Church Council Members
Moderator: Dennis O’Grady Moderator Elect: Tiffany Trent Past Moderator: Judy Sauer
Financial Secretary: Jeff Micale Treasurer: Finance Committee Clerk: Cindy Pletz
Christian Education: Alane Starko Doorkeepers: Bob Caldwell
Church in Society: Karen Koeppe Finance Committee: Perry Swisz-Hall
Church Life: Corky Peck Nominating: Joanne Ladio Worship: Alison Rene
Stewardship: Mary Pratt
Church & Ministry Committee: Jacqy Hippe, Todd Sevig (chair), Charles Coleman
Pastors and Staff
Rev. Dr. Deborah Dean-Ware, Lead Pastor
Pastor Deb has been the settled pastor at The Church of the Good Shepherd (COGS) since January 2012. Before moving to Washtenaw County, she served two different churches in Madison, Wisconsin as Associate Pastor (Orchard Ridge UCC 2000-2006; Lake Edge UCC 2007-2011). She graduated from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, with her Masters of Divinity in 2000, and was awarded with a Doctorate of Ministry from Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit in 2020. Her dissertation was entitled “A New Generation of White Anti-Racist Allies: Nurturing a Healthy Racial Identity in White Children and Youth in the Church.”
Pastor Deb is delighted to serve COGS and to work with a vibrant congregation that is filled with strong lay leadership, that has a deep and long-standing commitment to racial and sexual/gender justice, that loves to worship and to support and care for one another.
Deb loves crafting and making things for the kiddos of the church, being a mama to a son (Josiah), a pup (Amber), 2 cats (JJ and Sabrina), and many, many plants. She loves being active, and is in the process of learning Spanish.
You can reach Pastor Deb at pastor@cogsaa.org.
Rev. Dr. Michele Burrell
Pastor Michele lives in Pontiac with her husband, Bryant, a chef and caterer, and their 21 year old daughter, Taelor, who is a rising Senior at Michigan State University. Taelor is studying Drama and Theater. Together, Bryant and Michele also raised a son, Bryant Jr., who is 30, and a niece, Janiquia, who is 28, both of whom are launched and pursuing their own careers.
Pastor Michele was ordained into the Christian Ministry in 1996, and has served as Associate Ministers in two different congregations in Pontiac. She is still active in her home church of Galilean Baptist Church where she preaches, offers pastoral care, and works in youth ministry. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration, a Masters of Business Management, and a Masters of Divinity equivalent degree (Pre-Doctoral certificate). She was awarded a Doctor of Ministry from Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. Her dissertation was entitled “Is It All in the Perception? Recognizing Supernatural Phenomena.”
You can reach Rev. Michele at assistantpastor@cogsaa.org.
Dr. Mariah Boucher, Music Director
Mariah came onto staff in the fall of 2024. Described as “unique and riveting” by Harmonie magazine, American pianist Mariah Boucher has distinguished herself as a leading collaborator, specializing in chamber music and vocal coaching. Mariah has performed in venues across the United States, including the Aspen Music Festival, Bay View Music Festival, Detroit Institute of the Arts, and West Michigan Symphony Series.
As a strong performer of new music, she has worked closely with contemporary composers, including Gabriela Lena Frank, Pierre Jalbert, Evan Chambers, Michael Daugherty, Roger Zare, and Logan Skelton. Mariah has also worked with the Kresge Literary Fellow Terry Blackhawk, presenting her poetry with newly commissioned music at the Art X Festival, as well as poets Marsha Music and Justin Rogers.
Mariah received both her Masters of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan in Collaborative Piano, where she studied with Martin Katz and Logan Skelton. As an opera and art song coach, she works with singers at the South Bend Lyric Opera as well as the Bayview Music Festival. Mariah currently serves as a Collaborative Pianist/Vocal Coach at the University of Michigan.