Doug Gerdts: Bio

Douglas D. Gerdts
Pastor and Head of Staff

(to email Doug, click here)

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Doug's Statement of Faith

I was born and raised in and around New York City until my teenage years when I moved to a Detroit suburb. During high school, I attended Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, MI; first as a day student, and finishing as a boarder. Following graduation, I continued my westward migration and settled in Santa Barbara, CA., where I attended the University of California, majoring in Business Economics.

My career in the hotel business began during college when I was hired by a young entrepreneur with a vision of restoring classic small resorts on the California coast. I shared that dream and we worked together for 14 years, renovating and building a dozen hotels ranging from exclusive coastal resorts in the west to large convention hotels in Arizona, Colorado, and the east coast.

Not only did the hotel business provide gainful, challenging employment; it also served as the introduction to my wife of 24 years, Walle. We courted over the front desk of a hotel, married, and began our family in Santa Barbara.

As our children reached school age, we sensed a need to relocate to a more "family-friendly" environment. Walle and I consequently embarked on an in-depth study of the United States looking for the "perfect" (for us, at least) hometown. We systematically analyzed the demographics and descriptions of over 30 cities fitting our initial profile and selected Lexington, KY. After I took a weeklong scouting trip, we moved our family east to a city where we knew no one.

Lexington turned out to be great. Our family has been swarmed with friends, received quality education, and enjoyed unparalleled quality of life. It was in Lexington that I surrendered to a nagging push (nothing gentle and graceful like a "call"!) to ministry that had its inception years earlier in a vibrant and active UCC Congregational Church in Santa Barbara. Walle went back to work full-time and I went under care of Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church in Lexington and attended Lexington Theological Seminary.

After seminary I was called by Maxwell Street as their Associate Pastor and continued yet another stage in a relationship with that congregation. That community of faith has been, and continues to be, defined by joy, movement of the Spirit, and risk-filled forays in the search of justice. While at Maxwell Street, Walle too gave in to a long-term call on her life, resigned from her job as the Executive Director of a professional hockey team (AHL) and enrolled in nursing school. She graduated after two arduous years and is currently a pediatric oncology nurse working in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at A. I. Hospital for Children. She has recently recieved her certification as a Healing Touch Practitioner and is beginning her practice in that discipline.

In 2001, I accepted an interim position with First Presbyterian in Maysville, KY; a small historic city perched on the Ohio River. Serving the congregation of that city-center church was a time of growth and energy heightened by a strong sense of heritage and tradition.

Since July of 2003 our family has lived in Wilmington and in just a short time, came to consider this city to be our home. In so many ways, I see my life's experiences, both ecclesiastical and secular, as leading me to the doors of First & Central Presbyterian Church in the city center of Wilmington. This inclusive community of gifted and diverse people continually challenges, teaches, and cares for one another in exciting and creative ways. It is a privilege to serve among people of faith with a passion for justice and love. I am convinced that as God's Spirit leads the people of this extraordinary church, we shall joyfully, lovingly and with great vigor pursue the peace, justice, and reconciliation that Christ embodied.

In an effort to continually equip myself to effectively serve the church and the community, I am studying at Lancaster Theological Seminary with the goal of a Doctorate in Ministry.

God continually brings new beginnings; to First & Central, especially! We embark anew on a road this church has traveled for generations with companions rested for the journey. God calls us from tomorrow, we follow that Spirit of restlessness and, together, strong and faithful, we seek to serve the least of our sisters and brothers.

Mindful, always, that God is good and that God will provide.