: covenanting denomination representative- 2023-2026
PC(USA) Transitional Ministry Education Consortium: faculty member - 2023-2026
Lilly Foundation: Clergy Renewal Grant recipient - 2024
Red Rocks Easter Sunrise Service: worship leadership team member - 2024
NEXT Church (https://nextchurch.net/): Conference participant, Clergy Coaching cohort leader, Community Organizing cohort leader, and blogger - 2013-2024
Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary (https://www.jcsts.org/): Certificate in Community Organizing - 2019
Presbyterian Theological Seminary: Women in Ministry Committee member - 2013-2019
Presbytery of Southern New England: Worship Planning Team member - 2014-2017
Yale Divinity School: Field Education Site Supervisor - 2010-2016
Good Company Theater (https://www.goodcompanytheaterct.org/): founding member and vice-chair - 2010-2013