We are happy to welcome Pastor Curtis Zieske who will serve as Bridge Pastor until the Call Committee completes their work.
Pastor Zieske is a 1973 graduate of Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary (now part of Luther Seminary) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He was born and raised in prairie country in central Minnesota, a graduate of Cambridge High School and he completed undergraduate studies at Augsburg College (now University) in Minneapolis.
He married his wife, Sonya (also an Augsburg graduate) 1970. Sonya is an elementary school teacher (now retired) who has also written curriculum and has worked with talented and gifted students as well as special needs children. She is an accomplished musician on piano and organ. They have two grown children who now have their own families in Portland, Oregon.
Since ordination in 1973 he has served congregations in, Spokane and Everett, WA, McMinnville, OR, Security, CO, and Albert Lea, MN. Since 2015 and a “failed retirement” He has served in interim pastoral assignments in Gresham, Seaside, and Prineville, OR.
"We have made Oregon our permanent home both for our love of Oregon and to be closer to our children and grandchildren. I try to follow the advice of a wise and trusted mentor from many years ago who shared with me this insight: “Curtis, count it all joy!” And I do."