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Rev. Diane Kay Martin
Chaplain
In her "day job," Diane serves on the team of
staff chaplains for the Penrose-St. Francis hospital system. She very much
enjoys connecting with patients where they are in their spiritual journey and
affirming whatever ways they have found to draw strength from their faith in
light of the ups and downs that life has thrown them. Especially rewarding is
her work with the Behavioral Health patients at St. Francis Health Center twice
a week.
Entrepreneur
Under the auspices of her umbrella business called Write Rev, Diane founded
Unchurch in May 2009 on the New Testament "tent-maker" model and draws no income
from it. She saw the need for a gathering for Christians who are not comfortable
in a traditional church setting; that's why a good share of the ministry of
Unchurch takes place through email and the Unchurch web site. Diane also works
part-time for Baret Inc as their primary technical writer and sells items online
through Amazon to help make ends meet.
Interfaith Advocate
Diane serves on the Board of Directors of the Center for
Christian-Jewish Dialogue (www.ccjd.us). At the
organization's Eleventh Annual
Dinner and Dialogue on September 25, 2008, she was honored to received the C. Gary Mammel
Memorial Award for her faithful volunteer service to the organization since its
inception in 1996, having served as its newsletter editor and as its
webmaster. In 2009, she had the privilege of presenting the
award to the children of First United Methodist Church for their interfaith
work.
Social Justice Advocate
In 2009, when Diane was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ
in Colorado Springs (before Unchurch was an official entity), she chaired
FCUCC's Open & Affirming (ONA) Committee. In the UCC, ONA means all people -
regardless - are welcome and affirmed in fellowship, membership and ministry.
FCUCC declared itself an ONA congregation ten years ago, but its ONA Committee
works to maintain awareness of issues of inclusion. As ONA chair, Diane
organized what the church newsletter called "our best Pride Sunday ever."
Likewise, Unchurch has marched in the Pride Parade both years of its existence
and has voted itself to also have ONA status.
Pastor
Before chaplaincy and Unchurch, Diane served as pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in La Crosse,
Wisconsin. She was ordained by the Northeast Association of the Rocky
Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ on September 26,
2004, and began serving Trinity UCC on October 1 of the same year. Her
ministry with the congregation of Trinity UCC ended in October 2008 when
she relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to seek ministry
opportunities there. She has active ministerial standing with the
Southeast Association of the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United
Church of Christ.
Student
Diane earned her Master of Divinity
degree with distinction at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, in
August, 2003. She completed her first two years of seminary studies at Wartburg
Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. She also holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in business administration from Regis University, also in Denver; and an
Associate of Arts degree in journalism from Pikes Peak Community College in
Colorado Springs, Colorado. Diane continues her education through CE programs
offered at Penrose Hospital and through the Rocky Mountain Conference of the
UCC.
Wife, Mother, Grandmother
Rev. Martin is married and thinks her husband is the best thing since sliced
bread (as the saying goes). She's also the mother of a blended
family of five adult children and their spouses and spouse-to-be, and grandmother of seven grandchildren,
all in the Colorado Springs area (which some will say is the real reason she
moved back to Colorado).
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