Pastor Dan Benson

503.410.3155

Pastor Dan was born in New Jersey and grew up in Maine, but we try not to hold that against him. Having been raised Roman Catholic, he experienced a call to ordained ministry as a youth and spent the next decade discerning how best to live that out.

He earned a BA from the University of Chicago with a concentration in Fundamentals: Issues and Texts. He then spent two years working at a wilderness therapy program for youth in northern New Hampshire. After which he moved to Oregon, and found a spiritual home among the people called Methodist. To pursue ordination in The United Methodist Church, he attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL, and graduated in 2006 with a Masters of Divinity, after which he returned to serve congregations in the Oregon-Idaho Conference of The United Methodist Church. He was ordained as an Elder in 2010.

Pastor Dan served a congregation during seminary in Maple Park, IL, and after graduation served in the Oregon-Idaho Conference at John Day and Prairie City UMCs; Banks Community UMC; Madras UMC; and at Rose City Park UMC as an interim during the pandemic.

Prior to his appointment at Westside UMC, Pastor Dan served as the director of Alton L. Collins Retreat Center in Eagle Creek, OR, where he worked with many different groups in a ministry of hospitality within the work of the Camp and Retreat Ministries of the Oregon-Idaho Conference.

As a person who has frequently moved, Pastor Dan delights in meeting new people and diverse expressions of faith. His calling is primarily to be one of helping people discern their gifts and callings, and then helping them find ways to respond to that call.

In addition to working with the congregation, Pastor Dan enjoys hiking local trails, reading in his hammock, and playing games (video, board, card, and TTRPGs). He also loves supporting his adult children and spouse in their favorite activities (Go Beavs and Rose City Rollers!). Whatever activity you find him doing, you will usually see him doing so wearing a hat.

Lindsay had been caring for our little ones for several years before accepting the role of Children and Youth Coordinator in 2024. She brings a lot of experience and her vibrant personality to this position.