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Matt Schultz is an ordained Presbyterian minister, low-income housing activist, and candidate for U.S. representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district. [1]
Schultz earned an art degree from Westminster College in 1995 and holds both a Masters of Divinity and Masters in Youth Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. [2]
Schultz was selected as the Head Pastor of Anchorage First Presbyterian Church in 2013. [3] He had previously served as director of youth ministries from 1997 to 2001 with his wife.[ citation needed ]
Schultz has worked in Anchorage to advocate for and coordinate services for the homeless, elderly, and those in need. He is a board member of Covenant House in Anchorage, is a member of the steering committee for Christians for Equality, and served as a member of the Anchorage Homelessness Community Leadership Council. [4] [5]
In 2022 with Anchorage's primary homeless shelter closing, his congregation established a non-profit, First Presbyterian Church LLC, purchased a hotel for $7.4 million with grant and private partner money, and founded the Guesthouse to offer low-barrier workforce housing for about 200 people. [6] [7] The property was later sold to the Anchorage Affordable Housing and Land Trust, for no profit, to continue to operate as part of a portfolio of affordable housing in Anchorage. [8] [9]
Schultz's has published a series of opinion articles in the Anchorage Daily News [10] as well as one in Newsweek . [11]
He lives in Anchorage, Alaska with his wife Reverend Elizabeth Schultz and has 3 children.[ citation needed ]
Each Halloween he offers the choice of a potato in addition to candy, which has become a local sensation and new tradition. [12] [13]
