A bald man with glasses and a beard sitting on a bench, smiling, and clasping his hands.

Joe Graves

Pastor. Designer. Consultant. Author.


Joe Graves is a pastor, entrepreneur, and consultant dedicated to rethinking assumptions and creating new possibilities in faith, leadership, and social impact. As the founding pastor of Central City Church—now Cityview Church—Joe has launched and supported numerous churches and nonprofits, including the Columbus Violence Reduction Fund, Little Bottoms Free Store, and the Ohio Writers Association. He is passionate about church renewal, justice, and empowering leaders to navigate change with creativity and compassion. With experience in church planting, organizational health, and nonprofit leadership, Joe brings practical insights and innovative strategies to help faith communities and mission-driven organizations thrive.

Empowering you to make a difference in the world.

Church & Nonprofit Consulting

Black and white cityscape of downtown Columbus, Ohio, featuring tall buildings, a river, and a bridge.

Let me introduce myself.

Free Resources. Affordable Coaching & Consultation

Values

Progress Pride Flag with rainbow stripes and additional black, brown, light blue, pink, and white chevron.

Inclusion: We believe that everyone is a beloved child of God. This includes: people of every age, race, ethnicity, physical & mental capability, sexual orientation, gender identity, social & economic status, family configuration, religious affiliation, background, & any other distinguishing quality. We work hard to ensure our processes respect every person’s individuality and gifts.

Person walking past a large "Black Lives Matter" banner outdoors.

Anti-Racists: As Christians committed to loving our neighbors, the pursuit of justice, and the importance of rejecting evil “in whatever forms they present themselves”, we condemn racism and the racist policies that plague our nation. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion for all and work hard with partners to ensure our processes keep in mind the diverse expressions of faith and social engagement found amongst people of faith.

Illuminated question mark marquee sign with lightbulbs against a dark backdrop.

Faith-Based, Doubt-Friendly: While we are unashamedly faith-based, we welcome questions and doubts and those from all walks of life and creeds. We value being a safe place—no matter where you are on your spiritual journey. We don’t limit our services to faith-based organizations or churches, but anyone who is willing to do their part in making the world a better place.

Logo for 'blank page' podcast & blog with a microphone icon.

Every new idea starts with a blank page.

Welcome to Blank Page, a podcast & blog that invites you to see the world as a blank canvas for new ideas. In each episode/article, we will explore the intersections of creativity, social justice, entrepreneurship, and faith. Our goal is to take an honest look at ourselves, the world, and what’s possible with a little bit of creativity.

Recent Podcast Episodes:

Get personalized emails on 6 different topics delivered right to your email.

Joe Graves

Joe got his MDiv in Church Renewal from United Theological Seminary and Bachelor of Biblical Studies from Taylor University. He is an ordained Elder in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 2017, Joe and his wife planted Central City Church which later merged with St. Luke’s UMC to become Cityview Church. Joe is passionate about issues of justice, effective communication, and responsible generosity. Along with leading as a pastor, Joe is the President of the Ohio Writers’ Association & the Columbus Violence Reduction Fund, founder of Little Bottoms Free Store, and a commissioner on the 5th by Northwest Area Commission for the City of Columbus.

Two men hugging in a warmly lit room with musical instruments in the background.
Bald man with glasses holding papers, wearing a blue T-shirt with a Martin Luther King Jr. quote, standing in front of a whiteboard.
Two people talking at a social event, one with a gray sweater and glasses, the other with white hair and a blue bag, with a catering setup in the background.
Two people having a conversation indoors near red curtains and a chafing dish. One person is wearing a gray cardigan and glasses, while the other is in a blue shirt and cap. A person in a hat is partially visible in the foreground.

Contact Us

A woman with long dark hair styled in waves, wearing a black top with "MOMCC" written on it. She has pearl earrings and necklaces, and a visible tattoo on her shoulder. The background is dark.

“Pastor Joe Graves is a selfless man with a heart posture of sacrifice and servitude. Joe has rallied his congregation to support the mission of Mothers Of Murdered Columbus Children, has volunteered as a consultant for the Initiative Operation Under Triple Digits, and has been gracious with giving financial support. The operations of programming would not have been possible without his expertise.”

Malissa Thomas St. Clair, Co-Founder of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children. 

A man and a woman taking a selfie in front of a stone wall with a colorful chameleon sculpture. The woman is wearing glasses and has blonde hair, while the man is wearing a t-shirt with a Superman logo. Part of a sign is visible in the background.

Joe has not only given us a road map to launch a new community, but to also relaunch an existing one.  He speaks not just from theory, but from experience.  He has been down in the trenches!”

Rev. Bob Baugher, Redeemer United Methodist Church & The Gathering

Man with glasses and a beard smiling outdoors wearing a gray sweater.

Joe Graves has been coaching us through our merger of 3 churches for 4 months and without his help we would not have had a solid process, empathy for all parties, smooth transitions and every facet of our merger already thought-through, walked-through and the way smoothed for us as we step into this new endeavor.”

Dave Warner, United Methodist Church Planter

Cartoon illustration of four diverse characters in a creative scene, featuring a light bulb, rocket, laptop, and unicorn with a star.

Do you have what it takes to launch a church or start a non-profit?

With this assessment, we will not only tell you where your strengths are, but offer practical tips to propel you forward.

Your Organization’s Sustainability Audit

It takes less than 15 minutes, and we will provide a look into your organizations health and sustainability. Each assessment comes with custom recommendations. This is a great tool for both churches and nonprofits.

Custom Church Plant Timeline

All it takes is five minutes & 16 Questions to get your free Custom Church Plant timeline & checklists with hundreds of ideas to get you started.

Checklist for launching a project, including personal goals, networking, vision, branding, financial setup, information meeting, and brainstorming event.