Leadership

Elders & Staff

CITY LIFE CHURCH 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 City Life 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 contact the elders by sending an email to elders@austincitylife.org

  • Jonathan Dodson

    Jonathan Dodson Lead Pastor

    Jonathan serves the church with Vision, Theology, and Leadership. He is married to Robie and father to Owen, Ellie, and Rosamund. He is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div; Th.M) and author of several books including Gospel-Centered Discipleship and Here in Spirit. Among other things, he enjoys smoking his pipe, chewing on a good piece of theology, and listening to M. Ward.

    Email Jonathan Dodson

    • John Seago

      John Seago Elder

      John serves as a non-vocational Elder at City Life Church. He is a Patient Advocate and Lobbyist and works on bioethical policies in the Texas Legislature. He has lived in Austin since 2013 with his wife Brandy and two children Nahum and Sophia. John graduated from Southeastern College in Wake Forest, North Carolina with a double major in History of Ideas and Biblical Studies. He studied Philosophy at the University of Dallas for several years and received his Master’s in Bioethics from Trinity International University in Chicago.
    • Matt Irving

      Matt Irving Elder

      Matt serves as a non-vocational elder at City Life Church. He runs Business Development and Partnerships for Able Lending and serves as a Strategic Advisor Start Ups focused on Small Businesses. He has a Bachelor Of Arts from Texas Tech University with concentrations in Philosophy, Psychology, and Mass Communications. He and his wife Danielle have lived in Austin since 2012 and they have two children.
    • Peter Craig

      Peter Craig Elder

      Peter serves as a non-vocational elder at City Life Church. He and his wife, Erin, moved to Austin in 2013 and, by God's grace, have three beautiful daughters: Ellie, Lydia, and Tirfe. Inspired at a young age to become a filmmaker, Peter is the Executive Director of Moving Works, a non-profit filmmaking ministry that makes films about faith in Christ for faith in Christ in cultures around the world. Peter and his family enjoy "Friday movie nights", feasting on Ethiopian Food, and hanging out with their neighbors on the front lawn.
    • Preston McGee

      Preston McGee Director of Operations

      Preston serves as a Deacon and the Director of Operations. He is married to Robin and father to three wonderful daughters.

      Email Preston McGee

      • Jaime Dodson

        Jaime Dodson Director of Worship & Liturgical Formation

      • Danielle Irving

        Danielle Irving Director of Children's Ministry

        Danielle serves as the Director of Children's Ministry. She is married to Matt and mom to two.
      • Robie Dodson

        Robie Dodson Director of Ministry to Women

        Robie serves as Director of Ministry to Women at City Life. Robie is married to Jonathan and mom to Owen, Ellie and Rosamund.

        Email Robie Dodson

        • Ivan Valdez

          Ivan Valdez Church Planting Resident