R. C. Haus, Minister of Hospitality, Outreach & Inclusion, joined the staff of PB UMC in the spring of 2003. His position is multi-faceted, but perhaps its main goal is to help new members assimilate into church life. He frequently plans small gatherings for those interested in learning more about the church. In addition, he is in charge of the new member dinners. “What a great person for this job!” commented one member of the congregation. “R. C. is so incredibly and sincerely friendly, and so full of energy.”

In addition to helping new members quickly feel at home, R. C. is an integral part of the music ministry. Not only does he direct the choir in exciting and moving gospel numbers, but he also accompanies them—and always with great passion. And he is a master at getting the congregation to join in and sing with enthusiasm.

PB UMC offers many small group classes, and RC is frequently a leader. His love of words, of literature, and of history makes him an especially interesting teacher. Members of his classes have often mentioned that they so thoroughly enjoy themselves that they are almost surprised by how much factual information they have actually learned.

R. C. is also the driving force behind the “Dinners for 7” program. He realized that people truly do want to get together for fellowship, but that with everyone living such busy lives it is often difficult to follow through on these desires. And thus was born the “Dinners” program in which those interested in participating are divided into small groups that meet monthly in each other’s homes for food and conversation.

The father of five children, R. C. grew up in Northern California, where his father was the pastor of a large church. After attending seminary in Minneapolis, he pastored several churches along the West Coast. On those occasional Sundays that Pastor April is away from the pulpit, R. C. has preached several times. He is incredibly dynamic, and members of the congregation have often praised both his passion and his obvious sincerity.

R. C. is bilingual (Spanish) and currently works with the U.S. Navy in addition to his work with PB UMC. He enjoys reading and the theatre, but perhaps his biggest love would be people. He has a way of drawing people out by asking them thoughtful and sometimes rather unusual questions; and he is always sincerely interested in the answers. A scholar, a musician, a preacher, a father, a friend—that’s R. C. Haus.