David Norse-Thomas ’08

David Norse-Thomas grew up exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest in Sherwood, Oregon. A religious studies major at Lewis & Clark, he delved deeply into biblical studies and the liberating legacy of the reformed Christian tradition. While studying abroad in Scotland with Professor Kim Stafford, David traveled to the Isle of Iona and learned about its small population’s peace and justice work and radical hospitality toward queer people. After graduating, David returned to Scotland as a volunteer at the Iona Community’s Camas Outdoor Center doing outreach to high-risk, high-promise youth in an ecologically minded place.

In the fall of 2008, he started his studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, focusing on pastoral care and counseling, community organizing, and adaptive leadership. David began worshiping at Broad Street Ministry (BSM) in Philadelphia, a progressive faith community that welcomes congregants dedicated to transforming the world. During the week, BSM welcomes guests experiencing poverty and homelessness to a banquet, while also offering a variety of services utilizing a trauma-informed, harm-reduction model. David was ordained to work at BSM in 2014, and began a “faith and doubt” spirituality group for LGBTQ+ young people, along with creating an LGBTQ+ Fellowship.

In 2015 David began studying as a couples and family therapist with the Council for Relationships, and in September of 2017 moved with his husband, R. Eric Thomas, to serve as the pastor of Maryland Presbyterian Church in Towson, Maryland—a progressive, revitalizing faith community.