Beth Fry

Connecting Ministry
A Portland native from the era before it was such a hip city, Beth is thrilled to be back in near-in Northeast PDX, after Lake Oswego, Los Angeles, Connecticut and NYC stays. Her kids are grown and launched, so she's exploring the next chapter in her life. It's likely to include cooking, entertaining, walking and hiking, reading, art and culture. Beth is passionate about connecting people to each other. She believes we expand our ideas of God when we know more God-seekers. Beth loves Pearl Church's community and the way Pearl examines theological paradigms so that they become powerfully new.

Brian Cheney

Director of Music
Brian grew up in Portola, California. He moved to Portland in 1998 for college, earning a Bachelor’s in Bible and Music Ministry. He has been a part of Pearl Church since 2002. Brian married Christopher in 2018, and the two enjoy traveling abroad and taking backpacking trips together. Apart from music, Brian's hobbies include reading, and practicing his Spanish. One of Brian's favorite life experiences was traveling alone through Mexico and Guatemala during his sabbatical. He spent his time during the trip pondering integration and wholeness while reading a book by Richard Rohr called Falling Upward. The experience inspired Brian to write a song, which you can listen to here.

Pronouns: he, him, his

Dan Gilbert

Treasurer
Dan has been a Portland resident for over 20 years and found Pearl when he and his wife Cheri moved to the Pearl neighborhood in 2014. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), plus he has a whole bunch of other professional initials after his name that most people don’t particularly care about. When Dan is not doing Treasurer type stuff for Pearl, he specializes in forensic accounting and business appraising, spending an inordinate amount of time testifying in court as an expert witness. In his spare time, Dan enjoys traveling, hiking in the glorious Pacific Northwest, and savoring exceptional wines and whiskeys.

Drew Patton

Elementary Volunteer Coordinator
Born in the Redwood Forests of CA, Drew moved to Portland over a decade ago and was relieved to find a home like Pearl in 2017. Drew’s educational background is in teaching and working with students with disabilities, and he previously worked in children’s ministry at another local Portland church. As a queer believer, Drew loves that he can bring the best pieces of these past experiences and adapt them to a community of families that welcome every part of who people are. Drew is a proud uncle, big brother, gaga (godfather), and partner to Tym, and finds the most joy in making a space where kids can feel safe owning everything that makes them amazing.

Heather Griffin

Toddler/Preschool Volunteer Coordinator
Heather and her wife Leah moved to Portland from New York City in 2013. In 2017, they finally found their church home at Pearl. After teaching elementary education and preschool prior to moving to PDX, Heather has been a nanny for many wonderful families in the years she’s been here. Heather loves reading (especially to her daughter Karson), being out in nature, and taking her dog Ralphie on walks. Heather believes that ensuring our littlest ones can feel the Divine’s love is so important. When they are learning about the world anchored in that love, it can help them feel safe to explore and act with kindness and love.

Kylie Marble

Youth Volunteer Coordinator
Kylie grew up in a small town west of Portland and is now delighted to be raising her family there with her wife, Rachel. A 2016 graduate of Wheaton College, she studied Interpersonal Communication while spending her free time performing improv and writing and recording music. Having spent many summers in camp ministry and being forever young at heart, Kylie finds great joy in working with the youth at Pearl.