The Pastors and Staff of Davis Community Church

Davis Community Church
412 C Street, Davis, California 95616
Phone: 530-753-2894, Email:
Map to DCC (link) / Map of DCC (PDF)

Beloved of God, Let Us Love
(for more on what that means to us, see our vision and values statements)

Pastors and Staff of DCC

Davis Community Church as three ordained pastors and a host of ministers and support staff.

Mary Lynn Tobin, Pastor The Reverend Mary Lynn Tobin is our Pastor and head of staff. She is a native of western Pennsylvania. Mary Lynn holds a B. A. in religion and psychology, an M. A. in college student personnel administration, and an M. Div. (from nearby San Francisco Theological Seminary). Her first call was to First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. In 1989, she and her family moved to Davis so that she could accept a call to Davis Community Church. Since that time, she has served three roles. First, she served as associate pastor. Later, she served as a co-pastor with colleague, Jim Kitchens. When Jim left in 2003 to accept a new pastoral challenge, Mary Lynn became pastor and head of staff. Although the transition has been challenging as well as tumultuous at times, she loves her new role and she continues to love this congregation. Mary Lynn's husband, Dave Campbell, is a Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director of the California Communities Program at UC Davis. Their son, Christopher, is a high school senior, whose life revolves around music and athletics. Mary Lynn loves music as well. She also enjoys swimming, softball, golf, and hiking.

The Reverend Bill Habicht is our Associate Pastor for Outreach and Mission. He is a native of Maryland. Bill received a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Tennessee, an M. Div. from Union-PSCE, and an M.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University. Bill joined the DCC pastor team in June of 2005, and brings experience in working with a wide range of oppressed and marginalized groups. He has most recently worked with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, advocating with oppressed populations for just legislation at the Virginia General Assembly. He has also worked with the homeless population at Virginia Supportive Housing. Bill served as a PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer for a year in Ghana, West Africa. Bill’s wife, Amy, works as a chaplain resident at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento. They don’t have any kids, but do have a freakishly cute Sphynx cat, Howard Pinkerton. Bill’s feels excited and blessed to be part of such a vibrant church community. DCC is Bill's first ordained call.

The Reverend Tricia Hill is our Associate Pastor for Christian Formation. Tricia was born in Sacramento but at age 12 moved to a Virginia suburb of Washington DC, where her family continues to reside today. She left Virginia to attend the Cleveland Institute of Music where she received Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degrees. After graduation, she began a position as Head of the Suzuki department at the Cleveland Music School Settlement. While there, she met her husband, Peter who was teaching Suzuki piano. Her church in Ohio noticed her ongoing interest in theology and her work with children and families and offered her a position as their youth director in. From that experience, she began to discern a call to ministry. She and Peter moved to New York City where Tricia attended Union Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity. While in seminary, Tricia served as the Director of Youth and Family Ministries at Central Presbyterian Church in Montclair, New Jersey. After graduation, she served as the Director of Children and Youth Ministries at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. Tricia comes to DCC with much enthusiasm for continuing her work with children and families, a passion for Biblical and theological studies, and a deep concern for social and economic justice.

David Deffner is our Minister of Music and organist. David was born in Berkeley, and began serving as a church musician at the age of 16. He spent 25 years in the Midwest and received degrees from Valparaiso University, University of Minnesota, and Northwestern University. He and his wife Ellen have lived in the Sacramento area for 11 years and are well known for their concerts and recitals. In addition, the music staff includes Choir Directors Norma Meyer and Mary Kay. They lead an outstanding ministry of music, both vocal and instrumental, for our congregation.

The Reverend Kristin Stoneking is Pastor of CA House. CA House is the Cal Aggie Christian Association, the campus ministry at the University of California, Davis. It is a progressive, ecumenical, campus ministry sponsored by Davis Community Church and Davis United Methodist Church.

The Reverend Greg McGonigle is Associate Campus Minister at CA House (Cal Aggie Christian Association), a progressive, ecumenical campus ministry in Davis, sponsored by Davis Community Church and Davis United Methodist Church. Greg is the liaison between CA House and DCC, and spends most Sundays at DCC. He is a native of Massachusetts who moved to Davis in August of 2004 to serve a one-year internship at the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church of Davis before he was hired to serve at CA House. Greg is an ordained UU minister. He grew up Roman Catholic, became an Eagle Scout, received his A.B. from Brown University in Religious Studies, focused on South Asian religions, and received his Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School in 2004. He previously served intern ministries at an HIV/AIDS community resource center in Boston and at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In ministry, his passions are youth, young adult, and campus work, pastoral care, and social justice. Beyond the ministry, he enjoys reading, dining out, traveling, theatre, art, cities, and nature.

JoAnn Diel is our Minister for Congregational Care. JoAnn came to Davis as a UC Davis student in 1963. For many years she was an elementary school teacher at Pioneer School. JoAnn is a layperson who feels called to help others deepen their relationships with God and with others in our church community. She is the mother of two adult sons and four precious grandchildren, all who live locally.

Elizabeth Andrea , our Minister for Vocation and Spiritual Formation is a layperson and Spiritual Director who facilitates small-group ministry and works to help people discover their gifts. Elizabeth also edits the weekly bulletin and the semi-monthly Courier newsletter.

Office Staff includes:

Julie Herdt is our Minister of Administration. She provides administrative support to the pastors, Session and the congregation in the church office. Her responsibilities are varied but include coordination of worship leadership, publicity, church calendar, facility use, session business as well as service to all who enter the church office. Julie brings a background in Human Resources and benefits administration. She is a graduate of UC Irvine's School of Social Ecology and finds that in the church office she has found a rewarding career as a practicing Social Ecologist.

Virginia Harris , Minister of Finances and Facilities

Return to the DCC Homepage