Pastor Charlene is an ordained United Church of Christ pastor. She is the daughter of a United Church of Christ pastor, who served churches in Illinois and Wisconsin. Charlene in the middle of three siblings. She earned her BA from Loyola University of Chicago where she studied Political Science and Philosophy, spending a year abroad in Rome. She earned a MA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut with a focus on Social Movements, Political Theory, and Comparative Politics. During her first years in Connecticut, she lived with her grandmother on the family farm. During these years, she taught American Government while doing doctoral work. She had ignored and pushed aside her call to ministry for years, saying no to becoming a pastor. She finally said yes and attended McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, a Presbyterian Seminary that embraced diversity by being 1/3 Korean, 1/3 black, and 1/3 white as well as Christians on from Pentecostal to Unitarian, and many international students. She learned to listen to other voices and perspectives, while falling in love with the creativity of worship and the beauty and depth of the scriptures.

As a pastor, she served churches in Connecticut, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois. She has an adult son who lives in San Francisco with his wife. She has a cat and a cattledog/coonhound mix. She loves to garden and cook vegetarian meals. If asked what her favorite scripture is she often points to the story found in Mark 7:31-37.  At the center, are the words- be opened. This passage is a story of healing and an invitation to stay open to what comes next. These words have become her breath prayer reminding her to open her ears to hear before she makes a pastoral call, begins teaching, enters a meeting, or is faced with a challenge. She sees these words as an invitation to invite the Holy in and a reminder that everyone is a beloved child of God.