Dr. D. Paul LaMontagne 牧師簡介

D. Paul LaMontagne

I grew up in Oregon with two brothers. Our father introduced us to fishing, hiking, and camping as boys. I still retain my love of hiking, especially in the mountains. (My family name does mean “the mountain.”)

I went to Reed College in Portland, Oregon and Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, graduating with a double major in Mathematics and Religion.

I did not grow up in the church. My father was a scientific agnostic and we did not practice any religion. I became a convert to Christianity while at college. This was a big change and required years to digest, and many changes in my life. My concern for campus ministry and outreach to non-Christians is a direct product of this history. Linda, my wife, did grow up in the church and was never conscious of not being a Christian. We make an interesting combination. I came to the Presbyterian Church first because of good friends who were members of Presbyterian Churches, and then because my wife grew up Presbyterian. I have stayed because of my love of Reformed theology.

Over the years I have worked as a purchasing agent at a hotel/restaurant, night auditor in a hotel, clerk and mechanic in training at a tool rental shop, school district custodian, and programmer for an automated blood chemistry analyzer.

I returned to school to get a Master of Divinity, and later a Doctor of Philosophy in Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. I published a revision of my dissertation as Barth and Rationality: Critical Realism in Theology.

While working on these degrees I also went through the process of preparation for ordination and was ordained to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). (I am, however, allergic to the title “reverend doctor” and prefer to be called Paul. Children usually call me “pastor Paul or reverend Paul.”)

I served as solo pastor for the Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church near Lambertville, New Jersey for seven years. I have also served short terms as interim minister at New Brunswick Presbyterian Church and Kingston Presbyterian Church. I have been the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of New Brunswick since 2009. I teach Presbyterian Polity once a year as adjunct at Princeton Theological Seminary.

I am married with Linda LaMontagne, nee Ellis, who grew up in Washington state. We have three children and eleven grandchildren (counting one due in June). The grandchildren all live close enough that we get to see them regularly, and this is a great joy. Grandchildren are all the fun of children, but with much less responsibility.

My parents live in Estes Park, Colorado, which is at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, so my visits to them give me a chance to hike in the mountains. My other hobbies are reading (almost anything, but lots of science fiction and history), miniature golf (I wander all over the state looking for good places to play), and classical music (listening not playing, because I was a lousy violinist as a boy). Linda, along with her sister and mother, is an enthusiastic quilter. I am very happy to have a chance to participate in this ministry.