Associate Pastor, Rev. Michael Koch

Rev. Michael J. Koch was born and raised in New York but he has also lived in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and also New Jersey though he is very excited to put down roots here in Charlotte.

Michael attended Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia graduating with a BA in Religion and Ethics. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2003 and now is a candidate for a Doctor of Ministry degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. While at Princeton, he served at the maximum security New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, NJ with particular attention to ministering to those in Administrative Segregation and the “Hole” where inmates are only allowed to be out of their cells for one hour per day. Some of the responsibilities were directing the Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous groups, leading Bible studies, providing pastoral care and counseling. The other internship was in the affluent Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge, NJ, serving in family ministries.

Michael served as Pastoral Assistant with focus on youth and family ministries for three years at Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church in suburban Pittsburgh, PA, until he was ordained and called to a solo pastorate at the Memorial Presbyterian Church in Wenonah, NJ. Michael began his ministry as Associate Pastor at Sharon Presbyterian Church in 2007.

Michael’s passion is family-based and intergenerational ministry. Michael rejoices when all families, both traditional and non-traditional, come to worship and minister together with generational connection rather than disconnect. Michael seeks to provide opportunities for all generations to minister together in unity while providing appropriate means to equip those respective generations for ministry to the glory of Christ.

Michael and his wife, Claudia, are proud parents of son Nikolas, 3-years old and daughter Carina, 2-years old.