About Us

We are a BIG PICTURE congregation of believing … thinking … questioning … and
welcoming people.

Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, you are invited to join us.
Our mission is to love unconditionally … grow spiritually … and serve faithfully through
Christ.

Come … love … grow … and serve with us!The belief in one God, who is the Creator and sustainer of the universe.

HISTORY

In August of 1978 a small but determined group of
24 people, moved by the Holy Spirit, met in a home to discuss starting a United
Methodist Church in Woodland Park, Colorado. This was followed with the first worship
service on September 10, 1978 at the John Wesley Ranch south of Divide. The
Reverend Lloyd Nichol helped to guide the early decision of those courageous
believers. The church would eventually move its worship to Woodland Park Junior High
School. Not long after being chartered, Reverend Bud Bensinger was appointed to continue the
work started by Reverend Nichols. As attendance grew it became evident that the
church needed a bigger facility and in December of 1979, six acres of land were
purchased on Rampart Range Road. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in
September of 1981 and the new building of Mountain View’s new home was
consecrated on April 4, 1982. The Reverend Phil Green was assigned as Mountain
View’s first full time pastor who was then followed by Rev. Bill Woefle who served from
1985-1994. In 1994 when the Reverend Glenda Ulmer was appointed
as the first woman pastor of Mountain View. During her ministry, the church continued
to grow. A second worship service was started and the youth ministry was
strengthened. The growth in numbers attending in Mountain View necessitated a
building campaign to expand the Sanctuary, add a narthex and enlarge the Fellowship
Hall. The expansion was dedicated in February 1997.

As the church grew, it was necessary to add more staff and so in 1998, the Reverend
Betty France joined Reverend Ulmer as the Associate Pastor. Three years later she
would be appointed as the Senior Pastor when Reverend Ulmer was appointed a
District Superintendent in the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference. During Reverend
France’s ministry, the church continued to grow and in May 2005, it became apparent
that the church needed additional space. So the “Fulfilling the Vision Campaign” began.
The campaign paved the way for the building of a new Sanctuary and narthex, a
basement and remodeled restrooms. Ground was broken and construction began in
June of 2007. The beautiful new sanctuary was consecrated on Sunday, February 24,
2008.
Since 2008, Mountain View has been served by a series of competent pastors, each
one adding their particular fights and graces by the church.
Reverend France was followed by the Reverend Handi Jo Dolkoff-Holt. In 2011 she
was followed by Reverend Ann McClellan who was followed by the Reverend Diane Bell
in 2013. In 2016, the Reverend Michael Gore, a retired Navy Chaplain, was appointed
to Mountain View. He served up until the Covid Pandemic began in 2020. He piloted
the church through a difficult time of discernment over growing concern over whether
LGBTQ persons should be included in the full life of the church. He was also present at
the beginning of Covid 19 when churches voluntarily ceased to meet in public and
began to meet via zoom. In July of 2020, as the outbreak of Covid 19 worsened, the
Reverend Todd Scranton was appointed to help guide the church to effectively use

social media as the means to help spread the good news of Jesus Christ. In July of
2021, the Reverend Steve Burnett was appointed as the Interim Pastor and brought us
to YouTube.
In 2022, Mountain View became part of a new Annual Conference. After sharing a
Bishop for many years, the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Conference united to
become the new Mountain Sky Conference, making it the largest conference in land
size. At that conference, the Reverend Jeff Wakeley was appointed as pastor.

As the church grew, it was necessary to add more staff and so in 1998, the Reverend
Betty France joined Reverend Ulmer as the Associate Pastor. Three years later she
would be appointed as the Senior Pastor when Reverend Ulmer was appointed a
District Superintendent in the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference. During Reverend
France’s ministry, the church continued to grow and in May 2005, it became apparent
that the church needed additional space. So the “Fulfilling the Vision Campaign” began.
The campaign paved the way for the building of a new Sanctuary and narthex, a
basement and remodeled restrooms. Ground was broken and construction began in
June of 2007. The beautiful new sanctuary was consecrated on Sunday, February 24,
2008.
Since 2008, Mountain View has been served by a series of competent pastors, each
one adding their particular fights and graces to "good trouble" being done by the church.
Reverend France was followed by the Reverend Handi Jo Dolkoff-Holt. In 2011 she
was followed by Reverend Ann McClellan who was followed by the Reverend Diane Bell
in 2013. In 2016, the Reverend Michael Gore, a retired Navy Chaplain, was appointed
to Mountain View. He served up until the Covid Pandemic began in 2020. He piloted
the church through a difficult time of discernment over growing concern over whether
LGBTQ persons should be included in the full life of the church. He was also present at
the beginning of Covid 19 when churches voluntarily ceased to meet in public and
began to meet via zoom. In July of 2020, as the outbreak of Covid 19 worsened, the
Reverend Todd Scranton was appointed to help guide the church to effectively use

Today, while the challenges are different from when those first 24 families met in 1978
to discuss and pray over whether a United Methodist Church should be started, the
church continues in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today
God is calling it to reach out to those in the community who, in the past, have felt left out
or are looking for a new kind of church community, focused not so much on doctrine
and belief but on building a faith community that welcomes all people regardless of who
they are or where they come from. A community where it can truly live out its mission of
Loving unconditionally, growing spiritually and serving as Christ served. Today the
need for Mountain View causing "good trouble" is more important than ever in a world
that is broken and divided. Just as the Holy Spirit moved on the first Pentecost, it is
moving through the people of Mountain View United Methodist Church in helping it to
discover God's Call and purpose. With God’s help and the Holy Spirit, the next 45 years
will be just as fruitful as the last 45 years have been.