Pastor Rick is our "Bridge Pastor" which is the pastor who will serve St. Peter's until a new permanent pastor is called. How long will that take? Most likely it will take months but St. Peter's is ahead of the process from the start with interviews already taking place.
Pastor Rick has been an ELCA pastor for 42 years. He grew up in Minnesota and went to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. He went straight to seminary at Luther Seminary in Minneapolis. His first call was at Zion Lutheran in Anoka, Minnesota which at the time was the second largest ELCA congregation in the country as their youth pastor. He remained youth pastor at St. Luke's Lutheran in Bloomington, Minnesota and Shepherd of the Valley, Lutheran in Phoenix. During this time Pastor Rick received his Doctor of Ministry degree at Luther Seminary and wrote a book entitled "Igniting a New Generation of Believers".
Pastor Rick moved to California with his wife Deby in 2000 and served Hope Lutheran in Spring Valley and Carlton Hills Lutheran in Santee along with working for the Pacifica Synod in Youth Ministry Leadership Development.
Pastor Rick has three adult daughters with his oldest daughter Beth living with him and his wife along with his 91 year old mother.
Pastor Rick is part-time at St. Peter's and has Thursdays and Fridays off. He has office hours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. He is currently enjoying leading Chapel for the Preschool on Tuesday and Wednesday.