Ed Hilton grew up in the San Diego suburbs, in the small town of San Marcos. He attended San Marcos High School and then after graduation, Simpson University, in Redding, California. While at Simpson, Ed majored in Elementary Education, interned at two local elementary schools, and served as the Director of Youth Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of Redding. Ed met Jenna while attending Simpson and they were married after graduation.
In 1999, Ed moved to Philadelphia with Jenna to serve the Media Presbyterian Church as the Director of Children’s Ministries. Ed loves Philadelphia, so much so that he became a Phillies and an Eagles fan. Though he isn’t into hockey and basketball that much, he’ll watch the Sixers and the Flyers if they make it into the playoffs! Geno’s or Pat’s? Ed has a fave and he’ll let you know if you ask!
In 2002, Ed was accepted into graduate school. He completed the Masters of Divinity program and elementary teaching certification between the schools of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary.
Pastor Ed and his family moved to Truckee in the summer of 2005. They lived in Glenshire while Ed was the pastor of the Truckee Lutheran Presbyterian Church. Ed supported TLPC as they officially chartered in two denominations, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
While Ed had taught elementary school in New Jersey, upon moving to Truckee he taught both middle school and high school scholars at Alder Creek Middle School and Sierra Continuation High School. He is a “tentmaking” or “bi vocational” pastor, which means that Ed has another job in addition to being a pastor. In 2014, Ed began working in school administration at the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District as the Director of Technology Services. Ed was awarded the Administrator of the Year award for Placer County and the North State in 2016!
From 2021-2023 Ed served as the principal at Donner Trail Elementary School in addition to his role in Technology.
Ed is a certified “geek” and loves to try out new gadgets and technology. He is interested in how they can help build relationships and connections, especially within the church.
Ed and Jenna, their children, Evan and Nora, and their Goldendoodle, Hobbes, have lived in Tahoe city since the summer of 2016. Pastor Ed is always up for a good hike, mountain bike adventure, geocaching, or watching an Eagles or Phillies game.
Ed loves the fact that Christ’s disciples are called to love God and neighbor, and with God’s help, to look for opportunities to be the “hands and feet of Christ” wherever we may be called.
“God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say.
Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.” – Søren Kierkegaard