Hello, I am the Rev. Matthew D. Franks most people call me Matt or Pastor Matt. I currently serve as Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Castle Rock. In Castle Rock, Co.  I was appointed there in July 2022. 

I grew up in Miami, Oklahoma. I am a member of the Cherokee Nation and of Sac and Fox tribal heritage. When able to I am a Southern Stright Dancer to connect with my heritage and to honor my family.

I graduated from Miami High School in 2001. I then went to work on my Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Oklahoma City University which I completed in May 2005. It was while at OCU I found my calling of being an Ordained Elder.  After OCU, I jumped right into the Masters of Divinity program at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Ok, and completed it in December 2009. I was ordained an Elder in Full Connection in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church in May 2013. Then in the 2019 I was given an opportunity to study at Dakota Wesleyan University and earned a Master of Business Administration with a focus on Non-Profit Leadership. I completed that degree in 2022.

I love to watch baseball and soccer and when I am not running kids from activities. I have been a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan and I am still in search of a Soccer Club to follow. I also have a podcast hobby called Bearded Theologians that I co-host with the Rev. Zach Bechtold. 

My ministry passions are worship services that connect people to God and inspire them to live out their faith. Walking with people on their journeys to help them discern where the Holy Spirit may be leading them. And to love and care for our neighbors and environment to help build up the kingdom of God. 

---

My Service Record 

First United Methodist Church in Castle Rock July 1st, 2022 to Current.

Tahlequah UMC June 1st 2017-June 30th 2022

Locust Grove UMC June 1st 2014-May 31st 2017 Lead Pastor 

McFarlin UMC June 1st 2013-May 31st 2014  Associate Pastor of Missions, Outreach, and Young Adults

Calumet & Red Rock June 1st 2009-May 31st 2013 Lead Pastor 

Served on the Following Committees at the District and Conference Levels  

• OK. Conference Young Adult Ministries Council (2012-2017) 
• OK. Conference Housing (2009-2019) 
• OK. Conference Higher Ed. Board (2009-2013)
• OK. Conference Standing Rules (2014-2022) Served as Chair Person 2021-2022
• SWOSU Wesley Board (2009-2013)
• Clinton District Buildings and Grounds (Jan. 2010- Jan. 2013)
• SWOSU Wesley Board Chair (Jan. 2011- June 2013)
• NSU Wesley Board (June 2017-June 2022)
• Green Country District District Committee on Ministries (Jan. 2015-Jun. 2022)

Other Things

2014 Young Adult Leader/Delegate to Global Young People’s Convocation 

2016 Young Adult Delegate for World Methodist Young Adult Convocation 

2017-2022 Serving on the NSU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Co-Host and Producer at beardedtheologians.com 

The Bearded Theologians’ content is also in Cokesbury’s Amplified Media Platform. https://amplifymedia.com/ 

The Podcast also gets a mention in the book: Church as Network: Christian Life and Connection in Digital Culture by Jeffrey Mahan