Scott was born in Lancaster, PA, and from the age of 10 grew up in Portland, OR, graduating from Lewis and Clark College during which time he studied in Guilin, China for a semester. He then worked in Kanazawa, Japan, and from there went to Princeton, NJ, where he received his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. During his years at PTS he served at an inner city Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE, and traveled through Central America which put him in contact with the Union Evangelical Church in Mexico City, where after his ordination in the PCUSA he served from 1987 - 1993. It was in Mexico City where he met and was married to his wife Kimberly. As Scott was called to serve the International Protestant Church of Zurich, they moved to Switzerland where they lived for six years and where their first three children were born. They then moved to Fort Collins, CO, where he served the First Presbyterian Church for nine years and where their youngest son was born. Scott has eclectic interests, and enjoys various genres of music, art, reading, movies, cycling, skiing, and good food! Scott's favorite Scripture is Philippians chapter 2. His favorite quote is: "I am a weak man in the hands of a strong God!"
Pastors & Music Directors
The Rev. Dr. Scott Herr, Senior Pastor
The Rev. Glen Thorp, Interim Associate Pastor
Glen Thorp was born in California, USA, and raised bi-culturally and bilingually in Guatemala, Central America, where his parents were
missionaries under the United Presbyterian Church. He has served as pastor in a variety of communities and types of churches. He pastored a church next to the University of Minnesota, chartered a Presbyterian Church in North Los Angeles County, redeveloped churches in Denver and North Hollywood, and retired after 13 years as pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in West Covina, California.
His wife, Eugenia (Jeannie) was also raised bi-culturally and bilingually in Colombia, South America where her parents were missionaries under the United Presbyterian Church. Both Glen and Jeannie enjoy traveling in Europe and Latin America. Glen is excited for this opportunity of serving the American Church in Paris as Interim Associate Pastor.
The Rev. Dan Haugh, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Dan Haugh is the Director of Youth and Young Adults at The American Church in Paris. Before coming to Paris, he served as a youth pastor for ten years in New York. He is ordained in the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination and received his Master of Divinity in church development from Alliance Theological Seminary. Dan is a social media "coach" with Social Phonics and leads workshops and seminars for youth workers with Barefoot Ministries. Additionally, he continues to serve as an adjunct professor of youth ministry at Nyack College, Alliance Theological Seminary, and Andover Newton Theological Seminary. Dan has written for Immerse Journal and Youthworker Journal, is the author of the forthcoming book Postmodern Shifts, and authors the blog www.emergingyouth.com.
He is married to Lauretta and they have their dog "Brady" with them here in Paris. Dan is an avid sports fan and is especially fond of Boston sports teams. In his spare time he enjoys reading a good book, traveling abroad, exploring the great city of Paris, and relaxing in a café with an espresso.
Fred Gramann, Music Director
"I highly value providing leadership for the music ministry at ACP which strives to reinforce the spoken word by providing a complementary spiritual avenue in our quest to experience God."
Fred Gramann is a native of Washington state where he began organ studies with Dr. Edward Hansen of Seattle. He earned organ performance degrees from Syracuse University and the University of Michigan, moving to Paris in 1972 for organ study with Marie-Claire Alain and Maurice Duruflé. Since 1976, he has been Director of Music at the American Church in Paris where he is organist and conducts the Adult Choir, the ACP Bronze Ringers, and the Celebration Ringers. Fred also organizes the weekly Sunday evening classical concert series. He has numerous choral and handbell works published in the United States and is the Honorary Associate Director of the Raleigh Ringers of North Carolina as well as co-conductor for the yearly European Handbell Festival.
Bonnie Woolley, Children's, Youth, and Young Adult Music Director
"The guiding principle in all the work I do with my singers and musicians is to teach them to say: 'This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!'"
Bonnie Woolley began directing choirs at age 15, and has been a professional choir director since age 19. She has been a member of the American Church in Paris since 1982. She served as section leader in the adult choir until 1998, when she created the ACP Youth Music program. Children's and youth choirs from the ACP have participated in events such as the Festival d'Ile de France, concerts at the Louvre and for two French prime ministers, recording sessions (two of which were for Bob Sinclar) and various concerts in Paris and the surrounding region. Bonnie also created and directs Voices Choeur International, a semi-professional choir, and the Maîtres Sonneurs, a community handbell ensemble. Through her association AMME she works with the French national education system and the French administration to promote choral singing and the use of handchimes in schools and conservatories. Bonnie has a B.A. in music and French, an M.A. and a French D.E.A. in language-teaching methodology, and has done research on the relationship between language and music.
Natalie Raynal, Contemporary Music Director
"Leading worship brings together everything I love and value most; it's an opportunity to testify to who God is and what he has done, in fellowship with other musicians, through music that I love. 'Because your love is better than life, my lips will praise you…with singing lips my mouth will praise you.'"
Natalie is a native of Richmond, Virginia who came to Paris after 7 years in Milan, Italy. After graduating from the Peabody Conservatory of Music with a Bachelors of Music in voice performance under Phylis Bryn-Julson, she continued her vocal studies with Renato Cazzaniga of La Scala. In Milan she performed in classical and jazz concerts and lead worship at the Milan Bible Church. Natalie has lead the Contemporary Service since it began in 2008, and joined the ACP staff as Contemporary Music Director in 2009. "I love the diversity of what we can do as a worship team at the ACP. The extraordinary diversity of our backgrounds and blend of classically and self-trained musicians allows each of us add our own unique style and faith experience to the blend."
The Rev. Bedford Transou, Visiting Pastor
Bedford Transou is the Visiting Pastor for the first six months of 2012. He has primary responsibility for the wedding ministry and assists with other ministries as needed. He is an ordained United Methodist Minister and a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Divinity School. He has had pastoral, teaching and administrative duties in Tennessee, Alabama and New Jersey.
He and his wife Carol live in Johnson City, in the Northeast corner of Tennessee. He has a continuing involvment with the Qullen College of Medicine there and they both recently became founding members of the new Women's Fund for East Tennessee. They first came to The American Church when Bedford was directing a study seminar for the United Methodist General Board of Education. They have now been in all of France's twenty "Regions" and some ninety of the one hundred "Departements". They are both thrilled to return to the life and ministry of The American Church in Paris.