Meet the Team

A native of Washington, DC, Rev. Dr. Riley and her husband Bill moved to Southern California in August of 2010.  Amanda graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2005 and completed a Doctorate in Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary in 2014. She began her ministry in Michigan serving churches first in Ann Arbor and then Fenton.  In her first years in LA, she served as Parish Associate at Brentwood Presbyterian Church. Then Amanda and a colleague began a Worshiping Community in Playa Vista, California. She met The Garden Church's Founding Pastor Rev. Anna through her church planting work and like so many others fell in love with the vision, work and mission of the Garden Church. Amanda joined the Garden Church board in 2016, before becoming Acting-Co Pastor. She Served as Acting Co-Pastor from 2017-2022 with Rev. Jonathan Mitchell. In 2022 Rev. Amanda was elected to serve as Lead Pastor, and Rev. Dr. David. C. Brown joined the team. She is active in the San Pedro Community including serving on the Harbor Connects Board. A proud Presbyterian, Rev. Amanda is also serving as Parish Associate at St. Peter's By the Sea Presbyterian Church, is active in the Presbytery of the Pacific, and is co-author of the book The Girlfriends’ Clergy Companion. Amanda is mother to two active boys, and lives with her husband, sons and dog in South Bay.

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