Rev. Dr. Jenny Shultz-Thomas

Denomination: United Church of Christ (UCC)
Organization: Countryside Community Church, United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Jenny Shultz-Thomas serves as Pastor of Countryside Community Church, the Christian partner of the Tri-Faith Initiative in Omaha, Nebraska. In this unique interfaith setting, she leads a theologically grounded and justice-oriented congregation committed to practicing radical inclusion and courageous love in a diverse, complex world.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky and Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (now closed), Rev. Dr. Shultz-Thomas earned her Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is also an alum of the United Church of Christ’s Next Generation Leadership Initiative, a cohort dedicated to equipping pastors with tools to shape the future church with imagination and integrity.

Throughout her ministry, she has demonstrated a call to intersectional, community-rooted leadership. Her work spans mentoring divinity students, leading faith-based resistance movements, and building interfaith partnerships. She has served on numerous boards and justice coalitions, embodying both prophetic clarity and pastoral care wherever she serves.

Originally from the Mountain West and deeply shaped by her family’s Kentucky dairy farm roots, Rev. Dr. Shultz-Thomas now lives in Omaha with her wife, Shannon, and their children, Sage and Quinn. Together, they explore beauty through art, nature, sports, and shared laughter—grounded always in a love that insists grace is greater than fear.