Hello, I am Rachael Dunlap. I am so excited to serve with you at Flat Rock UMC! Some of my greatest passions in ministry include discipleship, teaching, and encouraging others in their faith journey. I started doing camp ministry in 2002 which eventually led me to family ministry and small group ministry in the local church. Most recently, I served as the pastor of adult discipleship at Birmingham and Berkley First UMC. Since 2016, alongside my husband, I worked to launch the Berkley campus and served on staff as Children’s Ministry Coordinator and Group and Event Coordinator at Berkley before being appointed as Associate Pastor of Adult Discipleship across Birmingham and Berkley First.
I am originally from northwestern Wisconsin, I moved to Michigan in 2004 to pursue a career in camp ministry but paused my to begin a family in 2008. I worked as a preschool teacher while my husband went to seminary. I began to discern my call to pastoral ministry in 2013. I graduated with a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2018. I am also on the Michigan Area United Methodist Camping Board.
My husband, Zack, continues to serve at Birmingham and Berkley First as the pastor of multisite. Together, we have four children: Samuel (14), Sophia (14), John (10), and Jedidiah (9). Our family has traveled to 40 states, and enjoys playing board games, spending time up North, and making an adventure out of every day. In my spare time, I love to cook and craft. I am looking forward to connecting with you and shining the love of Jesus!
Pastor Rachael Dunlap