Pastors |
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The Rev. James H. Utt, D. Min., D.D. jutt@gracewin.org has served the congregation as senior pastor since January 1983. A graduate of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina. In 1976 Pastor Utt was ordained by the Virginia Synod-LCA and served as his first call Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia from 1976 to 1982. Pastor Utt earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1996. Shenandoah University recognized his local ecumenical efforts and work in the community by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 2002. |
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| The Rev. Martha Miller Sims, M.Div. msims@gracewin.org has served as co-pastor since July, 2002. A 1994 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbia, S.C., Pastor Sims was ordained by the Virginia Synod-ELCA in 1994 and served her first call at the Gravel Springs/St. John Lutheran Parish in Frederick County, Virginia. In 1998 she was called to serve in two half time positions: as campus pastor at James Madison University and as the associate pastor of Muhlenberg Lutheran Church, Harrisonburg, Virginia. |  | |