Pastor Louise’s theological development began early in life as a preacher’s kid (P.K.), with her father a United Methodist Minister.  Her mother, also a United Methodist, served as an officer among the first wave of “Women in the Air Force” (WAF).  Between her two parents, Louise was raised believing Christians have an edict to help others and treat everyone as loved by God, and for the need to empower women.  Attending United States International University (USIU), in the School of Performing and Visual Arts, Louise found herself studying amidst people from other countries & cultures and sought to learn about their worldviews & religious faiths.  After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Louise felt ‘Called’ to the ministry but having been raised a P.K., she just didn’t ‘want’ to be a minister.  Imitating Jonah (yes, the man swallowed by a whale), she fled California and started working in the secular world.  But Louise could not escape God’s constant ’Call’ and finally enrolled at Claremont School of Theology in 1984.  Ordained in 1988, Pastor Louise earned her Master of Divinity in 1989 and was granted the Wilshire Preaching Award at graduation (which she attributes to her acting degree from USIU).

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Pastor Louise met her husband, Scott, through the young adult ministry she started at her first position as ordained clergy.  As part of that young adult ministry, Pastor Louise invited representatives from other faiths to share their religious beliefs, to promote peace through education and understanding.  In 1994 she received the Baháʼí “Models of Unity” award for this work.  After four years of marriage, Louise and Scott were blessed with their daughter, Dalyn, in 1998.  As a mom, she became the Leader of Dalyn’s Girl Scout troop, which was comprised of girls from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, & religiously unaffiliated families.  Over the course of Pastor Louise’s ministry, she has performed interreligious, interracial, and LGBTQ weddings in a variety of settings.

Pastor Louise remains committed to upholding the intrinsic value of all people, pursuing Social Justice for marginalized communities, seeking religious pluralism with all faiths, and believing in the power of God’s love to triumph over the hatred and division in our world.

Barb is an amazing jazz pianist with more than a decade of experience leading and loving worship. She is well-versed in the contemporary Christian music of today and loves to take beloved hymns with their strong melodies and beautiful texts and reset them to modern harmonies. She is also an experienced teacher of jazz, having spent years as the Director of Jazz Studies at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, where she directed student big bands, combos, and studio work. As a freelance and studio musician, she has toured, gigged, and recorded with artists such as Smokey Robinson, Lou Rawls, Ben Vereen, and others. A committed, progressive Christian, Barb brings a lifetime of music and ministry to the CVUMC mix.

This incredibly soulful singer is from Omaha, Nebraska. A talented drummer, excellent vocalist and energetic performer, Ricky has toured all over the world performing with War, Ambrosia, Gary Wright, The Commodores, and Earth, Wind and Fire to name a few. He is also a successful songwriter composing jingles and songs for movies and television. His work has been featured on MTV, VH1, CNN and The Today Show.

Tim is a multi-talented and respected guitarist, composer/producer and educator. He has a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of North Texas in Jazz Guitar and a Master's Degree in Studio-Jazz Guitar Performance from USC. Tim has taught in the USC Studio Jazz Guitar Department since 1995 and has numerous TV/Film credits including: CBS, Steven Spielberg, Felicity, Queer Eye for The Straight Guy, The Bold and the Beautiful, All My Children, 48 Hours, Ed and many more. He was the film composer for "Angels With Angels" a feature film starring Rodney Dangerfield and Frank Gorshen (Warner.) His performance and recording credits include: Jon B, Steven Perkins (the drummer for Jane's Addiction,) Jimmy Haslip, Keller Williams, Korrupt, James Torme, Branscumb Richmond and the Renegade Posse, Barry Williams, Leif Garrett, Deborah Gibson, song writers Marylyn and Allen Bergman ("The Way We Were") and the jam band Modereko which he cofounded with John Molo (Drummer Phil and Friends, John Fogerty.) His publishing credits include: "Blues Guitar Lessons Volume 3" Alfred Publishing.

Musicians Institute “Outstanding Achievement” graduate, Alexis Sklarevski has worked with Crosby, Stills & Nash, Manhattan Transfer, Jackson Browne, Dweezil & Ahmet Zappa, Albert Lee, Carole King, Rita Coolidge, Johnny Rivers, Jamie Walters, Daniela Romo, Martha Reeves, and Chuck Berry. He has performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman and numerous film, TV, and jingle sessions.

Alexis is the author of the critically acclaimed instructional video The Slap Bass Program and also coproduced Fingerstyle Funk, the instructional video by legendary Tower of Power Bassist Francis Rocco Prestia. In addition to having written the Bottom-Line Bass column in Bass Player magazine for seven years, Alexis is the author of Bass Playing Techniques: The Complete Guide (Hal Leonard/MI Press), and has done bass clinics throughout Japan and Europe.

Currently, he continues to record and perform with many artists in the U.S. and around the world. At MI, Alexis teaches Playing Techniques, Blues Bass, Beatles Bass, Fusion LPW, and Private Lessons.

Molly has been attending CVUMC with her mom Janice since she was 4 and was baptized and confirmed in the church. She uses her deep knowledge and love of the church to run this website and the CVUMC social media accounts as well as being the event coordinator. If you or someone you know needs space for an event and group meetings of any nature, she will happily find you a suitable space on campus.