Lutheran Church of Our Savior

I am a lifelong Lutheran, a second-generation female pastor, and an advocate for food and shelter justice. I grew up on an organic family farm that doubled as an ecumenical retreat center in Point Roberts, Washington. Having felt a call to serve others from a young age, I engaged in disaster response work following Hurricane Katrina, ran a severe weather shelter for houseless and transient men, and eventually lived and worked in a mountain valley called Holden Village before saying “yes” to God’s call to serve the church. 

In 2017, I completed my MDiv at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California Lutheran University and entered the first call process. At that time, I felt pulled to return to the church of my formative years– the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Over the past two decades, I have worked at and served congregations in Bellingham, Washington; Berkeley, California; Garden Grove, California; and Vancouver, British Columbia. After serving as the Interim Assistant to the Bishop for the British Columbia Synod, I returned to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to serve as an interim pastor at St. John’s Lutheran in Middletown, New York, of the Metro New York Synod. 

I have enjoyed many different roles in the church beyond the role of parish pastor, too, like serving on the BC Synod Candidacy Committee and the Program Committee for Leadership and Ministry (a national church appointment). I have organized synod conventions, chaperoned countless confirmation student gatherings, created large-scale liturgical art pieces, led Habitat for Humanity trips, volunteered as a wilderness first responder, founded the BC Synod Archives, and served as a chaplain and spiritual care provider for houseless youth and young adults in Vancouver, British Columbia. Responding to God’s call has led me to embark on many journeys throughout my life!

When I'm not serving the church, you can find me at home with my husband, Phil, and our two bossy cats, Petunia and Peregrin. We love to spend our free time exploring new neighborhoods, visiting museums, and supporting local businesses. I have a passion for music and history, liturgical art, quilting, birding, reading historical fiction, photography, needle-felting, community organizing, cooking, traveling, and exploring the natural world. I also enjoy wine tasting, making the perfect cup of coffee, and hosting meals with friends. These personal interests and hobbies not only bring me joy but also enrich my spiritual journey. 

I look forward to this next step in my journey– pastoring alongside the community of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior and responding to God’s call throughout the wider community of the Metropolitan New York area. 

Peace and Blessings
Pastor Rebekah Swanson