Leadership
AUSTIN CITY LIFE is led by biblically qualified pastor/elders, staff, and deacons that take seriously the responsibility to pastor the church and renew the city. Although the ACL staff works together to lead the church, our primary role is to equip the whole church for whole ministry in the whole city. As a result, we train and elevate City Group Leaders (deacons or elders) in the important work of pastoral and missional leadership. You can meet our City Group leaders here.
Staff Team
Jonathan Dodson, Pastor
Jonathan serves the church with Vision, Theology, and Leadership. He is married to Robie and father to Owen, Ellie, and Rosamund. He graduated from college with a B.A. in Anthropology and earned two masters degrees at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, one in Divinity (M.Div) and another in Biblical Theology (Th.M). Among other things, he enjoys smoking his pipe, chewing on a good piece of theology, and listening to M. Ward.
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Nate Navarro, Pastor
Nate serves by providing leadership in the areas of Community and Mission. His responsibilities include City Groups, Community Events, Local Mission and other pastoral responsibilities. Nate is husband to Melissa, step-dad to Jessica, and dad to Ava, Betsy Grace, and Mary Jones. He also serves as co-director of Austin non-profit Music For The City. Nate loves writing songs, plays an occasional show with his band The Romeria Lights, and enjoys Texas Longhorn and Washington Husky football.
Miranda Dodson, Director of Worship & Arts
Miranda (not Jonathan's wife) is our Worship & Arts Director. Miranda oversees our Sunday morning gatherings and leads the music team and is our lead songwriter (check out our worship albums). Miranda also oversees our Arts Collective, engaging the arts in our Sunday gatherings as well as infusing worshipful arts in to our everyday lives. Miranda is a singer/songwriter who enjoys writing & playing her music out in some of Austin's best venues. She has a new album "Change A Thing" that came out in June 2010. Check out her Music! Miranda is married to Luke (Jonathan’s brother) together they get to love on their son Pascal, travel to new places, soaking in the Texas sun & reading.
Matt Oakes, Musician & Production Coordinator
Matt Oakes serves as a missional intern and Director of A/V Teams at Austin City Life. Matt is married to Joanie Oakes and father to Isabella. The Oakes moved to Austin in 2009 and now live and serve with their city group on the east side. Matt graduated with a B.S. in Worship Arts from Corban College in 2007 and is currently pursuing an M.Div at Redeemer Seminary. He enjoys playing music with his wife, learning to build guitar pedals, and reading.
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