bringing people closer to god and one another

SINCE  1970

Our Team

If you have any questions for any of our staff or leadership, feel free to reach out and email them or call our church office to speak with them. You can email the church office here.

  • Rev. Dan Koeshall  - Senior Pastor  

    Rev. Dan Koeshall has served as Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego—affectionately known as The Met—since 2008. His journey with MCC began in 1997 after being dismissed from a nearly 10-year pastorate for coming out. Finding The Met was a turning point: he discovered a spiritual community created in 1970 by and for LGBTQIA people and has been grateful ever since. 


    In April 1999, Dan was hired as the church’s Music Director and later became Associate Pastor. In 2006, he served as Interim Senior Pastor at Pikes Peak MCC in Colorado Springs, before returning to San Diego to lead The Met, having been elected Senior Pastor in late 2007. 


    Over his 18-year tenure, Rev. Dan has become a deeply rooted spiritual and civic leader in San Diego’s LGBTQIA+ community. His service includes spiritual support for transgender individuals at George Bailey Detention Center, the Community Leadership Council, and inaugural planning teams for the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast and Sunburst LGBTQ Youth Housing. He also played a key role in the merger of the San Diego Men’s Chorus and the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus—and has never missed a year marching in the Pride Parade! 


    Dan has served on LGBTQ Advisory Boards for the San Diego Mayor’s Office, County Sheriff, and Police Department. For eight years, he wrote a weekly column, WTF: Where’s the Faith?, in the LGBT Weekly, exploring the intersection of faith and LGBTQIA+ identity. He has offered invocations for the San Diego City Council, California State Legislature, County Board of Supervisors, and numerous celebrations, weddings, and memorials. 


    Rev. Dan will retire from The Met this October, leaving behind a powerful legacy of faith, advocacy, and love—committed to the continued work and joy of each step forward with the community he cherishes. He may be reached at x113 or by email. 

  • Lee Bowman - Minister of Administration     

    Lee was born and grew up in Michigan, where he was an elementary teacher for 10 years. Lured by the beauty of the west, he packed up and moved to Denver in 1970 and worked in oil and gas investment and later for a publishing company. It was in Denver that he came out as a gay man, discovered God, and found MCC, all at the same time! After 12+ years on the Board of Directors at MCC of the Rockies, he joined the staff as Church Administrator in January, 1995. That’s where he first met Rev. Tony Freeman, during his Interim Pastorate. In late 1998, Lee was lured again—this time by the ocean and sun, Pastor Tony, and a true heartfelt calling, to be Administrator at MCC San Diego. His interests / passions include photography, writing, hiking, travel, movies and trivia, and collecting penguins - but not real ones. He may be reached at x111 or via email.

  • Colin Eckstein - Office Manager

    Colin joined The Met as Office Administrator in the fall of 2023. Colin received his BA in Neuroscience from Pomona College and his MA in Psychology & Religion from Union Theological Seminary.  You can email Colin here or call him at x120.

  • Armond Washington - Music Director


  • Marty Sherman - Vice-Moderator of the Board


  • Mich Martucci - Clerk of the Board


  • Steve Fitzgerald - Board Member


  • Irma Guzman - Board Member


  • Rose Turner - Board Member


  • Al Smithson - Vice Moderator Emeritus


What we believe

  • We believe in a God who is concerned with every human being personally and accepts each one with unconditional love.
  • We have found our connection to God through the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our model for care, compassion and community. We also recognize and respect those who find their connection to God through other spiritual paths.
  • One of the ways in which God speaks to us is through the Bible. We consider its accounts and teachings in light of their historical and cultural context.
  • We are guided by Jesus’ teaching of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and the Greatest Commandments: “Love God with all your heart; and love your neighbor as yourself.”
  • We affirm each individual as a unique and gifted creation of God. Building on our history of celebrating diversity in sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity, we are a congregation that welcomes all people.


We are called to

  • Teach and practice the Good News of God’s unconditional love for all people.
  • Welcome home those who have been spiritually wounded or are seeking or growing a relationship with God.
  • Actively promote equality and justice for all people.
  • Be fully engaged in our own growth and with others on their spiritual journey to hope, healing, and wholeness.