Reverend Nathan Meckley
Rev. Nathan Meckley is a gifted preacher and teacher, a professionally trained musician, and a long-term MCC ministry leader. Raised in rural western Pennsylvania and reared faithfully in the Presbyterian tradition, Nathan has been active in ministry since 1983. An ordained MCC clergyperson since 2003, he has served diverse congregations in California and Florida. He received preaching awards for exciting and challenging sermons, served as adjunct faculty at the Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, CA), and taught courses, workshops and seminars in numerous settings. A pastor with a holistic vision for spiritual community, Nathan has significant church management and development experience, gifts for worship excellence, enthusiasm for multi-generational ministry, commitment to social justice, and a passion to equip all people to use their gifts in ministry. Prior to receiving his Master of Divinity degree from Claremont School of Theology (Claremont, CA) in 2003, Nathan studied as a classical singer, receiving both a Bachelor of Music degree (Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ) and a Master of Music degree (University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA). He also serves as a volunteer member of the Board of of Directors of Bridging Voices, Portland’s GSA youth chorus.
Reverend Grant Helbley
Rev. Grant Helbley (they/them) is ordained in the United Church of Christ and thrilled to be serving as ministry associate at MCC Portland. Grants preaching is Biblically grounded, spiritually expansive, and relevant. They believe in listening deeply to Spirit because changing the world starts with ourselves. Grant has some experience with big internal changes. They grew up in the beautiful Willamette Valley, studied Theology at Walla Walla University, got married, and were an international Seventh-day Adventist missionary before they came out. In 2015 they completed a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the Methodist Theological School of Ohio and moved back home to Oregon with their two children. They worked as a mental health professional in Portland for a couple years before completing 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Emmanuel Medical Center. Grant has presented dozens of workshops in both professional and community settings on topics of gender, power dynamics, sexual diversity, diverse relationship styles, and consent. In addition to serving at MCC Portland they are also a Chaplain Associate at Mt Hood Medical Center where they love being present with people in crisis and particularly working with the dead and dying. To nourish their connection with Spirit they talk to plants, take long walks, spin wool, and listen deeply to the stories of others.
Todd Fadel - Music
An Oregon landmark, Todd is a consummate weirdo. He’s literally game for anything, really. He’s been at MCC for 4 years running, zero years walking. In his “spare time” he’s a full-time music educator, partner to a superhero and dad to two legends. He also does volunteer work looking after two dogs and a cat in his home.