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“Pastor Mike” has been the minister at Church of the Foothills since 1997. In addition to his work on behalf of the church, Dr. Holland also teaches classes in religious studies and philosophy at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. He actively participates in a variety of community groups, such as Progressive Christians Uniting Orange County, The Clergy Task Force of Planned Parenthood, and the Interfaith Council of Central Orange County. He has helped lead educational, interfaith and peace mission trips to Greece and Turkey, China, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories. He is also a member of the Western Association of Theological Discussion, and the Association of Psychological Type that promotes use of the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Inventory.
On a personal note, Pastor Mike and his wife Tricia live in Cypress and have two grown sons. His passions include golf, biking, travel, history, reading and healthy living. Originally a “Son of the South” Pastor Mike’s family has roots in North Carolina that predate the American Revolutionary War. He was raised as a Southern Baptist, a Democrat, and a military brat in the Air Force, living in ten states the first fourteen years of his life. In 1976 he graduated with an AA degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. He earned his BA in religious studies from Stetson University in 1978, and his Master of Divinity in 1981 and Doctor of Ministry in 1988 from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. From 1976 to 1991, Mike served Baptist churches in Indiana and Florida. In 1991, he was granted ministerial standing with the United Church of Christ, and called as pastor of Faith UCC in Garden Grove, California. Since 1997 he has had dual standing with the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.
Pastor Mike is a gifted preacher and teacher, loves children and youth, and has a passion for social justice for all people. In June 2008, he performed one of the first legal same-sex marriage ceremonies in an Orange County church, which was featured prominently in the Orange County Register. A leading opponent of Proposition 8 last fall, Dr. Holland was interviewed by NBC LA Channel 4 news, and featured in a local documentary film. |
