Meet Charter Member Juli Burnell

When Juli Burnell first walked into Cross Creek Church in 1996, her life had been turned upside down. A life-threatening brain abscess left her partially paralyzed, visually impaired, and in a wheelchair. On top of that, her partner chose to leave. It was an uncertain and  frightening time—one that made Juli wonder for the first time if she needed some kind of spiritual foundation.

What she found at Cross Creek wasn’t judgment, but curiosity and welcome. When she told Pastor Mike Castle she didn’t believe in God, he replied, “That’s great—let’s sit down and talk about that.” That spirit of openness—and a book he handed her titled Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time—helped Juli begin exploring faith in a way that honored her doubts as well as her hopes.

Over the years, Juli became deeply engaged in the life of the church. She loved the Weekend Intensives that brought leading progressive Christian thinkers from around the world to Dayton. She joined study groups that asked hard questions and wrestled with big ideas. She says, “That’s how Cross Creek was built—we questioned things, we chewed on things, and we didn’t just swallow what we were told.”

Even when the church moved locations and leadership changed, Juli remained rooted. What kept her connected was the community’s commitment to caring for one another and for the wider world. One of the most meaningful expressions of this came through Salon, a weekly gathering started by Pastor Ruth Hopkins that fosters deep conversation on spirituality, justice, and meaning. Today, Juli serves as Chair of Salon, helping it thrive as a space of connection and
purpose for more than 20 regular participants.

Beyond church, Juli has also lived her values through service. After a 30-year career as a psychologist at the University of Dayton, she founded Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, a nonprofit that helps families afford critical veterinary care so pets—their beloved companions of unconditional love—don’t have to be surrendered or euthanized.