"A House of Prayer for All People"
Clergy and Staff
Rev. Diane Bowers, Bridge Pastor
Rev. Diane Bowers, Ph.D., is a theologian, published Luther scholar, and rostered minister in the Sierra Pacific Synod, ELCA. Diane was ordained in 2002 and currently serves Peace Lutheran Church as our Bridge Pastor.
In 2008 Diane earned her Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, with a dissertation on Martin Luther’s theology of the mystical union with Christ, experienced through faith. Luther, the Reformation, and especially the significance of the Reformation for women, as well as 20th century Christian theology, have been among Diane’s interests for many years. Diane has served as adjunct faculty at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, in the M.Div. program.
Diane has 23 years of experience in the parish, including eight years doing interims, where her passion has been fostering inclusive communities of faith centered around the gospel of Jesus Christ. She has long supported the full inclusion of Queer folk in the life of the church, and she seeks to foster worshipping communities which are inclusive of people of many colors, and that work for justice and peace. She believes that God’s will is that all people, as well as the animals, plants, water, and the earth, flourish.
Diane served as the convener of the Reformation500 Synod Task Force, facilitating events within the synod to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. Diane led the Luther Reading Group for several years, a monthly discussion group for clergy and lay folk. She served on the committee that prepared a resolution to create a Reparations Fund for the Sierra Pacific Synod, which passed in 2022. She chaired the committee that created policies to govern the administration of the Reparations Fund.
Diane and her husband Hans-Christian Kasper live in Berkeley with their elementary-aged son Elijah. Hans is a paralegal for a large law firm and enjoys his work immensely. Diane and Hans enjoy travel (especially by train), hospitality, California landscape, wine, architecture, politics, and too much time online. Elijah loves to laugh, and also loves trains and vehicles of all sorts and being as active as possible.
Email [email protected]
Rev. Lucy Kolin, Assistant Pastor & Pastoral Care
We are blessed to have Pr. Lucy Kolin sharing in pastoral care with our congregation. She is available to listen and pray with us.
Email [email protected]
Phone 510.504.3236
Office Manager Kari Doolittle
We are fortunate to have Kari Doolittle serving as the Peace Office Manager, taking care of the administrative functions for our congregation. She can be reached at [email protected] or by phone during office hours at 925.648.7000. If you are interested in booking a facility rental, please see our Facility Rentals page to assist you in this process.
Mailing Address:
3201 Camino Tassajara
Danville CA 94506
Office Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12:30 to 5:30. Office hours sometimes vary due to special events.
Peace Musicians
We appreciate the beautiful gifts the Peace Musicians share with us throughout the year:
Alex Patist
Darita Seth
Mei Cooper
Melinda Morse
Ryan Dilag
Elizabeth Hunter Ashley, Choir Director
Lyric Coloratura Soprano, Elizabeth Hunter Ashley, is a professional vocal soloist, vocal philanthropist, recording artist, adjudicator, voice teacher, and the Peace church choir director. As a featured concert soloist, her most recent tour was in June 2019 where she traveled to the East Coast as the soloist and member with Blackhawk Chorus. In her solo career, Elizabeth has worked with over 16 orchestras spanning the United States in California, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, New Jersey, and internationally in Italy, Austria, and France. She works as a collaborator with Bay Area composers and other professional artists in Concert, Musical, Recital, Opera, Sacred Music. Elizabeth has performed lead roles in Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and California; as a soloist and member of Opera Omaha, The Heartland Opera Theatre, Bellevue Theatre, Livermore Opera, Diablo Light Opera Company, The Willows Regional Theatre, and as a National Anthem performer in Minnesota, Nebraska and California. Elizabeth held the title of Miss Austin 1984 and Miss Minnesota 1985 as well as being awarded the 1985 Miss Minnesota talent winner. She competed as Miss Minnesota in the 1985 Miss America Scholarship Pageant.
Elizabeth is the proprietor of the “Elizabeth Hunter Ashley :The Performance Studio”. She is an adjudicator for vocal competitions with CMEA and NATS. Elizabeth is a former Master Teacher`-15 years for SF Girls Chorus and 5 years for Young Woman Choral Project in SF. She was also a coach for 5 years at Acalanes High School and 2 years at Monte Vista High School. Her most recent award is the 2018 award for “Best Vocal Instructor” in Danville, CA. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from The University of Kansas and Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from The University Of Nebraska at Omaha. She is also a Hall Of Fame recipient from Austin Minnesota High School and winner of a Concerto Competition, NATS, and other various awards. Website: www.elizabethhunterashley.com
Rev. Steve Harms, Pastor Emeritus
Pr. Steve has a Masters of Divinity (M.Div) and an MA in Theatre Arts. His years in ministry have taken him from the streets of the Tenderloin in San Francisco to the streets of Danville. Steve previously served as the President of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County and remains actively engaged in deepening Interfaith connections within the community. Pr. Steve provides compassionate pastoral care and is a gifted preacher who enjoys creative worship. He has maintained a long-standing involvement in and passion for justice advocacy; he is a Master teacher of Tai Chi Chuan. Steve and Bev have three sons and seven grandchildren. Theologically empowered within his own tradition, he feels free to explore, learn about, encourage and celebrate other faith traditions. The people of Peace are grateful for the strong foundation Pr. Steve has brought Peace and his many years of leading this congregation. He retired in November 2025.
Email [email protected]