Children's and Family Minister

I grew up in Belleville, IL just outside of St. Louis, MO, in a dynamic United Methodist congregation. After high school, I attended nearby Greenville College, a Christian liberal arts school affiliated with the Free Methodists, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in pastoral ministry and liberal arts. While at Greenville, I was a youth camp counselor at Somerset Beach Campground and did my pastoral internship there.

After Greenville, I attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, serving as a youth and associate pastor at Bethany United Methodist in Ohio part time. At Asbury I found I disagreed with the theological understanding of communion in the United Methodist church, and decided to take a break and be a cowboy in Montana.

However, a few months later I was serving as a youth director in northwest Montana at Calvary Lutheran Church. I moved to Colorado in 2004 to serve at First Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs. I served along side Pastor Paul Peel, former pastor of Augustana in the 1960’s.

I was board chairman and youth advisor for the Montana Lutheran Youth Organization 1999–2003 and was appointed to Region 1 of the ELCA youth council as well as representative to the Council for Synodical Presidents in 2001 in Chicago.

In 2008, I finished my Master of Arts degree at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in Curriculum and Instruction, receiving my Elementary Teaching License from the Colorado Department of Education. I taught in Colorado Springs and Denver Public Schools while serving part time at Episcopal churches in Denver and Pueblo.
I am married to Laura Mathis, who is the senior accountant for the Denver Fire Department in the Fire Prevention Bureau. We enjoy camping, reading, and European board games.

Contact Cary (mathis@augustanadenver.org or 303-388-4678 ext. 107).