Ari Grubner, Pastor (he/him)
Pastor Ari moved to Portland recently in March 2024. Coming to Oregon by way of North Carolina, Ari is originally from the Chicagoland area where he lived for 25 years. He feels blessed to have friends and family all over the place, supporting him and cheering him on.
As an openly-gay minister, Ari is determined to amplify, honor, and celebrate the voices of those traditionally excluded from participating in the full life and community of the Church — women and femmes, people with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, Black and Brown folks, Indigenous and First Nations people of North America, those with religious trauma who engage with God on their own terms, people of differing faiths, multiple faiths, as well as those who claim no faith at all.
He believes there is room at the table of God for everyone. He also believes that fashioning a new table of God together, a table that reflects the fullness our humanity, is a brilliantly beautiful part of belonging within a local church community. Ari hopes that this might ring true in new and fresh ways within the community here at Grant Park Church.
A recent graduate from Wake Forest University (MDiv), Ari has a wide range of interests and passions. His studies were spent focusing on queer and womanist theologies, Christian mysticism, and trauma-informed pastoral care. While in school, Ari worked with the Thriving Congregations Grant Program, a project that set out to research, create, and publish resources for congregations seeking to better pursue justice, compassion, and reconciliation. His primary research focus was on “Church History and Heritage” and how to establish a methodology for truthful storytelling about our beloved Church communities.
No matter what he is doing or what his job is, you will almost certainly find Ari on the search for new birds, thinking about playing games of all kinds with friends new and old, or looking for a good story in an unlikely place.
Matt Edey, Director of Music (they/them/theirs)
Matt joined the staff at Grant Park in the summer of 2020 and is
passionate about fostering faith through music. Matt learned concert piano at a young age and began playing and singing in church as an accompanist and praise team leader. After college, Matt began working as a music director for churches in OH, CA, and OR and is thrilled to now join in the work and mission at Grant Park Church.
In their free time, Matt enjoys a good cup of Nossa Familia coffee with friends, and listening to podcasts, cooking and getting lost in a good book.
Earnie Smith, Building Manager (he/him/his)
Earnie has served as Grant Park’s building manager since 2015. He moved to Portland and began attending Grant Park after retiring as a federal employee in 2012. He enjoys spending time with his three children and four grandchildren.
