At a special congregational meeting on August 2, Our Redeemer’s overwhelmingly voted to call Pastor Gretchen Mertes as our new Associate Pastor. She has filled in as our 9am Worship and Music Director since March, but was not a candidate for the call until after the synod office recommended her based on similarities between our Ministry Site Profile and job description and her Professional Leader Profile.

Gretchen brings 13 years of experience as a pastor, including ministries in two large congregations, at Luther’s Table in Renton, and more recently as a mission developer pastor at the congregation there, called Roots of the Table. She brings many gifts, including a passion for networking and nurturing community within the congregation, and building bridges with folks not very sure about anything churchy. She looks forward to being able to focus on Social Ministries in a way past calls have not allowed. She will continue to lead 9am music, and the money budgeted for that position will be used to hire a part-time social justice staff person, whom Gretchen will work with and supervise. She officially began her call on September 1st.

We also welcome Gretchen’s spouse, Ryan Mertes, and their two (adorable) children, Addie who is 5 and Weller who is one.

Save the Date…

Service of Installation

Pastor Gretchen Mertes

Saturday, September 26 at 2pm

Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church