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It is my honor and delight to let you know that The Reverend Jonathan Hemphill has been called to serve as Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Life. Pastor Hemphill will begin his ministry with us on August 1st. He and his family will be moving from the Southwest California Synod, where he resides in the Los Angeles area. Pastor Hemphill brings with him a love and passion for this church, experience in mission development, mobility, youth and young adult, and inclusion. His primary areas of ministry will be mobility in congregational and rostered minister’s transitions, visioning with congregations, interim ministry, stewardship, and diversity and justice.
The Reverend Jonathan P. Hemphill serves as the founding pastor/mission developer of Another Level Ministries in Los Angeles, CA founded in 2009. He also became the Lead Pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church, Los Angeles in 2016. In addition, Pastor Jonathan is the Campus Minister and curator of Engage Christian Clubs. Engage Christian Clubs reaches two diverse Community Colleges in the greater Los Angeles Area, Los Angeles Southwest College(est. 2012) and El Camino College(est. 2007). Jonathan has served as the Dean of the Los Angeles Metro Conference of the Southwest California Synod from 2017-2021. He also is a Convocator at California Lutheran University.
Jonathan is frequently sought after as a speaker and consultant in leadership development, ministry coaching and creativity in thinking about how the church engages urban millennials. Pastor J. is an active Community Organizer in the neighborhood around issues of police brutality, food insecurities and issues of racial diversity. Pastor Jonathan studied Biblical Counseling at The King’s University and graduated from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA. Pastor J. was ordained to the roster of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2015. Pastor J. is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He is the favorable husband of Lady Angela Nicole, a proud lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Together, they nurture two kiddos, Kir’Ra, 17 and Garrett, 15.
I know you will join me in welcoming Pastor Hemphill into our synod, on our synod staff, and as a partner in this work. I look forward to this journey, as we continue to engage, equip, and empower all of God’s people to love and serve.
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