Call me “Pastor Bob” or “Bob”. I was born in Spokane, Washington, on August 16, 1952, and spent my early years in South Seattle (Des Moines) before moving to Olympia for high school. I began college at Pacific Lutheran University, but completed my degree in Religious Studies and Communications at Whitworth College. In 1974, I entered Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated in 1978 after interning at St. Olaf Lutheran in Fort Dodge, Iowa. That same year, we immigrated to Canada to begin a new chapter in ministry.

We were called to start a new congregation in the fast-growing town of Airdrie, Alberta, where I began by ringing 2,500 doorbells and holding services in a rented space beside the town curling rink. After three and a half years, the church was thriving. From there, I served congregations in Nelson and Fort St. John, BC—where we ministered in a unique community of seniors, building a connected care home, senior housing, and worship space that became home to 400 worshippers each Sunday.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church is part of the Lutheran denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is part of the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod (https://nwimsynod.org/).

BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION has general oversight of the life and activities of the congregation, with the purpose of seeing that the worship and work of Jesus Christ are followed in this congregation and community.  Through the power and light of God’s Word, we will listen, plan, and coordinate to provide leadership and direction.