Pastor

Rev. Bethany Meier-Evans (She/They) is a Midwesterner who has always dreamed of living in the Southwest. She was born and raised in Michigan where she spent most of her time doing theater, championing social justice causes, and marathoning her favorite TV shows. If you ask her nicely, she is happy to pull out her “hand map” and point out the various places she lived—including Hell, MI (yes, it does freeze over.)

While in Michigan, they obtained a B.A. and an M.A. in Women and Gender Studies. They were hoping to pursue work in a non-profit that focused on rights for the LGBTQ community or for women. However, she kept feeling the pull towards becoming a Minister and in 2013 finally accepted that calling and applied for seminary.

Bethany attended Central Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kansas and graduated in 2017 with an M.Div. While in Kansas, she fell in love with the United Church of Christ and worked for 6 years in a congregation in Kansas City, MO. It was this congregation which walked them through both the discernment and the ordination process and was their first ministry call.

During her time as their Associate Minister, she was able to help the church grow in many different ways including: starting a youth program, starting a social group for folks in their 20s and 30s, organizing and volunteering at the church booth at KC Pride, reaching out to the local LGBTQ community, launching the first ever KC LGBTQ Wedding Fair, and much more.

Their time in Kansas also helped them to meet their wife, Kelsee Meier-Evans. Kelsee is a graphic designer and massage therapist who loves reading—especially LGBTQ fiction. Most nights you can find the two of them working on embroidery or knitting projects on the couch while marathoning RuPaul’s Drag Race, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or the latest Netflix Original. They have four fur babies—a chihuahua mix named Hallie, a dachshund mix named Rory, and two cats named Lady and Maia.

Bethany was called to be the Pastor at First Christian Church of Las Cruces on March 15, 2020. She is excited to be part of a progressive, open and affirming faith community in Las Cruces! You can contact Bethany at: bmeier@fcclc.org or find her on Facebook at: www. facebook.com/revbethany.meier/