Pastor Samm Melton-Hill (they/she) joins New Beginnings after serving as a Chaplain Resident and Palliative Care Chaplain Fellow at the University of Colorado Hospital. In addition to serving as the Pastor at New Beginnings, they also serve as the Pastor of our yoked ministry site, Highlands Lutheran Church in North Denver.
Samm completed their Masters of Divinity (MDiv.) at Harvard Divinity School in 2019 and are currently working towards their Masters of Sacred Theology at United Lutheran Seminary. They have served in a number of diverse roles, including chaplaincy work at several correctional facilities around Boston, a psychiatric hospital, and a number of large trauma centers. Prior to Divinity School, Samm completed a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Social Justice at Eastern Kentucky University, where they were also a four year member of the women's soccer team.
Samm met their wife, Brittany, while in college. Shortly after getting married in June of 2016 they moved to Boston, where they lived for some time before making their way to Denver, Colorado. Brittany works for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless as the Outreach Manager, working with unhoused folks on the streets of Denver. In their free time, Samm and Brittany can often be found hiking, camping, spending time with their dogs, or watching the Boston Bruins. Samm also enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and playing ice hockey in their free time.
In addition to serving as New Beginning's pastor and a chaplain to the larger DWCF community, Samm is also a Restorative Justice Group Conference Community Member at Restorative Denver/The Conflict Center and serves on the Rocky Mountain Synod's Mission Outreach Board and Synod Council. They continue to be a member of Proclaim, an LGBTQ+ clergy community of the ELCA. Samm also continues to serve as a Chaplain at West Pines Psychiatric and Rehab Hospital and Lutheran Hospital as needed.
Samm is passionate about working alongside those who are vulnerable and marginalized and believes strongly that all deserve the radical hospitality, love, and grace of Jesus. They hope that New Beginnings will continue to be a refuge of grace, belonging, and love on the inside for all those that find their way here.
Samm loves coffee and would love to make you cup or meet you somewhere in town. Please don't hesitate to reach out to them at pastormeltonhill@gmail.com at any time!
Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber has been preaching regularly and helping out with pastoral work at NBWC since 2019. She is an ordained Lutheran Pastor, founder of House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver, Co, creator and host of the podcast The Confessional (Produced in conjunction with The Moth) and author of three NYT bestselling memoirs: Pastrix; The Cranky, Beautiful Faith Of A Sinner & Saint (2013 and re-released in 2021), Accidental Saints; Finding God In All The Wrong People (2015) and SHAMELESS; A Sexual Reformation (2019). Her writings can now be found on-line at The Corners.
Meet Our Outside Council
Staff
- Musician
- Pastor
- Assistant Pastor