about us


brief history


  • The rev. Daniel Bloomquist

    The Board of American Missions of the Lutheran Church in America sent Pastor Bloomquist to Carson City to establish a new congregation.  The first service was held November 15, 1965 at the Leisure Hour Hall and continued to meet there until the current building was completed in 1969.  The congregation officially organized on May 21, 1967.  Pastor Bloomquist was installed on September 17, `1967 and served the congregation through 1969.

  • the rev. gerald st. john

    Pastor St. John served as Pastor from 1970 to 1977.

  • the rev. kenn bergmann

    Pastor Bergmann served the congregation from 1977 to 1984.  In 1982 Pastor Bergmann invited The Lutheran Family of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC) to meet at the 8 am service with Pastor Thunder officiating.

  • the rev. douglas thunder

    When Pastor Bergmann accepted a call in 1984, Pastor Thunder served as interim Pastor from 1984 to 1985.

  • the rev. ruth hanusa

    the rev. stan pesis

    Pastor Hanusa and Pastor Pesis were installed on June 26, 1985.  St. Paul's Lutheran Church and The Lutheran Family merged in 1985 and became St. Paul's Lutheran Family. When the new denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was formed the merged congregation was included as a member.

  • the rev. stan pesis

    Pastor Ruth Hanusa accepted a call to another ministry in 1991.

    Pastor Pesis continued serving St. Paul's until his retirement on June 30, 2014.

  • the rev. James Goldsmith

    From October 5, 2014 to January 31, 2016 Pastor Goldsmith served as the interim Pastor.

  • the rev. mary lou petitjean

    From March 9, 2016 to January 31, 2017 Pastor Petitjean served as interim Pastor.

  • the rev. chad r. adamik

    On February 1, 2017, Pastor Adamik began his ministry as St' Paul's Pastor.

    Pastor Chad was formally installed in a special service on Sunday March 9, 2017.  Pastor Chad resigned effective July 17, 2022 to move with his husband, the Rev. Thomas Blake, to Connecticut.


    In October, 2017, St. Paul's celebrated its 50th Anniversary in ministry in the Carson City area and joined in the observance of the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation (October 31, 1517).

becoming the family

   For a history of how we  became    

St. Paul's Lutheran Family (click here)  






Picture:  St. Paul's exterior cross at night

our mission statement

St. Paul’s Bible Verse: For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”—Hebrews 3:4


St. Paul’s Hymn:  “Lift high the Cross” (ELW 660)


 St. Paul’s Mission: “St. Paul’s Lutheran Family lifts high the cross to proclaim the good news of God’s love to all people.” 


St. Paul’s Vision: “The vision of St. Paul’s Lutheran Family is to seek God’s path for our lives and the life of the church and to compassionately lead, serve and share Jesus Christ with the community and the world.” 


The top left picture is our church building completed in February 1969, and dedicated at a worship service held on September 15, 1969. 


The bottom left picture is the sign for St. Paul's, on the corner of US Highway 50 East and Saliman Road, Carson City. 

administration

St. Paul's Lutheran Family is administered by a congregation council whose members are elected by the church's membership. Nine council members are elected for three-year terms on a staggered basis. The council selects the congregation's officers from its midst, including president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. The Pastor serves on the council by virtue of his office. Several other positions are currently filled by appointment: substitute treasurer, financial secretary, and committee chairmanships. 


Congregation Council has 8 elected members 

Elected members are designated by an asterisk (*)

Pastor--

President--*Louise Griffith; 775-232-7071;

Vice-President--*Ken Beaton 775-721-4738

Secretary--*John Bradtke 262-366-9079

Council Member--*Tim Hamilton 775-720-7458

Council Member--*Nikita Jones 775-450-8616

Council Member--*David Harrell 775-315-4661

Council Member--*Nikki Rohrs 414-218-8067

Appointments / Liaison Assignments: 

Treasurer--Douglas Thunder 775-883-1548

Financial Secretary--Holly McPhail 775-443-6639

Stewardship Committee--

Wellness and Outreach Committee--

Worship Life Committee--David Harrell 775-315-4661

Christian Education--

Structural Property Committee--Ken Beaton 775-721-4738

Design Committee--Ken Beaton 775-721-4738

Youth Ministry Committee--saw Jones 775-450-8616

Fellowship Committee--_______________________

Committee Chairpersons  

Stewardship Committee Chair--__________________

Wellness Committee Chair--_____________________

Worship Life Committee Chair--Judy McPhail 775-841-6639

Christian Education Committee Chair--Hope Chowanski 775-230-3131

Coordinating Design/Structural Property Committee Chair --Jay Olshen 775-720-4188

Fellowship Committee Chair--__________________

Youth Ministry Committee Chair--Traci Angel--775-721-5495

Visitation Committee Chair--Vicki Hamilton--775-267-3007

Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Committee Chair--David Harrell 775-315-4661

lutheran connections

Brief history of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America (ELCA)

A merger of three Lutheran churches formed the ELCA in 1988. They were The American Lutheran Church (ALC), the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches  (AELC) and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA).

Now 30 years later, the ELCA is a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. As members of the ELCA, we believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ’s name throughout the world.

We trace our roots back through the mid-17th century, when early Lutherans came to America from Europe, settling in the Virgin Islands and the area that is now known as New York. Even before that, Martin Luther sought reform for the church in the 16th century, laying the framework for our beliefs. 

(Source: /www.elca.org/About/History)

 

How does the ELCA relate to us at St. Paul's? 

St. Paul's Lutheran Family is one of the 9,100 local congregations;

Sierra Pacific Synod is the name of our synod, one of the sixty-five; 

and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is our churchwide organization.


ELCA is a community of faith that shares a passion for making positive changes in the world. 

Our faith is built around a strong belief in God as made known to us in Jesus Christ.

Through worship, service, and education, we practice our faith, grow our relationship with God and

experience God's grace in our lives. 


The ELCA has established full communion partnerships with these denominations: Presbyterian Church (USA); 

Reformed Church in America; United Church of Christ; The Episcopal Church; The Moravian Church; 

& United Methodist Church


Click here for neighboring ELCA congregations in the northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe area.

Click here for more information on ELCA

Click here for more information on the Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA