The Reverend Scott Denman
​Rector

Scott has served as the Rector of St. John’s since 1996.  During his tenure he has created and led several creative new programs for the church and community both locally and nationally.  In 1997, Scott created Confirm Not Conform, an innovative confirmation program that allows participants the chance to explore Christian traditions, ask questions, express doubts and discover what they believe.  It is now used by more than 1000 congregations across the nation.  Scott also is the clergy co-founder of Genesis, a social justice group that successfully lobbied for free bus passes for school children in Oakland. Currently, he is developing Level Up, a program to help families with school-aged children develop spiritual practices at home. 

Scott is a graduate of Colorado College, where he studied philosophy, and Harvard University where he received a Master of Divinity. He was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1994 and served as the Cox Fellow at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Boston before joining St. John’s.  Originally from Colorado, Scott now lives in Oakland with his wife Kendace O’Donnell.  He has two adult children, Christina and Lucas, and one grandson.