Lead Pastor
You couldn’t meet the church without first learning about our wonderful pastor. Reverend Philip Peterson has been serving the congregation since June 1993. That’s over 30 years of service to our community.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois in the spring of 1944, to Reverend Henry and Marion Peterson. He was the oldest of four children.
The family moved to Stavanger in November 1959 when his father was called as pastor to Stavanger Lutheran Church. Pastor Phil graduated from Seneca High School in 1962 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1966.
Pastor Phil worked nine years as a social worker at Elgin State Hospital before returning to school to prepare for the ministry. He studied for his Master of Divinity at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.
During his internship year, Pastor served at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Yorktown, Texas. Here, he met his wife, Nancy. They married in June of 1979 after he graduated from seminary.
Before coming to Stavanger, Pastor Phil served two congregations in Texas, Trinity Lutheran Church in Hempstead (1979-1985) and St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Karnes City (1985-1993).
Pastor and Nancy have three children: Matthew (Heather) Peterson, Christina (Joey) Lee, and Elizabeth (Carver) Warning, and six grandchildren- Sloane Peterson, Quintin, Beeker, and Rennick Lee, and Arthur and Evelyn Warning.
Meet the Church Council
Take a minute to meet the church council and other members serving in various positions here.
Deacons
Rick Timmons, Angie Woodin
Trustees
Kent Danielson, Gary Erickson, Scott Larsen, Shane Marik, Phoebe Weitzel
Council Secretary
Miriam Hauge
Meet the church members who hold additional positions.
Organists
Robert Jackson (lead organist), Judy Waters, Dave Butterfield
Pianist
Shirley Jorstad
Head Ushers
Larry Peterson, Scott Larsen
Church Secretary
Brittany Chapman
Sunday School Superintendent
Abby Fugitt
Church Treasurer
Van Jackson
Mission Treasurer
Brenda McCloskey
Memorial Treasurer
Steve Jorstad
Cemetery Admin
Scott Larsen
Auditors
Bruce Baker, Diane Jorstad
Custodian
Phoebe Weitzel
Meet the Committees
Memorial
Sharon Danielson, Jan Helland, Steve Jorstad
Worship and Music (Lay Readers)
Melissa Andreatta, Gary Erickson, Dick Ewing, Beth Jackson, Terry Knapp, Nancy Peterson, Phoebe Weitzel, Angie Woodin
Sunday School Volunteers
Melissa Andreatta, Stacey Baker, Sarah Farnsworth, Abby Fugitt
Digital Outreach
Anja Carlson, Brittany Chapman, Angie Woodin
Get Involved!
Contact the church office at (815) 357-6514 for more information on how to get involved.