Our Staff
Rev. Justin White Pastor
Pastor Justin brings a distinctive blend of theological depth, pastoral experience, and authentic leadership to his ministry. A native of rural Mississippi, Pastor Justin was baptized at Shiloh United Methodist Church in 1984 and has been deeply rooted in the United Methodist tradition throughout his life.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University (2006) and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School (2010). He was ordained as an elder in the Mississippi Annual Conference in 2013, where he served for seven years in various congregations throughout the state.
(he/him)
In 2018, Pastor Justin transitioned to the Pacific Northwest Conference, initially serving as Pastor of North Mason UMC in Belfair and concurrently Brownsville UMC in Bremerton. Most recently, he served as Pastor of Stanwood United Methodist Church in Stanwood, Washington, beginning in July 2020. Rev. White’s denominational leadership extends beyond local pastoral ministry. He currently serves as Chair of the Puget Sound Missional District Committee on Ministry and is completing his tenure as Annual Conference Worship Chair. In July 2025, he will assume the role of Residence in Ministry Chair for the Board of Ordained Ministry, where he will guide the formational journey of commissioned ministers preparing for ordination as elders.
His ministry is characterized by his commitment to social justice, advocacy for marginalized communities, the worshipping community, and authentic pastoral care. His theological perspective centers on what he describes as “the liberating love of Christ” and a deep understanding of faith as both personal transformation and community action. He loves worship design and sees worship as a way to combat injustice in the world. His journey has been marked by courageous authenticity, having openly embraced his identity as a queer minister and advocating for full inclusion within the church.
Beyond his pastoral duties, Pastor Justin is known for his love of literature, music, and sports. He is an accomplished pianist and sometimes guitarist who enjoys singer-songwriter music, ranging from Dolly Parton to Beethoven. An avid reader with interests in memoirs and thought-provoking fiction, he also maintains strong connections to his Mississippi roots as an active member of the Pacific Northwest chapter of the Mississippi State University alumni association. He is a passionate sports enthusiast with deep loyalties to Mississippi State University athletics and Duke University athletics, reflecting his educational journey. As a major baseball fan, he particularly follows the Seattle Mariners, embracing his Pacific Northwest home while maintaining his love for the game of baseball.
Pastor Justin’s ministry philosophy emphasizes the importance of community, authenticity, worship, relationship, and the transformative power of God’s love for all people. His experience navigating personal and professional challenges has deepened his pastoral sensitivity and strengthened his commitment to creating welcoming, inclusive faith communities where all people can experience the fullness of God’s grace.
Holly Taylor
(she/her)
Office Administrator
Holly has served as Office Administrator and Communications Coordinator of Garden Street United Methodist Church since May 2024.
Prior to joining us, Holly owned two businesses and has a BA in Business Marketing with minors in International Business and Economics from WWU.
When she isn’t in the office, Holly is spending time with her family or curled up with a book.
Dallas Giel
(he/him)
Music Director
Dallas is a musician, teacher, and lover of games. He graduated WWU with a degree in music education and plays flute, clarinet, and ukulele. He loves to listen to classical and rock from the 60's and 70's.
When he is not working with his music students, Dallas is usually found out and about Bellingham, playing card games with friends, or back at home spending time with his partner, dogs, and cat.
(he/him)
Accompanist
Michael Hannon
Michael has been the piano accompanist for Garden Street UMC since July of 2024. He received his Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance in 2020, and studied with Dr. Jovanovic at WWU. Michael's favorite classical composers are Chopin, Debussy and Beethoven.
Chris O’Keefe
(she/her)
Treasurer
Chris O'Keefe, Treasurer, has been with GSUMC since 2016, and after a few months away in 2024, has returned as of January 2025. (Awkward, if you have a better way of explaining that, go ahead)
Chris grew up in the Skagit Valley, and graduated from WWU with a BA in Accounting. After living out of state for about 10 years, she returned to Bellingham in 2001 to raise her family. Chris has over 30 years experience working as a CPA, but her most important accomplishment is being a mother to her only daughter, now 22 years old and a college graduate. Chris and her husband John now live in Sedro-Woolley, returning to her roots in the beautiful Skagit Valley. In addition to GSUMC, Chris is also the accountant for Spinach Bus Ventures, a partnership which owns Tulip Town, Fairhaven Mill and Skagit Acres.