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Paul was born and raised in Southern California, the 5 th of the five children of Jim and Tordie Hayden. Faith and church were a large part of the Hayden’s home. His parents had served within the Christian ministry of the Navigators and took the principles of Christian discipleship and applied them within the family. Paul learned to love the Lord during those early years. He also learned to love and perform vocal music and play sports, primarily football, basketball, and baseball.
Paul attended Seattle Pacific College where he played baseball for the last of SPC’s baseball teams and initially majored in music education. After a six-month tour with a Christian music group, Paul felt the call to ministry, asked how he could complete his education most quickly, go to seminary, and become ordained to serve ministry. He changed his major and graduated with a degree in Christian
Education. Paul did his Master’s of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary. He was in the inaugural Fuller Extension Program in Seattle before transferring to the main campus. During 2 of his 3 years in Pasadena Paul interned at 1 st Presbyterian Church, Hollywood, California. During his summers, he
commuted back to Seattle where he worked as the program director for Buck Creek, Seattle Presbytery’s camp at the base of Mt. Rainier.
Paul has served four churches during his 42 year pastoral career: Fremont Presbyterian in Sacramento, Ca (Children, Youth, and Family ministries); Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, Washington (Solo Pastor); The Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole, Hole, Wyoming
(Organizing Pastor of a New Church Development and then Senior Pastor); Chapel by the Sea Presbyterian Church, Lincoln City, Oregon (Solo Pastor), and First Presbyterian Church, Sheridan, Wyoming (Interim Pastor). In each of the congregations his love for the Lord, for people, and for the scriptures have been central themes. Paul began the Doctor of Ministry program at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary during his time in Friday Harbor. He completed his degree after moving to Jackson. His Doctoral Project was titled: “When the World Comes to You: Christian Witness in a Resort Community.” Historically, for those who
have grown up in biblically focused churches, mission has been to “Go into all the world…” Many Christians have felt like spiritual failures because they haven’t gone somewhere in Christian service. But what happens when God brings the world to you as in a resort community? How do you do mission
in that type of context? His project was written to give theological background and provide a training program to equip congregations to address these questions. During Paul’s time in Jackson he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree at Washington and Jefferson College for his leadership within the congregation and service within the larger community.
Not being a person who “toots his own horn,” Paul was humbled and honored by this recognition. Paul and his wife Terri share four children: Isaac 38 (Jackson, WY), Cameron 32 (Beaverton, OR), James 30 (Dickinson, ND), and Sam 30 (Santa Barbara, CA). Terri served for 18 years in volunteer
management first at the National Museum of Wildlife Art and then at St. John’s Medical Center. She is now the Director of Volunteer Services and The Hub on Smith, Sheridan’s Senior Center where she oversees 350 volunteers.
Paul and Terri love being in and exploring God's creation, share a love for serving people, a love of animals, the love of travel and experiencing new things.