Staff
Trinity Staff | AmeriCorps Staff
Harlan Shoop , Senior Pastor, was born in Kansas, raised in Colorado, moved to the Northwest in the 70's and has called Tacoma home for longer than anywhere else. He has been in youth ministry, a stint in the business world (not long) and then worked as a lay pastor in Yakima. He came to Tacoma after attending seminary in Scotland at the University of Aberdeen. His first call in Tacoma was to University Place Presbyterian Church and now has been at Trinity for the past five years. Harlan and his wife, Sue, have 4 children that are all grown and on their own. They also have 9 grandchildren. He enjoys fishing, bike riding, parties, people, and most of all being your pastor.
I was a church kid. My parents took my sister, brother and me to church routinely. They were involved and I was often bored. I enjoyed it when something would go wrong or sideways to provide comic relief or punishment if I was the one who cause it to happen. God was very much a mysterious accountant that kept track of rights and wrongs. If you did right you got to heaven and if you did wrong, well! I missed the message of grace. At some point I caught the message or it caught me. I am not sure which.
I believe that the Spirit of God is at work in many places speaking the word of grace. It is not just spoken in the church. At the same time I believe that the gathering of God's people is a place where God does show up in amazing ways and speaks to us of Grace made known through Christ Jesus.
If you are looking for a church that is active in mission, energetic in worship, loving in reaching out to you, and speaks the words of Grace, then you might want to come and check us out. We are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we are dedicated to living the Gospel in the Heart of Tacoma and living in God's grace.
Grace and Peace,
Harlan Shoop
Contact Harlan
harlans@tpctacoma.org 253-272-8819 ext. 102
I grew up in Napa, CA in a non-churched home and came to know Christ in my teenage years after the deaths of my parents. I graduated from Sacramento State University with a BA in Communications (1980); Fuller Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity degree (1983); and, San Francisco Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry degree in preaching (2001). I married Rick Armstrong (an electrician: I like to say he keeps me grounded) in June 2003, and instantly inherited a family of three step sons and three granddaughters. I am a book-aholic; facilitated a church mission partnership with 18 Wolof villages, and led 7 congregational trips to Senegal, West Africa, as well as traveled to Palestine/Israel several times, including the Gaza strip (2001), and United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan (2006); love acoustic folk music (a genre I tried to emulate in the 60s), and black gospel-soul music; pretty much gave up on motorcycle touring when my 800cc bike recently encountered gale force winds and grooved pavement on a mountain road minus guardrails; and, am renewed by living in and exploring the Pacific Northwest/Puget Sound. I am so thankful to be serving here at Trinity! Contact Heidi |
I came to Tacoma in 1992 in order to attend Pacific Lutheran University and have never left. The city of Tacoma immediately grabbed hold of my heart. After working with kids and families in the Central City of Tacoma for 10+ years, I am excited to now be serving at Trinity, where my family and I have attended for the past 7 years. I am genuinely excited about this place and am eager to see what God has in store for the next page in Trinity’s history. Contact Rod |
I grew up here in Tacoma on the east side of the city, where I still live. The last 22 years of my life have been spent being a home administrator for my family, which includes my husband, and six kids, and now four grandkids. Re-entering the work force seemed a bit scary at first, but being here has been nothing but a joy. I am looking forward to continuing to serve the folks here at Trinity as well as the surrounding neighborhood. Stop by the office to say “hello” anytime. |
Heidi Husted Armstrong – Parish Associate 
Rod Nash – Director of Outreach & Education 
Karla Strivens – Trinity