Nominations Synod Council Member-at-Large (Clergy, Male) The Rev. Ryan Chaddick Pastor - American, Burbank (Twin Valleys Conference) Pastor Chaddick is the called Pastor at American, Burbank and was the Mission Development Pastor at Bloom Lutheran Church in Santa Clarita. He has been a Healthy Relationship Advocate and Chaplain at the Santa Clarita Domestic Violence Center, and served on the SWCA Synod Mission Team for Rostered Leaders. He is father and a Coffee Aficionado. Nominated by Ioan Ittu, St. Stephen s, Granada Hills The Rev. William Hurst, Jr. (Incumbent) Pastor First, Torrance (South Bay Conference) Bill Hurst has served as First's Senior Pastor since October 2004. He was born in Queens, New York, and is a product of the New York City Public Schools, including Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts. He is a graduate of Queens College (CUNY), and holds the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, where he also serves periodically as an adjunct instructor in training pastors for parish mission. Bill began his work life in musical theatre, as an actor, singer and songwriter. He then shifted careers to marketing and sales. He served as a Deacon of the Lutheran Church from 1986 until his ordination to the Office of Pastor in 1992. Before coming to Torrance, Bill served as Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of White Plains, New York, and as Assistant to the Bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, responsible for the synod's work in evangelism and mission outreach. He was the synod's Director of Communication from 1996 until 2000, and its Ecumenical Officer until 2003.
Pastor Hurst has edited the Eastertide devotionals "Keep the Feast" (1995), "O Blessed Spring" (1999), and "Known in the Breaking" (2000), and has written for The Lutheran magazine. From time to time he posts online seasonal reflections, including Facing Home, a study on the parable of the Prodigal and We Are Lazarus, reflections on Luke 15 and the church s ongoing call to renewal. Synod Council Member-at-Large (Clergy, Female) The Rev. Pamela Challis (Incumbent) Pastor Christ, Long Beach (Greater Long Beach Conference) Pastor Challis is the Coordinating Pastor for the GLB Joint Confirmation Ministry, and founder of The Open Table, Long Beach (an intentional food ministry to Long Beach State students - now defunct). She is a volunteer at the Long Beach and Los Angeles Pridefest LC/LA booth worker, a member of Faith Coalition for Councilwoman, and a Habitat for Humanity supporter. She has served as a Synod Council Member-at-Large, on the Cooperative Candidacy Committee, and on he Middle East Peace Task Force. The Rev. Stephanie Jaeger Pastor St. Matthew s, North Hollywood (Twin Valleys Conference) Since September, 2014, Stephanie Jaeger has served joyfully as Pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church-NoHo. She previously held calls as Senior Pastor of Augustana Lutheran Church in Hyde Park, Metro Chicago Synod, as well as Pastor of Mt. Olive. Santa Monica. In addition to founding the non-profit agency NoHo Home Alliance together with the people of St. Matthew's-NoHo this year to address homelessness in our city, Pastor Stephanie is deeply engaged in building up our community and the wider church. She was voted on to the NoHo Neighborhood Council for a three-year term as a faith representative, and chairs the Council's homelessness committee. From 2016-2018, she served on the board of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice
(CLUE-Justice), and continues to actively support their work on immigration, affordable housing, and fair wages. From 2015-2017 Pr. Stephanie was elected to a second term as a Trustee of the Goethe International Charter School, serving as Treasurer and then Secretary. In early 2016 Pastor Stephanie was elected co-dean of the Twin Valley's Conference. She had earlier completed a term as co-dean of the Metro Los Angeles Conference, as well as on the synod's consultation committee. She continues to serve on the board of New City Parish, which she had the privilege to chair from 2015 to this year. Rev. Stephanie Jaeger is an experienced, dedicated, and creative pastor and mission redeveloper with the skills and commitment needed to revitalize congregations. She has particular gifts for building relationships in the church and wider community, strategic planning, developing and effectively implementing community ministries, and helping congregations become financially sustainable. Her knowledge of assetbased community development that seeks to align the gifts of the church of Jesus Christ with the needs of the community could be especially helpful to the synod council as it continues to discern how to utilize its properties to most effectively witness publicly to the love and mercy of God. Her greatest joy (aside from the people of St. Matt's!) is her family. She lives in Burbank with her husband Stephen and their two teenage daughters Hannah and Zoe (who still say they like their parents!) Nominated by the St. Matthew s, North Hollywood Church Council Synod Council Member-at-Large (Lay or Deacon, Female) Ana Nieva (Incumbent) Pueblo de Dios (South Bay Conference) A native of Peru, Ana is a member of Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church. She has worked for Hawthorne School District as a Financial Secretary for 20 years. She is a Worship Leader for Angelica Lutheran Church and Pueblo De Dios, as well as working in a leadership role in Hispanic Women Events
Anita Stoker Lutheran Church in the Foothills (Foothill Conference) Anita Stoker works at First Lutheran School in Glendale. She has served on the LCIF Congregational Council from 2015 to the present, and as Congregational President from 2015 2017. She also was co-director for Vacation Bible School for Summer of 2017, and as usher from 2014 to the present. She volunteers with the annual Baker to Vegas Relay Race and the 100 Ultra Marathon. Anita has been accepted into the candidacy process for Associate in Ministry, and served as a Ministry Worker (Director of Youth and Family Ministries and Christian Education Director) at First Lutheran Church, Morris, MN. She served as Director of Youth and Family Ministries at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Fountain Valley, CA from 2005 2008, and on the planning Committee for the SWMN Synod Youth Gathering, 2004. She served on the board of Healthy Communities and Healthy Youth for Stevens County in Minnesota from 2003 2005, and was an active member of the Stevens County Ministerium from 1995-2005. Youth Representative Kir Ra Hemphill Another Level (Los Angeles Metropolitan Conference) Kir Ra Hemphill is a fun and lively teenager who enjoys hanging out with friends, going to the mall and being with her family. She is very actively involved in her church, Another Level in Los Angeles. She teaches Kings Kids, is part of the Elevate High School Youth Club and regularly stars in the church s theater arts ministries. Recently, Kir Ra became part of the Synod Youth Team and is the South Bay Rep as well as the Vice President. She is growing to be a great leader and her family and church are very proud of her. She loves to try new things and help people to feel welcome! Nominated by the SWCA Synod Youth Team
2019 Churchwide Assembly Voting Representative (Clergy, Male) The Rev. James Boline Pastor - St. Paul's, Santa Monica (Los Angeles Metropolitan Conference) Pastor Boline served as Synod Council Secretary from 2013-2016. He is a member of the African Descent Lutheran Association, LA Chapter and a member of the planning team for the MLK Commemoration & Celebration Service from 2015-present. He is an officer and board member of SoCalLutherans (LA chapter of ReconcilingWorks) and a Synod Representative of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Program Group of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. In his position as Pastor at St. Paul s Santa Monica, he has been supervisor to six seminary interns from 2012 2018. He has been an ELCA Horizon Internship site supervisor from 2015 present. Pastor Jim was a member of the Worship Planning Team for ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2016 and is a regular contributor to Sundays & Seasons: Preaching and Worship Planning, Augsburg Fortress Publishers. The Rev. Robert Hamel Pastor Christ, West Covina (San Gabriel Valley Conference) Pastor Hamel served as the Interim Dean for the San Gabriel Valley Conference and as President of the Action Food Pantry. He has 33 years in ELCA ministry, serving parishes in the SWCA Synod, Iowa, and Illinois, and is trained as an Intentional Interim Minister. He has 10 years of experience as college professor in California and Iowa (Theatre Arts). Pastor Bob completed his M. Div at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and has an MA in Biblical Literature from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Design, Theatre Arts from the University of Iowa.
The Rev. Steve Jerbi Pastor Bethel, Encino (Twin Valleys Conference) Pastor Jerbi was called to Bethel, Encino august of 2017. Previously he was pastor at All Peoples Gathering Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI from 2007 2017. He s a founding board member of the Interfaith Solidarity Network (San Fernando Valley and part of the SWCA Synod Global Partners team. In Milwaukee, he served on the Coalition for Justice, on the Riverwest Public House Co-operative Board of Directors (2014-2016), the ACLU-Milwaukee Chapter advisory board (2012-2017), and was a founding member of CC4QP-Milwaukee. He also served on the Care for Creation Team and the Milwaukee Coalition. With the ELCA, he is part of the World Hunger and Youth Gathering - Mass Gathering Teams and the Organizing for Mission Cohort from 2015 to the present. He was a supervisor with the Horizon Internship Program from 2010 2017 and the Lutheran Volunteer Corps from 2007 2017. Serving in an urban congregation in Milwaukee and now at Bethel Encino, I embrace the role of a three-fold expression of the church. While in Milwaukee I understood the impact the national church can have within the lives of parishioners - from organizing to address food insecurity with ELCA World Hunger to seeing the impact of redevelopment support. I have seen young people flourish in YAGM and our youth be inspired through the ELCA Youth Gathering. I also recognize that these are times that demand all the best that we can bring: our energy, our creativity, our hopes. I believe SoCal is an indicator for the future of the church - both in challenges and blessings. I want to bring this experience into the Churchwide Assembly. The Rev. Jarmo Tarkki Pastor, Finnish Lutheran, Santa Monica (Central Coast Conference) Pastor Tarkki is the Senior Pastor to Finnish Communities west of Mississippi, including all of Mexico. He is the co-chair of Farstrup-Mortensen Lecture Series, and
lectures on various topics both in the US as well as overseas. He has a Ph.D in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Helsinki, Finland and a D.Min from the Diocese of Helsinki, Finland. He was instrumental in organizing Bishop Erwin s official visit to Finland. 2019 Churchwide Assembly Voting Representative (Clergy, Female) The Rev. Pamela Challis Pastor Christ, Long Beach (Greater Long Beach Conference) Pastor Challis is the Coordinating Pastor for the GLB Joint Confirmation Ministry, and founder of The Open Table, Long Beach (an intentional food ministry to Long Beach State students - now defunct). She is a volunteer at the Long Beach and Los Angeles Pridefest LC/LA booth worker, a member of Faith Coalition for Councilwoman, and a Habitat for Humanity supporter. She has served as a Synod Council Member-at-Large, on the Cooperative Candidacy Committee, and on he Middle East Peace Task Force. I have attended Churchwide Assemblies before from other synods as a voting member. I would be honored to attend as a voting member from this amazing synod. I love the work that is accomplished for the ministry of this part of the body of Christ! I relish the work and the connections made and enhanced at these Assemblies. Nominated by David Challis, Christ, Long Beach The Rev. Jennifer Chrien Pastor - Shepherd of the Valley, Simi Valley (Channel Islands Conference) Pastor Jennie served as the solo pastor for Our Saviour's in Oxnard from 2012 until 2016. In 2017, she became the senior pastor of Shepherd of the Valley in Simi Valley. Through Shepherd of the Valley, Pastor Jennie has been engaged with various community-oriented ministries, including a free meal program, Relay for Life, ELCA God's
Work, Our Hands Sunday, and others. Pastor Jennie serves on the Synod Council as the Channel Islands Conference Representative, and is frequently involved in other conference and synodical events I am excited at the chance to represent SWCA Synod at the 2019 Churchwide Assembly. 2019 Churchwide Assembly Voting Representative (Lay or Deacon, Female) Deacon Lynn Bulock Director of Senior Ministry - New Hope, Agoura Hills (Channel Islands Conference) Lynn is a Peer-to-Peer Coordinator and Ggrant writer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Ventura County. She served on Synod Council from 2013 2016, and is a contributor to prayers, liturgies and worship resources on a synodical and churchwide level. I am a Deacon involved in regional organization of Deacons Gathering., and the 2019 Assembly will have significant votes on issues affecting deacons. Kathy Glendening Trinity, Long Beach (Greater Long Beach Conference) I recently retired after serving as the church secretary for over 13 years. I also served on the discipling, outreach, and property committees. I recently joined the Justice Team, and I am a graduate of the ELM project. I have also attended a majority of the synod assemblies in the past few years.
2019 Churchwide Assembly Voting Representative (Person of Color) Wanda Rosado-Martinez Holy Trinity, Inglewood (Los Angeles Metropolitan Conference) Wanda has served as a member of her Church Council, Director of Preschool, Director of the Children s Choir, and a Council Member for Christian Education. She has worked with young girls on counseling and bullying prevention, and has served the synod as a trainer for and member of Racial Equity Team. She has been a Youth Staffer, a Synod Council Member in the Caribbean Synod, a Member of the Multicultural Committees in the SWCA Synod and Chicago Synod, VicePresident of Hispanic Ministries in California, a Spanish Teacher, Bilingual Coordinator, Assistant Principal, Trainer and Staff development for teachers, Teacher-Mentor, and a Workshop Leader for WELCA Nominated by Stephanie Graham, Holy Trinity, Inglewood Mary Tabata St. Paul s, Santa Monica (Los Angeles Metropolitan Conference) Mary has served as a Lector and a Voting Member for Synod Assembly for her church, and is involved in the Rotary Club of Westchester and Al Anon Family Groups. She is a member of the SWCA Synod Recovery & Spirituality Task Force. She served Synod Council from 1991 1997, is a former Synod Vice President (1999 2005), a former member of Churchwide Council (2003 2006), Chair of the ELCA Program & Services Committee (2005), and a former Chair, Region 2 Council (2001-2005).
2019 Churchwide Assembly Voting Representative (Lay or Deacon, Male) Michael Metzger Faith, Canoga Park (Twin Valleys Conference) Michael Mike Metzger is a cradle Lutheran who is proud of his Lutheran heritage. He considers the most important moment in his life is his baptism. He grew up at Bethel in Encino and currently worships at Faith in Canoga Park. He has served on the congregational council at Faith and currently serves as the Synod Treasurer. Mike is graduate of Cal State Northridge. He s worked in the print production and accounting fields. Currently, Mike is a REALTOR and a Notary Public. He enjoys spending his free time with his husband and close friends. He also enjoys cooking and traveling. One of Mike s passions is hula, more as a spectator than a participant. Steven Weiss Lutheran Church of The Master, Los Angeles (Los Angeles Metropolitan Conference) Steve is a Member of Church Council and currently chairs the Evangelism and Outreach Committee. He participates on the Property Committee and organized the Blessing of the Animals. In his community he provides food for homeless sack lunches, supports Habitat for Humanity, and is a volunteer for the LA Marathon and the Special Olympics. As well as participating in ELCA World Water Day events, he has organized combined church activities with Another Level Ministry Youth. Nominated by Lutheran Church of The Master, Los Angeles Church Council
2019 Churchwide Assembly Voting Representative (Young Adult 18-25) Cheyenne Boykin St. Mark s, Los Angeles (Los Angeles Metropolitan Conference) My name is Cheyenne Boykin and I am currently a sophomore at California Lutheran University. I am a History Pedagogy major with a minor in Gender and Women s studies. I am originally from South Central, California and my home church is St. Mark s Lutheran Church Los Angeles. My deep Lutheran roots have led me to places in my life I didn t think I would ever be. I have had many leadership opportunities in my home church, the SWCA Synod Youth Team as well as my school. I would love to be a representative of color for the SWCA Synod as it will give me an opportunity to serve the larger church and be a part of something bigger than myself. I am currently a student worker in the Office of Congregational Relations at CLU which has given me opportunities to show my leadership skills across campus along with the chance to go to Washington D.C. for a few days in April. This summer, I am serving at LRCC as a camp counselor in hopes of getting leadership experience with kids as I want to become a teacher. I would love this opportunity to serve Churchwide and feel it is God s blessing that I am even considered for this opportunity. Nominated by Melissa Maxwell-Doherty Cheyenne Williams Trinity, Long Beach (Greater Long Beach Conference) A full time student, Cheyenne is a Youth and Young Adult leader in her congregation. She is also a Hospital Volunteer, and has attended the last three synod assemblies. I have a willingness to learn and to serve.
Synod Nominee for Member of the ELCA Churchwide Council (Lay or Deacon/Female) Carol Bjelland Ascension, Thousand Oaks (Channel Islands Conference) Carol retired in 2014 from Verizon following twenty-six years as corporate legal counsel. She has been a member of Ascension for more than fifteen years. Carol has been active within the Ascension Community as a Communion Assistant (2011 to present), an Offering Counter (2014 to present) and member of the Finance Committee (2012- present). Bjelland was elected to the Ascension Foundation Board of Trustees in June, 2014 and Chair of the Foundation s Publicity and Education Committee until June 2016 when she was elected Ascension s Church Council as a Council Member at Large for a two-year term. Since 2015, Bjelland has Co-Chaired Ascension s Global Ministries Team and is a member the Synod s Global Missions Committee. Beginning in April 2017, Bjelland has Co-Chaired Ascension's newly established Matthew 25:35 Outreach Ministry Team focusing on serving resettling refugees and immigrant families in the Conejo Valley. Since 2016, Carol Bjelland has been a part of Ascension's team participating in/with the Conejo Valley Interfaith Refugee Welcome Team and the Team's ministry to help refugee families resettling in and near our community. Since 2017, Bjelland and Eloise Cohen have been Ascension's representatives in/with the Conejo Valley Women's Interfaith Network, working with the WIN group on various community public service events and projects addressing homelessness, hunger, low cost housing and other community needs. Carol Bjelland has been a member of the Synod's Global Mission's Committee since 2015. Bjelland was one of Ascension's Voting Member Representatives at the annual Synod Assembly in (2015, 2016 & 2017). Carol is a strong supporter of our ELCA ministries (synod, churchwide, and global) and our synod would be very blessed to have her representing us. Whatever ministry she is a part of, she works very hard both in the details of it and the larger vision of how God is leading us into the future. Nominated by Steve Herder, Ascension, Thousand Oaks
Chelsea Kadovitz Bethel, Encino (Twin Valleys Conference) Chelsea Kadovitz works at Sojourner, Los Angeles and has served on Church Council, as a youth ministry volunteer, a young adult ministry leader, a worship leader, and an ELCA Youth Gathering chaperone, as well as supporting the Twin Valley Youth Collective and Twin Valley Young Adult Kollective. In her community, she has volunteered in Voter Registration, Canvassing, and served on the Board of Directors of the Political Action and as a Sexual Assault Awareness Month advocate. She is a Millennial and a writer with experience in public speaking. Nominated by: Steve Jerbi, Bethel, Encino Wanda Rosado-Martinez Holy Trinity, Inglewood (Los Angeles Metropolitan Conference) Wanda has served as a member of her Church Council, Director of Preschool, Director of the Children s Choir, and a Council Member for Christian Education. She has worked with young girls on counseling and bullying prevention, and has served the synod as a trainer for and member of Racial Equity Team. She has been a Youth Staffer, a Synod Council Member in the Caribbean Synod, a Member of the Multicultural Committees in the SWCA Synod and Chicago Synod, VicePresident of Hispanic Ministries in California, a Spanish Teacher, Bilingual Coordinator, Assistant Principal, Trainer and Staff development for teachers, Teacher-Mentor, and a Workshop Leader for WELCA Nominated by Stephanie Graham, Holy Trinity, Inglewood
Valerie Shaw Community, Los Angeles (Los Angeles Metropolitan Conference) Valerie is a Church Administrator at Community Lutheran Church, Los Angeles, serving on Church Council, Music & Worship, Fellowship, Evangelism Team, and the MET Team. She is also a Sunday School teacher and a Bible Study leader. She is part of the Avalon Gardens Community Association, PAC RED, and the ADLA Los Angeles Chapter, and has served on Synod Council and the Lay Leadership Mission Team. San Gabriel Valley Conference Representative Cortni Rahn Prince of Peace, Covina Cortni is a student at Life Pacific College. She has been an assembly voting delegate for Prince of Peace, and served on the Call Committee and Church Council. Her goal is to explain the Lutheran faith to younger generations, and she is studying to become a Lutheran pastor. Central Coast Conference Representative Laura Krueger Mt. Carmel, San Luis Obispo Laura is a member of Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church in San Luis Obispo where she is completing her term as Treasurer in June 2018. She serves on the Adult Education Team and the People's Kitchen ministry and is looking forward to beginning service on the Evangelism Ministry Team. She serves the community as a member of the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. She is a CPA with 30 years of experience in accounting and controllership.