Jacob's Porch Staff
Pr. Grant Eckhart
Grant is an Ohio State Alumnus and ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America who received their masters level education at the G.T.U. in Berkeley, Ca. and Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
Grant is married to Tammy, has 2 children Grayson and Tobias, and has served this community since 2013.
B.S., M.Div., S.T.M.(ABD)
Sammi Shivener
Sammi has been the Pastoral Associate here since 2017. She is a lay minister connected to the United Methodist Church and received their Masters of Divinity and Masters of Theological Studies in 2016 from Methodist Theological School in Ohio. They have specializations in Feminist and Womanist Ethics and Church History.
Sammi is a queer, pop culture loving, contemplative follower of Christ. They are married to Ethan, and has a sweet dog, Louise.
B.A., M.Div., M.T.S.
Taylor Barner
Taylor joined Jacob's Porch in 2023 and is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is a graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, receiving his MDiv in 2016.
Taylor loves connecting with others, playing volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and chess, and cheering on the Buckeyes with his wife Annie, dog Lewis, and cats Poppy and Penny.
B.A., MDiv.
Darien McCoy
Darien is serving as the Minister in Residence for the 2025-2026 academic year. Darien serves as the Children's Formation Assistant at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church in Upper Arlington and as a Receptionist for Neighborhood Services Inc. A devoted Episcopal lay minister, he is passionate about guiding young people in spirituality while exploring the intersections of faith, culture, and justice.
In his free time, Darien enjoys playing video games, crafting rosaries, and spending quality time with his siblings. Whether deep in theological reflection or immersed in a virtual world, he finds joy in both contemplation and creativity.