We are pleased to welcome our new Advancement Services Assistant in the Office of Seminary Relations! Chelsea Pell joined us in the beginning of September and she is thrilled to be a part of the PLTS and CLU communities.

Born in Alaska, Chelsea moved with her family to Texas. After eight years, (of oppressive heat and humidity), the family decided Washington State was to be their new home. After another few years, Chelsea decided she had had enough

Chelsea and her husband Daniel at a very special event

of the rain and chose sunny California as the perfect state in which to pursue her college education.

Chelsea is a 2012 graduate of CLU, receiving her Bachelors of Arts in Communication, with an emphasis in Media Production. After graduating, she went on to work one year at El Camino Pines as an outdoor school instructor. In the summer of 2013, Chelsea married her college sweetheart, Daniel Pell. Daniel is now in his second year of pursuing his Master of Divinity here at PLTS.

Once the newlywed couple moved to Berkeley, Chelsea was right into finding a job. She was employed by Target within a short amount of time. And, as much as Chelsea loves to shop there, she continued looking for other more fulfilling work. She was ecstatic when she saw the job opening for PLTS. She was already accustomed to the campus since she had participated in many events over the past year, joining her husband and friends in worship and many afternoon BBQ sessions.

Now here she is, just more than a month into work. "I couldn't be happier here. I have great co-workers and I actually feel like I am contributing, which was something lacking in my previous job." We are very grateful to have her here and are looking forward to see how she develops in her position and life at PLTS. 

One of my joys as Director of Seminary Relations is to visit friends and alums of PLTS around the country.  Recently my travels took me to the Washington DC area (beware of traffic congestion!).  Several of our alums are currently serving congregations and organizations around the area, representing our seminary well. - Rev. Brian Stein-Webber

Margrethe Kleiber, MDiv '93, is serving as interim pastor in Fairfax, Virginia.  Her husband Tony, serves with the US Department of State and has had postings in Mexico, Afghanistan, Burundi, Belfast, London and other places.  He is currently serving in DC organizing conferences for the foreign service.  Margrethe has sometimes followed Tony and other times commuted globally.  She served as South Asia area secretary for the Division for Global Mission of the ELCA for many years.  Her first call was in San Diego, California.

Michael Wilker, MDiv '94, has served for several years at Reformation Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill (one long block from the Capitol Building).  He reminds his congregation that things have happened for good when they have proclaimed the gospel, not simply resting on the laurels of their history.  Half of the families in his congregation works for the government in some capacity.  Michael participates in community organizing, particularly in calling to task the management of a large local family shelter.  Previously Michael was director of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps.

Rose Beeson, Affil. '13, did her internship at Reformation Lutheran Church in DC, and worked there afterward in property administration as she awaited a call.  After she marries in a few weeks, she will be ordained and installed as pastor at Saint Matthew Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Yvette Schock, MDiv '04, is associate pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Arlington, Virginia, just down the street from the Pentagon.  (She moved most recently from ministry in Long Island, New York.)  Yvette's congregation works extensively and successfully with the many young adults who live close by.  She went with such a group recently to Israel and Palestine.  She and her husband Bob Francis have an eight-month-old son to keep them busy.

Michael Gutzler, MDiv '05, is pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodbridge, Virginia.  He is organizing his staff around the model in the book "Effective Staffing for Vital Congregations," which emphasizes the senior pastor getting out into the community as much as possible.  He is also an entrepreneur, buying up distressed property, giving it some sweat equity, and managing the units.  He and his wife Emma have an 18-month-old daughter.

Susanne Blume, MDiv '08, is now director of Lifeline Partnership, a nonprofit serving disabled adults as a part of the ministry of First Trinity Lutheran Church in DC.  She went to PLTS from Luther Place Memorial Church in DC, after having been a contract lawyer for twenty years.  She is combining all of her life experience in her present position.

John Wetzel, MDiv '60, now retired, lives with his wife Margaret in Potomac Falls, Virginia, nearby to some of their children's families.  Until recently, John has been an outspoken critic of the Church of Scientology.  He and Margaret attend all of the Navy football games.

Timothy Keay, MA '87 (also MD), is now Adjunct Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Medical Director of Palliative Care at the University of Maryland.

A microcosm of our alums.