25 East 2nd Street • Frederick, MD 21701

301-662-3312

Our Leadership

The Rev Chance Martinez (He/Him)

Pastor

Pastor Chance (or PC as he is often called) was called to serve Grace as her Pastor and Teacher in 2024. Both Grace UCC and the City of Frederick have made Chance and his husband feel right at home since moving here. 

PC earned his Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and he is currently working toward his Doctor of Ministry degree from there as well. He is passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus with everyone and he is focused in liberation theology. Having grown up in a very fundamentalist denomination, and serving as a pastor in that denomination for many years prior to coming out, PC understands the harm that toxic theology can cause and he continues on a journey of deconstructing the toxic theology he was taught in the past and lives by the motto “always growing while never becoming fully grown” when it comes to faith, theology, and spirituality. 

While he was called to serve Grace UCC, PC also understands the importance of being an active member of the community where he lives and serves. It is because of that belief that he is a member of the Frederick County DSS Advisory Board. He also serves the wider church by being a member of the Board of Directors for the UCC Mental Health Network and the Central Atlantic Conference. 

Nathan Strite

Minister of Music and Organist

Nathan completed an undergraduate degree in Organ Performance at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he studied organ with Mark King, piano with Dr. Yu-Hsuan Liao, and choral conducting with Dr. Rachel Carlson.

As a church musician, Nathan served various churches in the Hagerstown area before coming to Grace UCC in Frederick. He has also worked as a choral accompanist and has accompanied Hagerstown Choral Arts and various other choral groups while at Shepherd University.

Our Staff

Kaden Hansen

Custodian

Kaden joined the staff of Grace UCC in 2024. He is currently a student at Frederick Community College where he is majoring in Criminal Justice. Kaden works very hard to keep the building and grounds clean for all to enjoy. 

Regular Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 1:00pm-6:00pm.