I am a graduate of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City (B.A. in Political Science) and hold a Master of Divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. I have been the Senior Pastor at Vine Congregational Church since August 1997.

        I was born in Saudi Arabia, where my father was employed by the Arabian American Oil Company. I attended school, through the eighth grade, at the Senior Staff School. Deciding to raise their children themselves, rather than send them away to boarding school, my parents left Saudi Arabia in 1964 and moved the family to Boulder, CO. After graduation from Fairview High School in Boulder, I achieved my B.A. in Political Science from the University of Utah. Following graduation, I served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a communications officer for 2 ½ years. I was honorably discharged in 1974 and entered seminary in 1975. I was ordained at the Bountiful Community Church in Bountiful, UT on September 30, 1979 .

        I have served as Associate Pastor at the Congregational Church of San Mateo, CA for 3 years; as Pastor of the Orem Community Church, Orem, UT for 3 years; as a Navy Chaplain for 4 years; as the civilian assistant director of the Family Services Center, Naval Air Station, Alameda, CA and Pastor of the Little Brown Church of Sunol, CA for 2 years; and as the Pastor of the Community Congregational Church of Garden City, KS for 6 years before coming to Vine Congregational Church – UCC in Lincoln, NE.

        I am married to Karen Hansen Tyler. We have three grown children and are grandparents. My hobbies and passions are fly-fishing, coffees of the world, science fiction movies and books, and gorillas. You should stop by and see the primate collection in my office!