Leadership
Session members are elected and ordained by the congregation to serve as the governing body of Green Mountain Presbyterian Church.
Deacons are elected and ordained by the congregation. Deacons are the "servants" or "caregivers" of the congregation.
Staff
Rev. Dr. Gretchen Hope Wilson
Pastor
The Reverend Dr. Gretchen Hope Wilson
Pastor Gretchen was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the youngest in a family of three children. Her family moved to Oklahoma when she was four years old. The family quickly became involved with a Presbyterian Church there. Through her involvement with the church, throughout childhood and adolescence, her dream and sense of call into ministry began to take shape.
In her undergraduate program she studied Christian Education and Philosophy and then went on to seminary at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, where she graduated with her Master of Divinity. In 2013 she completed her Doctor of Ministry in the Practice of Preaching from Iliff School of Theology in Denver.
She has served congregations in Colorado for over two decades now and has been with Green Mountain Presbyterian in Lakewood for over 15 years.
In addition to her pastoral work, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and other outdoor adventures with her husband Tom.
She has joyously entered the ranks of grandmother now!
Gretchen on Hauyna (Wayna) Picchu while climbing with friends in Machu Picchu, Peru!
Pastor of Visitation
The Reverend Dr. Dwight Blackstock
Dwight Blackstock was born in Salt Lake City and grew up in Southern California. He is a retired PC(USA) minister, having served churches in California, Wyoming and Colorado beginning in 1972. He was the Senior Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in Centennial from 1987-2002, but resigned because of a back injury. He was on disability until he retired in December 2011. While on disability and following retirement, he served several churches in Denver Presbytery as part-time interim or temporary supply pastor. Dwight also served on several presbytery and synod committees over the years, including Committee on Ministry, Presbytery Council, Church Extension, Permanent Judicial Commission and others. He was Moderator of Denver Presbytery in 1998 and has been a commissioner to General Assembly twice. Dwight’s undergraduate degree is in sociology. He is a graduate of Princeton Seminary (M.Div.) and Claremont School of Theology (D.Min.) He and wife Sharon have been married since 1971 and have two adult sons and a bunch of grandchildren. He loves French Silk pie (Village Inn), photography, old westerns on television, going to movies, cruising, road trips with Sharon, Ghost Ranch, and Ana, his miniature schnauzer.
Pastor Emeritus
The Reverend Rich Stewart
Rich Stewart spent most of his years in ministry as chaplain at Craig Hospital in suburban Denver and retired in 2005. Additionally, he served Green Mountain Presbyterian Church for nearly 2 decades as a supply preacher, part-time interim pastor, beloved “Rent-a-Rev”, then pastor of visitation after Pastor Gretchen arrived. In 2019 he announced he was “really going to retire this time” at the end of May. On June 2, 2019, the congregation presented him with the Pastor Emeritus award in grateful recognition for his years of loving service to GMPC.
Director of Music
Carrie Fletcher
Carrie Fletcher has been a music leader at GMPC since 2007, where she plays piano and directs the choir as well as working with the children and youth. She received her B.A. from Adams State College with a Major in Vocal Music Education and M.A. in Technology in the Classroom from Lesley College. She has 28 years of experience teaching choir, piano and drama in Kindergarten through ninth grades in Jefferson County schools. She brings many years of non-professional music leadership, giving private lessons, musical theatre, and accompaniment.
Organist/Accompanist
Kathie Ashley
Kathie Ashley came to GMPC in 2013 after having accompanied several churches in Parker, Castle Rock, Grand Junction and Colorado Springs. She earned her B.S. in Music Education at McPherson College and has taught German, music, and orchestra in her public school career. Kathie is now retired from full-time education but continues to substitute teach in local schools. Her musical talents include piano, organ, harpsichord, celeste, handbells, and singing.
Bel Canto Bell Choir Director
Kathy Zachman
Kathy Zachman is a retired music educator who loves sharing music with all ages. She and her husband Bob (also a member of GMPC) have two children and six grandchildren. Kathy enjoys time with grand-kids, calligraphy, reading, fitness classes, walking, and traveling internationally as well as nationally (by motorcycle). She is the secretary of GMPC’s Worship Commission and the director of GMPC’s Bel Canto Hand-bell Choir.
Office Manager
Fran Cook
Fran Cook failed retirement (several times) and is thrilled to now be managing the GMPC office. A retired elementary teacher, she was office administrator at a Presbyterian church in Tabernash until retiring from that position in 2012 and moving to Denver to be in the same city as her two sons and grandson. Fran began managing the GMPC office in 2014 and feels blessed to be able to continue in this position. She loves serving the church family.
Finance Secretary
Kathy Ziegenfus
Kathy Ziegenfus was born and raised in Scranton, PA where her family continues to live. For 5 years she was an office manager and bookkeeper for the Boy Scouts of America; then in 1971 she moved to Denver and pursued a 37-year career with the National Park Service in Denver, retiring in 2008 as a management analyst. Kathy joined GMPC in 1986 and has worked with the children in Sunday School and the nursery for 30 years. Currently she is the financial secretary for GMPC, which involves accounts receivable, accounts payable, data entry and providing monthly financial records (including giving statements).