Get to know us a little...

Brae Adams

Provisional Pastor

Brae was born and raised in Memphis, TN.  After college at Mississippi State, Brae worked as a Montessori teacher in North Carolina and later lived in Georgia and South Carolina before moving to Rochester in the fall of 2008. She has a son, Thomas, also known as Kit, born in 1997; and two daughters, Avery, born in 1999; and Hayden, born in 2002. When they moved North, none of them had never seen snow.  They have now!

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Brae received her call to ministry in 2010 and enrolled part time at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinty school two years later.  She graduated with her Master's of Divinity degree in the Spring of 2018. She is an educator in Transgender parenting and Queer theology, as well as an activist and ally for Human Rights throughout the city. Brae is active in many community organizations, including the planning committees for the annual Rochester Transgender Day of Remembrance, the Christian Faith and the LGBT experience lecture series at CRCDS, and the 2019 Human Rights Campaign Gala Committee where she is co-chair for scholarships. When asked how she came to Open Arms, Brae likes to say that she answered an ad to share a four week sermon series in 2014 and just never left!

Bob Cramer

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I have been a part of this church for about 8 years. I have been married to Rich for 5 years. We have two kids, George and Rooty (our dogs) and our chatting African Gray Parrot Pekoe. I am looking forward to retirement in the 2018.

DJ Dehmler

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​DJ Dehmler has attended Open Arms since 1992. They have served on the Board, technical team, choir, Community Pillar team and TRANSformative Ministry. They have also been a deacon and cell group facilitator. DJ is genderqueer and pansexual; they are married to BJ, live in Pittsford and love God, our congregation, cats, books, chocolate and computers (not necessarily in that order).

 

Amy Doohan

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Renee Eberling                                                                                              Spirituality Pillar Co-chair

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Renee has been a member of Open Arms since 1997. She has served as clerk of the Board and has been a church deacon.  She is currently a member of the Spirituality Team and manages Sunday fellowship.

 

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Linda Herman

Children's Education

 

Linda is very excited to be our lead Children's Sunday School teacher. She has lots of plans for the kids including using songs, prayers and an award winning children's bible.  She believes that we can all learn from the children.  

 

She started coming to Open Arms MCC in the year 2000, when her partner brought her to a service at the end of the year. She believes it was one of the best things that happened to her after coming out. For Linda, Open Arms MCC is a safe place of acceptance.

 

Linda is the proud mother of 2 and an even prouder grandmother of 1 fabulous grandson.  

Laura Thomas                                                                                              Spirituality Pillar Co-chair

 

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Jerry Murphy                                                                                              Bookkeeper

 

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