Rev. Lari Grubbs

Regional Minister

Bio: Rev. Lari R. Grubbs is the Regional Minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Capital Area with offices in Wheaton, MD. He has held his current position since January 1, 2003. As Regional Minister, Rev. Grubbs is the Evangelist on staff. He is also pastor to the pastors in the Christian Church Capital Area, which serves 48 congregations in Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware. The Christian Church Capital Area owns and operates Bethany Beach Conference Center in Bethany Beach, DE and Camp Mary Mac in Sharpsburg, MD for which Rev. Grubbs is responsible. He has extensive experience as a director and counselor for youth camps, work experiences and retreats at all age levels. He has also led major youth trips to Washington, D.C. from West Virginia, Illinois and Iowa; as well as to the World's Fair; and a variety of short and long-term experiences.

Lari Grubbs held pastorates in Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, and Iowa. He served for eight years as the Southeast Gateway Area Minister in the Mid-America Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) before accepting the call to his current position.

Lari Grubbs served as an adjunct faculty member at Eden Theological Seminary of St. Louis, MO where he taught the History and Polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Rev. Grubbs has taught American and World History at West Virginia University and taught the History of Religion in America at WVU and Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA. He served as Chair of the Cabinet of the Interfaith Partnership of St. Louis. Rev. Grubbs co-chaired the Building Bridges effort of the Interfaith Partnership and the St. Louis Clergy Coalition to end racism in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Rev. Grubbs also served on the Hate Crimes Task Force for Metropolitan St. Louis established by the US Attorneys for the Eastern Missouri and the Southern Illinois Districts. He also served on the Mid America implementation team on dismantling racism. He is currently a member of the Christian Church Capital Area Anti-racism team.

Rev. Grubbs was President of the Ecumenical Coordinating Council for Congregation Centered Community Organizing in St. Louis. He authored a paper on urban sprawl, which was presented to 23 faith groups for reflection on the theology and ethics of urban sprawl and smart growth. Rev. Grubbs co-authored a paper on Pastoral Relations Committees used throughout the denomination since 1979. He also wrote a paper on Ministerial Sabbaticals. Lari Grubbs has worked as a carpenter, cook, and a counselor in a Teen Crisis Center. He has also been a volunteer fireman, a police chaplain and served on a county Crime-Stoppers Council.

Rev. Lari Grubbs is a native of St. Louis, growing up in St. Ann, MO where his parents still reside. He is a graduate of Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN. Rev. Grubbs holds a B.A. and an M.Div. degree. He has also done 100+ hours of doctoral work including graduate work at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and West Virginia University. Rev. Grubbs is a single parent of two adult children - Rob Grubbs (Crystal City, MO) and Jamelle Lingle, who is married to James Lingle, (Peoria, IL) and has one granddaughter, Kaitlynn Wiley-Grubbs and one grandson, Robbi Ray Grubbs II. He makes his home in Gaithersburg, MD. Lari is a member of the Rockville Christian Church in Rockville, MD.