Reverend David Evans, M.Div.

Associate Pastor

Dave began serving David’s Church as a temporary interim associate pastor at the end of April, 2024 and will continue in that capacity until the Church Council is able to hire and install a full-time Interim Pastor.   Dave is an ordained minister with 10 years of service as a church pastor and 12 years of service as a hospital and college chaplain.  He started attending David’s Church in April 2023 with his wife Jill Evans and became members in July 2023.  He and Jill joined David’s Church because they are attracted to and supportive of the open and affirming expression of love here.

Dave grew up in Arlington, Texas with 4 brothers and a sister. He is an identical twin to Don Evans, who lives and works in Kettering.  Dave obtained his B.A. in Religion from Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas and obtained his Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan.  He served as pastor of four Seventh-day Adventist church districts in Texas.

He moved to Kettering in 1987 to study Clinical Pastoral Education at Kettering Heath, where he served for 35 years in a variety of roles during his career—hospital chaplain, college chaplain, employee assistance professional, employee relations manager in human resources and as an administrator, educator and coach in leadership and organizational development.  He retired in 2022 and stays in touch with friends and colleagues at Kettering Health.  Dave was a member of the Kettering Adventist Church and served there as Head Elder and Chair of the Church Board.  He treasures his memories of 37 years and the many friends he made there.

Dave’s wife Jill is professor of English and Literature and taught for 38 years at Kettering College until she retired from teaching in 2022.  They married in 1991 while Dave was chaplain at the college.  Their daughter, Alexis Evans, is a math teacher at Baldwin High School on the Island of Maui, Hawaii, where they love to vacation and spend time with her.

Dave has a passion for gardening and has a hot house in his basement. He and his brother, Don, go bicycling on the rails to trails paths in Southwestern Ohio.  Dave has a woodworking shop in his garage where he builds cabinets and tables and enjoys home improvement projects.  Dave is an active birder with a life list of 355 birds. He once banded birds during spring migration at Point Pele National Park in Ontario, Canada, saw Snowy Owls in the Canadian Arctic and added 22 birds to his life list from his visits to Hawaii.

You can reach Dave via email at dave@davidsucc.org

Emily Phillips

Director of Faith Formation and Family Life

Pastor Emily has called David’s UCC “home” since becoming a member in 2017.

While born nearby in Springfield, Ohio, Emily was raised in Upstate New York (near Albany) and then lived in Buffalo, New York for about 15 years before returning to Ohio to be close to family. Emily graduated from the State University of New York, University at Buffalo with a BS in Sociology. Emily felt the call to ministry from a young age but was never quite sure how to make it all work. In 2019, Emily enrolled part-time at United Theological Seminary here in Dayton, Ohio. For the Fall 2023 semester, Emily transferred to Eden Theological Seminary to study full-time and complete her Master of Divinity via their accredited, online program. Upon graduation, Emily will pursue ordination with the United Church of Christ.

In June 2023, Emily was authorized as a Licensed Minister by the Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association, Heartland Conference of the United Church of Christ. This allows her to lead worship and perform specific ministerial duties such as Communion, Baptisms, Funerals, etc. within the David’s congregation.

Emily loves to read, which is great since her classes all require a ton of reading and also enjoys watching suspense/thriller movies! Emily loves spending time with her family and was thrilled when she and her sister were able to convince their parents to move from Upstate New York to Beavercreek! She enjoys maintaining her flower beds and small vegetable garden while fighting off the squirrels in her perfectly sized (small) yard. She loves supporting the performing arts in Dayton and has volunteered for Beavercreek Community Theatre several times over the last decade. Some of the causes which are near and dear to her heart are LGBTQIA+ rights, racial equity, and reproductive justice – which is just one reason she feels at home with the United Church of Christ denomination and at David’s UCC!

Pastor Emily’s office hours change based on her class schedule, please call the Church Office for current hours.

You can contact Pastor Emily at ephillips@davidsucc.org.

Tim Williams

Director of Music

Tim came to serve as Music Director of David’s Church in July of 2007, after serving as a church musician and music director since he graduated from high school. Tim has served in Presbyterian, United Methodist, Lutheran and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations before coming to the United Church of Christ.

Tim was born and raised in Covington, Kentucky, the second of five brothers who all became educators. He credits his grandmother, Maridale Jackson for beginning his music training, going on to study vocal performance and piano at Northern Kentucky University and Edgecliff College in Cincinnati. Tim ended up graduating from Wright State University with a degree in Elementary Education, and returned to earn an Master’s Degree in Gifted Education, with an emphasis in music.

His responsibilities include selecting music for and directing the adult, children, and Handbell choirs. He contributes additionally by playing for services once a month when the organist is off. Tim also leads the orchestra and Chancel Choir for our yearly Christmas Cantata, and small chamber orchestra for the Good Friday Tenebrae service, as well as arranging for guest soloists and ensembles during the summer months when the Choir is off, and extra musicians as needed throughout the year.

His interests include all things Broadway, and he also teaches a variety of musicians and singers in private lessons. Landscaping is a primary interest in the spring and summer months, and he can be found tending his flower beds every day. His long time partner is Steve Kerr. Tim can be reached at wtimothy248@gmail.com.

Lyn Morton

Organist

After filling in at David’s Church during the summers of 2005 & 2006, Lyn became our settled organist in the fall of 2006. Previously, she had been the organist at Faith UCC for a year, and interim organist at First United Methodist Church (both in Hamilton), for 6 months. She has accompanied a gospel quartet, numerous choirs and soloists, and played for hundreds of weddings, starting at the age of 13. Recreationally, Lyn has been a member of “Out of the Attic,” a classic rock band, for the past 10 years, playing primarily for non-profit fund-raisers. Lyn worked as a school psychologist for the Vandalia-Butler City School District. Lyn can be reached at lmmorton55@gmail.com

Gwen Crutchleo

Pastoral Assistant

Gwen began working at David’s in November of 2021 after various years as a mom, youth minister, and office manager. She and her husband, Brad, moved to Dayton in October of 2021 and quickly felt right at home. All together they have SIX kids (thankfully all out of teenage-hood), two granddaughters, and three dogs. Gwen loves to spend her time hiking, camping, quilting (thanks to the quilting ministry at David’s!), and traveling. She loves visitors to the office, so stop by and chat between noon and 5, M-F! Gwen can be reached at gwen@davidsucc.org.

Kathy Goodpaster

Clerical and Accounting Coordinator

Kathy has been at David’s since October of 2018, and wears many hats in the office. From donations to bulletins, to flowers and campaigns, she covers it all! Kathy grew up in Kettering and worked for Reynolds and Reynolds and USAirways before ending up at David’s. In her spare time, she loves to thrift shop, travel, and spend time with Greg and friends. Kathy can be reached at kathygoodpaster@davidsucc.org

Ed Webb

Audio-Visual Supervisor

Ed has been at David’s for about sixteen years,  and is very involved with the church running the audio and Livestream each week as well as a member of the Christian Education Board and Confirmation Class. He has gone on seven of the last eight Pilgrimages. Ed is a Navy Veteran and former Firefighter/EMT-P. He enjoys fishing, photography and working with veterans, and is also employed part-time at Cabela’s Outdoor World. He and wife, Louise, have combined five children and seven grandchildren. He’s also the guy in the big red suit in December… Ed can be reached at aedwebbdj@att.net

Brian Dalton

Treasurer

Brian lives in Kettering with his wife, Tammy, and their five children. When not busy in the office he enjoys boating, camping, and riding his motorcycle. He sometimes works remotely, so if you need to reach him, email: treasurer@davidsucc.org.