Rev. Doug de Graffenried
Senior Pastor
Pastor Doug grew up in Decatur, Alabama, where he once dreamed of playing college football for Coach Bear Bryant. That dream ended with a broken elbow—but perhaps it was divine intervention. Doug gave his life to Christ at age 16 and quickly sensed a call to ministry. That calling was confirmed when he was named Youth Pastor for Youth Sunday. His first sermon was the morning after his senior prom—a night he fondly remembers, though he discovered that dancing is not the best sermon prep. He still admires the minister who trusted a group of teenagers with the entire worship service. Doug was licensed for ministry in 1976 and ordained in 1978 by the church where he was baptized.
He graduated from Samford University in Birmingham in 1980 and went on to earn an M.Div. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1982. He was also a Ph.D. candidate in Historical Theology until 1985. While still in seminary, Doug began his ministry journey in the United Methodist Church, serving as Youth Minister at Algiers United Methodist Church, Night Supervisor at the Methodist Home Hospital in New Orleans, and Associate Pastor at Aurora United Methodist Church.
These days, Doug is a self-described weather nerd. He tracks storms with backyard weather stations in both Natchitoches and Gibsland and subscribes to professional forecasting services. He also enjoys remodeling homes—once even remodeling the same home twice to accommodate his in-laws' accessibility needs.
Doug has been married to Tamara for over 30 years. She serves as Vice President of Human Resources for Gibsland Bank and Trust. Together they have two children, Allison and Andrew, and are proud grandparents to Emerson and Solo. Their household is rounded out by two beloved rescue dogs, Dora and Katie.