The Leadership Council (LC) is a volunteer, community-elected board responsible for the leadership and oversight of Highlands Church. LC members may serve two, three-year terms. They hire and supervise the members of the Executive Team.
Under the guidance and support of the Leadership Council, the Executive Team leads the ministry of Highlands Church. Responsibility and authority is shared, collaborative, and non-hierarchical. Like jazz musicians, the team takes turns leading, following, and listening to each other and to God.
Rachael is a Co-Pastor at Highlands Church, which she co-planted in 2009. She is also a founding Board member of W/, a collective of faith and community leaders who are exploring and leading in theologically progressive spaces. (withcollective.org) She was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, and is – as her husband James describes – an absolute green chile snob.
Rachael is a musician and leader called to curate sacred spaces in which people connect with God and can process their lived experiences in a spiritual and communal context. Rachael studied Music Performance at UNM and CU Denver, and under the tutelage of some of Denver’s finest jazz musicians. She is the very proud mom of two teenage sons, and the reluctant but thoroughly won-over owner of Mondo the Wonder Dog.
Gareth is a Co-Pastor of Highlands Church and earned his BS in Youth Ministry in 2000; he has come alongside children and youth and their families since 1997. Before joining Highlands staff, Gareth got his start as a youth pastor and then joined a non-profit, mentoring youth from significant life challenges between 2007 and 2024, leading a team of widely diverse ethnicities and backgrounds. He has three sons (born 03, 05, 08) and his partner Jen were married in 1999. Gareth loves backpacking with friends and his sons and would welcome coffee or other beverages and the privilege to get to know you and those you love.
Mia was born near Boston but grew up in Denver. After graduating high school she attended college at West Point and served in the Army as a Military Intelligence officer. In the mix of all that she married her high school sweetheart and had four kids.
Before joining the Highlands Church staff team, she worked for a large company learning project management, risk management, and six sigma process improvement skills while supporting a mergers and acquisition team. Mia’s passions include sitting on her back porch with a good book (or two), spending time with her family doing just about anything, and supporting special education and disability rights groups across the metro area.
After leaving the family farm in Wallace, KS (pop. 63), Brett earned bachelors degrees in film and biblical theology in San Deigo, CA., where he studied the intersection of art and faith.
Before Highlands, Brett worked as a consultant in public relations, communications, and development for dozens of churches across Northern Colorado. In his free time, you can find him at concerts, camping, gardening, or cooking something new in the kitchen for his wife and daughter.
Our staff makes it all possible by leading their ministry and supporting our generous team of volunteers.