Sonoma United Methodist Church
Staff & Leaders

Matthew Pearson
Pastor

Pastor Matthew Pearson comes to Sonoma United Methodist Church with a variety of ministry and life experiences. He hails from Virginia, and moved west to attend seminary at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. While in seminary he completed his field education, serving two years as pastoral intern at Glide Memorial in San Francisco. He has served as a youth director at Temple United Methodist Church and as campus pastor at the Ecumenical House at San Francisco State University. Sonoma UMC is Matthew’s first appointment from the Bishop’s Cabinet – He began July 1, 2014. “I view ministry as an expression of God’s love. When a community of people gather to worship and serve incredible things can happen. We are building the Kingdom of God – here and now. Our call, as people of faith, is to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God… God is wildly in love with us – even before we are aware of God. Grace Abounds in the love and life of Christ!” Matthew is an advocate for full inclusion of LGBTQ person’s within the life and worship of the United Methodist Church. All are welcome and celebrated as beloved children of God here at Sonoma UMC. Matthew studied Theater, Music, and Religion in his undergraduate at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. He has studied improvisational theater with Washington Improv Theater in DC and The Second City Comedy Studies Program in Chicago. He has also acted in, teched for and directed a variety of stage productions. Matthew enjoys making music both as a hobby and as a spiritual discipline. He sings baritone and plays accordion, piano and guitar – and was on a clogging team for 6 years while living in Virginia. Matthew resides in Sonoma, a few blocks from the town square.