President of The Colossian Forum

Michael Gulker

Michael has a long-standing interest in the oft-times contentious intersection of faith and culture and how both thrive best when rooted in worship. Since 2011, Michael has been leading The Colossian Forum and helping Christian leaders transform conflict into opportunities for deeper discipleship and a more beautiful witness. The Colossian Forum has equipped hundreds of church leaders and thousands of laypeople in transformative Christian practices that harness the energy of everyday conflicts for positive spiritual formation.

A native of West Michigan, Michael studied philosophy and theology at Calvin College, has a divinity degree from Duke Divinity School and is an ordained Mennonite pastor. Before joining The Colossian Forum, he served as pastor of Christ Community Church in Des Moines, Iowa. Michael and his wife, Jodie, have two children.

Lead Pastor, Thornapple Covenant Church

Andrew Vanover

Andrew serves Thornapple Covenant Church as lead pastor (2021). Prior to this, he served as the church’s associate pastor (2011). He is husband to Jennifer and father to Ellis (Eli), Hazel, and Reuben. He holds ordination to word and sacrament in the Evangelical Covenant Church (2013). This is the family of faith that raised and formed him, and he considers it an honor to now serve in its ministerium.

After growing up in Grand Rapids, Andrew studied chemistry and psychology at Hope College. He lived in Georgia, Mexico, and Texas while coordinating approximately sixty international mission trips. He earned an MDiv and MBA from North Park University (Chicago). He cheers for the Green Bay Packers (one perk of marriage, among many) and continues learning to play bridge (yes, the card game). He serves on the board of directors of Covenant Living Communities and Services, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit retirement housing organizations.

“I immediately responded to this invitation because of my long history with The Colossian Forum and Thornapple Covenant’s new vision that anticipates God healing people across all sorts of divides as we increase our allegiance to Jesus alone. Grand Rapids is my home. I believe in the Church. And I am sick and tired of how we Christians have behaved ourselves around differences lately. God desires a better way. I am eager to explore what that might be and maybe help build a new future together.”

Pastor of Spiritual Formation, Tabernacle Community Church

Artie Lindsay

Artie M. Lindsay, Sr. serves as Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Tabernacle Community Church, a multiethnic congregation in Grand Rapids, MI. He earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan before following God’s call into pastoral ministry. He moved from his hometown of Detroit to Grand Rapids, in the fall of 1995 to complete a Master of Theological Studies. at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Pastor Artie has a burden and passion for community revitalization, and he continues to work extensively in the community to address the very real physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of community members, primarily in his role as Board President of the Grand Rapids Nehemiah Project, a local non-profit organization. He also serves as the Director of Flourishing Faith Communities for the Urban Church Leadership Center, mobilizing the church to engage in faith, work, and economics for the common good. He has dedicated the rest of his life to seeking the shalom of the city. He has dedicated himself to seeing all people flourish.

Artie is married to Raquel, and they have three children, AJ, Victoria, and Alysa.

“I’m joining in the work of this project because I love the church and want to see it live into the prayer of Jesus in John 17 and the vision described in Revelation 7:9. I’m committed to being part of any work that helps to move us toward that future.”

Co-Lead Pastor, Mars Hill Bible Church

Ashlee Eiland

Ashlee Eiland is a thought leader, writer, and Bible teacher. She earned her BA in International Relations from the University of Southern California and her Masters in Organizational Leadership from Judson University. She also completed certificate work at both Moody Bible Institute and Fuller Seminary.

Ashlee began her career in HR at Nestlé USA and formerly served as both Co-Lead Pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church and Vice President of Partnerships at The Colossian Forum in West Michigan. She currently leads as Head of School for Living Stones Academy in Grand Rapids. She’s the author of three books: Myles and His Many Friends, HUMAN(KIND), and Say Good. Ashlee and her husband, Delwin, live in Grand Rapids with their three kids.

“I’m looking forward to The Colossian Forum cohort because I believe in God’s beautiful design for the Church. I long to see the Body glorify Christ in its pursuit of Spirit-led renewal and biblical unity as Jesus prayed for us in John 17.”

Campus Pastor, City Harbor Church

Ben Kampmeier

Ben’s vocational ministry journey began in 2008 when he was initially called to serve the church through creative arts ministry. Since then, he has served local churches of all shapes and sizes as a worship leader, young adults pastor, teaching pastor, lead pastor and church planter. After a brief stint managing a local wine bar and cheese shop, he now works full time as a Director of Engagement for Our Daily Bread Ministries. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary (Holland, MI) and is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church of America. He lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife Ann, and their two children. 

“The vision to put a diverse group of pastors in close relational proximity with an emphasis on for lament, honest dialogue and prayer is personally compelling to me, and feels very important for the Church at this moment. I have confidence in The Colossian Forum to facilitate these conversations with care, and am honored to be invited to participate in the conversation. I am curious and hopeful about this time, and really could not say “no” to such a unique invitation! I’m greatly looking forward to meeting the other participating pastors and the conversation and prayer we will share together.”

Lead Pastor, Unison Christian Church

Chase Stancle

Chase Stancle is a fully devoted follower of Christ. He is an eagerly engaged husband and father of four. He also serves as the Lead Pastor of Unison Christian Church. When asked where he is from, Chase often replies, “That’s a tough question; my family moved around a lot when I was a kid but I became an adult in Grand Rapids, MI.” Graduating from New Century Montessori – which at the time was located in the lower North wing of Ottawa Hills – Chase planted his roots deeply into the fertile ground of Southeast Grand Rapids

In early adulthood, Chase became heavily involved with the performing arts community of GR: Participating in several concerts, multiple years in the Festival of The Arts and performing in and directing local plays and musicals. Taking a step back from performance, Chase focused more intently on family life, ministry, and higher education, earning an AS of Christian Ministries, BA of Biblical Studies, and MA of Intercultural Ministry at Wesley Seminary.

In 2015, he led a team dedicated to positively impacting the 49507 community in the planting of Unison Christian Church. Along with leading Unison, Chase has served as board president for Camp Blodgett and currently a board member for the Great Lakes Region of the Wesleyan Church and Grand Rapids Initiative for Leaders (GRIL). He has served many local schools and businesses as a Racial Equity Coach and is always on the lookout for influential involvement in racial equity activism. He enjoys learning, traveling, making music, writing, and spending time with his family.

“I said yes to this project because The Church needs a tool for processing our differences of interpretation and feelings that will allow us to maintain unity. We don’t need to think and believe the same for us to be United. But we do need discipline. I hope this is a tool that will help us cultivate that needed discipline.”

Pastor, Grand Rapids Chinese Christian Church

Cornelius Ting

Cornelius has been serving as pastor at Grand Rapids Chinese Christian since 2004. Born in Malaysia and raised in a pastor family, he came to the US in 1992 as a college student. He got his seminary training at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Calvin Seminary and Drew University before answering the call to serve among Chinese Christians in Michigan. He enjoys worship and teaching ministry and seeing his flocks grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. He also loves gardening, music, and fishing. He and his wife, Corina, have been married since 1996. They are the proud parents of Hannah, who works at Wheaton College and Noah, a senior at Grand Rapids Christian High School.

“With a prayerful and hopeful heart, I am looking towards a renewed passion, courage, and zeal toward true and evident unity within and outside of my local congregation.”

Senior Pastor, New Life Tabernacle Church of God

Dr. James Stokes

James earned an associate’s degree in applied theology from the International Bible seminary in Plymouth, Florida, a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Cornerstone University, a master of arts in ministry leadership at the Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and a doctor of education at Cornerstone University. Senior pastor of the New Life Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, he is also chairman of the Western Michigan Jurisdiction Pastor and Elder’s Council. The founder and president of Living in Fulfillment Everyday Inc., a non-profit community development center, he also served on the board of directors at D. A. Blodgett/St. Johns homes for children, Pastor Care West Michigan, and Multitude Ministries.

“I chose to join the Colossian Forum because I have always aspired to be a change agent and difference maker within my community. After being introduced to this group, I am convinced that this is a great way and best platform to help facilitate significant and transformational change within the body of Christ.”

Associate Pastor and Director of Community Outreach and Mission, Grand Rapids First United Methodist Church

Joan VanDessel

Joan is a United Methodist elder currently serving as one of the pastors to the congregation of Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City, MI, where her primary roles include discipleship and worship, and she provides support in ministries of hospitality, community outreach, facilities, faith development, and congregational care. She previously served as Associate Pastor and Director of Community Outreach and Mission at First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, and prior to entering full-time ministry was a professional clarinetist and music professor. 

Joan is married to her wife, Shammora (Sham), and they have two dogs – Samson and Piper. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, travel, and LEGO.

“I come to this project with a sense of curiosity about what the Holy Spirit has in mind for us. I wholeheartedly believe that the church has a unique voice to offer in these polarizing times, and that Christ calls us to be a beacon of hope and healing. I’m looking forward to seeing how we can begin to model new (and perhaps visit ancient) wants of embodying this call together.”

Pastor, Wyoming Park United Methodist Church

Kim DeLong

Kim was a second career pastor and a lifelong United Methodist, with a first career in medical technology working in hospital laboratories. God called her into ordained ministry in 1992, although it wasn’t until 2008 that she was able to finish seminary and enter full-time ministry. She has served as a Licensed Local Pastor at Unity UMC in Muskegon as an ordained deacon in the role of Director of Education at Grand Rapids First UMC, transitioned to an ordained elder and served the Belding/Turk Lake UMC Charge, the Big Rapids Parish UMC Charge, the Courtland Oakfield/Wyoming Park UMC Charge, and lastly the Wyoming Park UMC full-time. Kim retired in June of 2024. 

She has been married 44 years, has three adult children who are all married, and four grandchildren. She also has one whom she considers a son from the Democratic Republic of Congo who is married, has two young boys, and serves Hope Community Church in Lansing, MI as their pastor. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, quilting, the Detroit Tigers, and Michigan State Spartans (especially basketball!).

“I chose to participate in this project because part of God’s call to me has always been to bridge multiple “worlds,” whether that is cross-cultural, political divides, or other differences. The Church is ‘blessed to be a blessing’ to the world. Part of that call is to learn how to communicate and disagree without demonizing one another. The Church should be leaders in modeling that behavior as the Body of Christ.”

Rector, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Molly Bosscher

Ordained since 2008, Molly’s call to ministry came early and strangely. She knew she was called to something from the time she was 13 years old. Molly serves St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on the north side, having served other parishes in Orlando and Richmond, VA even though her roots are in Michigan. Some people have moved all over the country and are from nowhere; Molly is from everywhere but especially from the Midwest and the south. Molly loves books, being outside, dancing (even though she is Dutch), walking her dog, swimming in Michigan (and Florida) lakes, and deep conversations.

“I’m excited to participate in this wide scoped project. As someone who has been in conversation across difference (political, class, gender, racial, etc.), this work is a passion of mine. It called to me, and I said yes. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Pastor of Formation and Strategic Leadership, Fellowship Reformed Church

Tierra Marshall

Tierra Marshall is a co-lead pastor at Fellowship Reformed Church in Holland, MI. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from Western Michigan University, an M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Western Michigan University, an M.Div from Western Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. Tierra grew up in Buena Vista Township (Saginaw, MI) and currently lives in Holland, MI.

Having spent several years in higher education (Western Michigan University and Providence College) prior to discerning a call to vocational ministry, Tierra works to help people discover Christ, become more like Christ, and share their faith in Christ with others in both word and deed. She is most interested in formation, evangelism, missional discipleship, theology, and strategic leadership. In her free time, you can find her reading really old theology books, sampling a great bourbon, enjoying a meal with friends, spending time on her porch with neighbors, frantically finishing sermons in coffee shops, recovering from the last or planning the next hiking adventure, or arguing for the recognition of Die Hard as a Christmas movie…but almost never watching sports!

“I said “yes” to this cohort because I live for the Church’s mission to proclaim Christ in all times and places. I’m fascinated by the cultural moment we find ourselves in and am interested in learning with/from others as we uncover the unique challenges but also discover the unique opportunities to proclaim Christ in our own time amidst polarization and secularization.”

Co-Lead Pastor, Mars Hill Bible Church

Troy Hatfield

Troy Hatfield is the husband of Lis and father of Maggie. He is the Lead Pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church, a community of Jesus people he has served since 2004. Before coming to Grand Rapids, he served for six years as Worship Leader at Christ Community Church in St Charles, IL. Troy began writing his doctoral dissertation in December 2022, seeking a Doctorate in Worship Studies (a hybrid Liturgical History and Practical Theology degree) from the Robert E Webber Institute for Worship Studies. When not reading books about liturgical theology written by people long departed from this earth, Troy enjoys listening to and making music (ask about his vinyl record collection), cooking, traveling, and getting to know people while sipping a Cortado or single-malt Scotch.

“This year-long project interests me because I am a curious person living in an increasingly non-curious world, defined not only by more entrenched beliefs and perspectives, but a growing refusal to hear or seek to understand the perspective of others outside our tribe. I’m interested in being stretched and equipped to turn that tide ever-so-slightly in my spheres of influence. And I refuse to give up on the local church and its call to be a peculiar people, populated by a diverse batch of folks, nourished by the Vine and sustained by the Spirit.”