Welcoming Rev. Elizabeth Hurd to Birmingham & Berkley First
By Adrienne Trupiano, Communcations Specialist
Birmingham & Berkley First is pleased to welcome Rev. Elizabeth Hurd as Associate Pastor and Lead Campus Pastor of Berkley First. Pastor Elizabeth will begin her ministry with the congregation on July 1 and will preach her first sermon at Berkley First on Sunday, July 5.
A lifelong United Methodist, Pastor Elizabeth's faith was nurtured from childhood at First United Methodist Church of Port Huron. She credits that congregation with faithfully living out the promises made at her baptism by surrounding her with God's love and helping her discover a faith rooted in grace, belonging, and acceptance.
"I know what it is like to grow up in a safe, faithful, accepting, loving church community," she says. "Creating and leading such communities for all people is essential to my ministry."
Birmingham & Berkley First is pleased to welcome Rev. Elizabeth Hurd as Associate Pastor and Lead Campus Pastor of Berkley First. Pastor Elizabeth will begin her ministry with the congregation on July 1 and will preach her first sermon at Berkley First on Sunday, July 5.
A lifelong United Methodist, Pastor Elizabeth's faith was nurtured from childhood at First United Methodist Church of Port Huron. She credits that congregation with faithfully living out the promises made at her baptism by surrounding her with God's love and helping her discover a faith rooted in grace, belonging, and acceptance.
"I know what it is like to grow up in a safe, faithful, accepting, loving church community," she says. "Creating and leading such communities for all people is essential to my ministry."
Her call to pastoral ministry came in a distinctly United Methodist setting. At age 17, while attending the Michigan Annual Conference with her father, she found herself at an ordination service as the congregation sang Here I Am, Lord. Those sensing a call to ministry were invited to come forward.
"I heard a voice in my head saying, 'You need to go up there,'" she recalls. "I ignored it that time! But God can be pretty relentless, and God made sure I had people in my life who wouldn't let me ignore my calling for too long."
Pastor Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from Saginaw Valley State University in 2015 before receiving her Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology in 2019. She was ordained as an Elder in The United Methodist Church in 2022 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence at Wesley Theological Seminary. Her doctoral work focuses on practical leadership for the church in the 21st century, equipping both clergy and laity to lead faithfully in a changing world. She anticipates completing the degree in May 2028.
"I heard a voice in my head saying, 'You need to go up there,'" she recalls. "I ignored it that time! But God can be pretty relentless, and God made sure I had people in my life who wouldn't let me ignore my calling for too long."
Pastor Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from Saginaw Valley State University in 2015 before receiving her Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology in 2019. She was ordained as an Elder in The United Methodist Church in 2022 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence at Wesley Theological Seminary. Her doctoral work focuses on practical leadership for the church in the 21st century, equipping both clergy and laity to lead faithfully in a changing world. She anticipates completing the degree in May 2028.
As she reflects on ministry today, Pastor Elizabeth believes the church offers something the world cannot find anywhere else.
"People can find community in gyms, libraries, cafés, comedy clubs, and sports leagues," she says. "Those are wonderful places, but the church offers hope in Christ, belonging in the Body of Christ, transformation, grace, and new life. Serving the church means building a community that is centered on Christ above all else and inviting other people to share in that community."
When Bishop David Bard appointed her to Birmingham & Berkley First, she experienced a profound sense of certainty.
"When I received the call that our Bishop wanted me to serve in this role, I felt a deep assurance in my heart that this is where God needed me to go. There was a voice that spoke to me and said, 'This is where I need you.' With such assurance, I said yes without hesitation."
"People can find community in gyms, libraries, cafés, comedy clubs, and sports leagues," she says. "Those are wonderful places, but the church offers hope in Christ, belonging in the Body of Christ, transformation, grace, and new life. Serving the church means building a community that is centered on Christ above all else and inviting other people to share in that community."
When Bishop David Bard appointed her to Birmingham & Berkley First, she experienced a profound sense of certainty.
"When I received the call that our Bishop wanted me to serve in this role, I felt a deep assurance in my heart that this is where God needed me to go. There was a voice that spoke to me and said, 'This is where I need you.' With such assurance, I said yes without hesitation."
She is especially excited to serve what she describes as "a progressive evangelical expression of Wesleyanism," a congregation where all people are welcomed, loved, invited to lead, and encouraged to experience the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. She also looks forward to serving alongside a church that is passionate about sharing the Gospel and living out its faith by caring for its neighbors and the wider world.
Looking toward the future, Pastor Elizabeth hopes that people entering Birmingham & Berkley First for the first time will encounter a community where they feel welcomed, safe, and genuinely loved. For those already part of the congregation, her hope is that both campuses continue growing together in their relationship with Christ and with one another.
A verse that has shaped her ministry comes from 1 John 4:20: "Those who say, 'I love God,' and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." For Pastor Elizabeth, the passage is a reminder that loving God and loving people can never be separated.
Looking toward the future, Pastor Elizabeth hopes that people entering Birmingham & Berkley First for the first time will encounter a community where they feel welcomed, safe, and genuinely loved. For those already part of the congregation, her hope is that both campuses continue growing together in their relationship with Christ and with one another.
A verse that has shaped her ministry comes from 1 John 4:20: "Those who say, 'I love God,' and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." For Pastor Elizabeth, the passage is a reminder that loving God and loving people can never be separated.
Outside the church, Pastor Elizabeth enjoys hiking and walking with her dog Lucy, reading, writing, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and performing improv comedy. "Cultivating laughter and joy is much needed in our world," she says.
Many will also recognize her from her appearance on Jeopardy! in 2026, an opportunity she pursued for 17 years before finally making it onto the iconic game show. Looking back, she describes the experience as a powerful reminder to trust in God's timing, calling it one of the most incredible experiences of her life.
She also has a confession for Detroit sports fans: while she proudly cheers for the Detroit Red Wings when it comes to hockey, but her baseball loyalty belongs to the Cleveland Guardians, a tradition passed down from her father.
As she prepares to begin this new chapter of ministry, Pastor Elizabeth points to the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 as the foundation for her work: "God gives the growth." She believes every member of the church has a unique role to play in planting, nurturing, and watering the seeds of God's kingdom, while trusting God to bring the growth.
Many will also recognize her from her appearance on Jeopardy! in 2026, an opportunity she pursued for 17 years before finally making it onto the iconic game show. Looking back, she describes the experience as a powerful reminder to trust in God's timing, calling it one of the most incredible experiences of her life.
She also has a confession for Detroit sports fans: while she proudly cheers for the Detroit Red Wings when it comes to hockey, but her baseball loyalty belongs to the Cleveland Guardians, a tradition passed down from her father.
As she prepares to begin this new chapter of ministry, Pastor Elizabeth points to the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 as the foundation for her work: "God gives the growth." She believes every member of the church has a unique role to play in planting, nurturing, and watering the seeds of God's kingdom, while trusting God to bring the growth.