Our Pastor

Rev. Debra McKnight

Rev. Debra McKnight, MEd, MDiv, is the founding pastor of Urban Abbey.

Rev. Debra is passionate about connecting with the people and helping them grow in their faith. An advocate for social justice, women’s rights, and the LGBTQ+ community, she seeks to heal the wounds created by conservative Christianity. Her vivacious, warm personality fuels her ability to influence people in positive and healthy ways. 

Before attending seminary, Rev. Debra lived and worked in Germany as an education counselor for active duty military personnel. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska, a Master of Education degree from Doane College, and in 2008 she received a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

While serving as an Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Omaha, Rev. Debra created a spiritual gathering for young adults called Wesley Pub. Participants brought beverages of their choice and discussed spirituality, social justice, and more. Wesley Pub was so successful, she decided to expand the gatherings into a venue for all ages … and the idea for the Urban Abbey coffee shop/bookstore/church was born.

Since 2011, Urban Abbey has been offering a safe space for the community to connect with and learn from one another. During an era in which attendance at mainline protestant churches in the United States has declined, Urban Abbey has succeeded as a new church and is continually growing.

In 2020, Rev. Debra founded the Urban Abbot, an organization dedicated to helping pastors along their spiritual journey or who are interested in planting a new church.

Get in Touch

Have questions about Urban Abbey? Looking for more information on how to get involved? Or simply want a freshly brewed cup of coffee? Our team is here to help!