I’m Danny. I love Jesus, big questions, and a good conversation. I think faith ought to make us more curious and our tables a little bigger. You don’t have to agree with me to have a seat.
I’m the founding and lead pastor of The Well, a radically inclusive United Methodist church in the St. Louis region.
My work lives where faith meets real life: the questions we’re afraid to ask, the people our churches have pushed away, and the possibility that following Jesus might make our circle bigger.
A native of the PNW, I now live in St. Louis with my wife and three kids. I’m an ordained United Methodist elder, the founding pastor of The Well, and the host of The Deconstruction Zone. I love a good conversation—especially when we can disagree, laugh, and still want to get a beer together when it’s done.
Faith, disagreement, and the questions that deserve more than a sound bite.
In this surrounded-style debate, I take the center seat opposite six conservative Christians to discuss LGBTQ+ inclusion, women in ministry, Christian nationalism, and biblical inerrancy.
The episode link will be added once it’s released.
The three-on-three Counterpoint debate · Watch the full episode on YouTube
Progressive and conservative Christianity · Watch the full episode on YouTube
A brief exchange about faith · Watch the full episode on YouTube
Faith in the life of a community · Watch the messages
Invite me for a talk, workshop, podcast, or moderated conversation. Here’s what I can bring to your people.
I’ll talk with your community about doubt, deconstruction, and making room for questions in the life of faith. We’ll explore how pastors and churches can respond with curiosity when someone starts rethinking what they believe.
Bring this conversation to your communityI’ll share how I understand LGBTQ+ inclusion through Scripture and what we’ve learned living it at The Well. For churches exploring affirmation, we can talk about the theology, the questions, and what welcoming people asks of us in practice.
Invite me to talk about inclusionI’ll share what I’ve learned founding The Well—the decisions, surprises, and lessons I’m still learning—to help new pastors explore their own call to church planting. We can talk about the community you hope to build and what taking a first step might look like.
Plan a church planting conversationInvite me into a long-form conversation about Jesus, Scripture, and the beliefs we disagree about. I’ll bring my convictions, honest questions, and a willingness to laugh. We don’t have to agree to have a good conversation.
Invite me onto your podcast or panelIf you’re a new pastor wondering whether church planting is part of your call, I’d love to talk.
I can share what I’ve learned planting The Well and help you think through your own questions: Who are you hoping to reach? What kind of community do you want to create? What could your next step be?
Bring the idea—even if it’s still messy. We can explore whether a mentoring or coaching relationship would be a good fit.
Let’s talk about your callI’m interested in thoughtful, long-form conversations of all kinds. Invite me for a podcast, guest preaching, a talk, or a moderated conversation.
More of my thoughts, in writing. Read my Substack and subscribe if you’d like to keep the conversation going.
Read my SubstackA place to spend more time with questions of faith. Find the podcast and join the conversation beyond the debate stage.
Listen to the podcastA radically inclusive United Methodist church in the St. Louis region. Our mission: raise up radically inclusive followers of Jesus who invite others to do the same.
Meet The WellHave a podcast, gathering, or conversation in mind? Tell me about the people, the idea, and what you’d like to explore together.
Guest preaching · Speaking · Podcasts
Moderated conversations · Coaching & mentoring