Our Lead Pastor
Biography
Hilary Marckx has been the pastor at Geyserville Christian Church since January 1994. He describes himself as a "white male, over sixty". He has been married to his wife Cherie since 1965. Cherie is also a pastor and has her own congregation in Ukiah. They have two children, and three grandchildren. He has had many life and work experiences that have shaped his sense of humor and empathy towards others. He has worked on a dairy farm; hauled hay; driven tractor; picked peaches, pears, and apricots; sold brooms and brushes door-to-door; worked for the State of California as a clerk; driven a delivery van; and been a tree-trimmer. He has had a successful photography career, and still enjoys photography as a hobby. He is also a songwriter and plays guitar and performs locally, when he is not playing and singing with the band at Sunday morning services.
As a pastor he straddles two denominations: He has standing in both the Northern California-Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California-Nevada.
Education
1999 - Doctor of Philosophy. Dissertation: Reformer/Photographer Jacob A. Riis within the Context of U.S. Religious History. Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA.
1990 - Master of Arts, Theology. Thesis: Plains of Focus: Theological Perceptions in Landscape Photography. Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA.
"Certificate of Completion." Spiritual Director's Institute. Mercy Center. Burlingame, CA.
1988 - Bachelor of Arts, Humanities. Senior Project: Comparative Spiritualities: Matrifocal/Patrifocal Studies. New College of California, San Francisco, CA.
1986 - "Certificate of Catechist Formation," Office of Religious Education, Diocese of Sacramento.
Hilary Marckx has been the pastor at Geyserville Christian Church since January 1994. He describes himself as a "white male, over sixty". He has been married to his wife Cherie since 1965. Cherie is also a pastor and has her own congregation in Ukiah. They have two children, and three grandchildren. He has had many life and work experiences that have shaped his sense of humor and empathy towards others. He has worked on a dairy farm; hauled hay; driven tractor; picked peaches, pears, and apricots; sold brooms and brushes door-to-door; worked for the State of California as a clerk; driven a delivery van; and been a tree-trimmer. He has had a successful photography career, and still enjoys photography as a hobby. He is also a songwriter and plays guitar and performs locally, when he is not playing and singing with the band at Sunday morning services.
As a pastor he straddles two denominations: He has standing in both the Northern California-Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California-Nevada.
Education
1999 - Doctor of Philosophy. Dissertation: Reformer/Photographer Jacob A. Riis within the Context of U.S. Religious History. Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA.
1990 - Master of Arts, Theology. Thesis: Plains of Focus: Theological Perceptions in Landscape Photography. Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA.
"Certificate of Completion." Spiritual Director's Institute. Mercy Center. Burlingame, CA.
1988 - Bachelor of Arts, Humanities. Senior Project: Comparative Spiritualities: Matrifocal/Patrifocal Studies. New College of California, San Francisco, CA.
1986 - "Certificate of Catechist Formation," Office of Religious Education, Diocese of Sacramento.
Our Minister of Spiritual Care
Biography
Christiane Swartz has been a member of the Geyserville Christian Church since 2015. She works as a Clinical Social Worker at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is also the coordinator of the Sonoma County Chapter of Guitars for Vets. Christiane has been studying at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley for the past several years, and was recently commissioned as a Minister in the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ for Northern California-Nevada.
It is her hope to continue to help those in her community through her position as Minister of Spiritual Care at the Geyserville Christian Church.
Education
2018 to present - Religious Studies ongoing studies -- Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA.
2020 - Commissioned as a Minister of Spiritual Care by the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ byt eht Christian Church of Northern California-Nevada on 4/1/2020.
2001 - Bachelor of Arts, Eastern Washington University
Christiane Swartz has been a member of the Geyserville Christian Church since 2015. She works as a Clinical Social Worker at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is also the coordinator of the Sonoma County Chapter of Guitars for Vets. Christiane has been studying at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley for the past several years, and was recently commissioned as a Minister in the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ for Northern California-Nevada.
It is her hope to continue to help those in her community through her position as Minister of Spiritual Care at the Geyserville Christian Church.
Education
2018 to present - Religious Studies ongoing studies -- Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA.
2020 - Commissioned as a Minister of Spiritual Care by the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ byt eht Christian Church of Northern California-Nevada on 4/1/2020.
2001 - Bachelor of Arts, Eastern Washington University
