April 21, 2010

CHICAGO – Valparaiso (Ind.) University announced that the Rev. Phyllis N. Kersten, retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), joined the pastoral staff of the university's Chapel of the Resurrection April 19. Kersten will assume duties previously performed by the Rev. Darlene Grega.

Grega, an ELCA pastor on the chapel staff, died nearly two weeks ago. Her death was ruled a suicide by the Porter County (Ind.) coroner. Last week a funeral service was held in Brooklyn, Ohio, for Grega, followed by a memorial service April 17 at the chapel.

Kersten, Forest Park, Ill., is a Valparaiso University alumna who most recently served as interim pastor at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Chicago, wrote Mark R. Schwehn, Valparaiso University provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, in a message to the university.

Kersten will support the chapel staff at least through the end of the academic year, wrote Schwehn. She will focus on meeting with residential ministers, mentoring Fellowship House students, and working with international students and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, Schwehn wrote.

"I am glad that a pastor possessing such experience, wisdom, compassion and care for Valpo has come forward in this challenging time to join our campus community. (The) Rev. Kersten has remained in very close touch with the University over the years," Schwehn wrote.

Before serving as interim pastor at Luther Memorial, Kersten served 12 years as associate pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest. She was vice president of communications for Wheat Ridge Ministries in Chicago for 18 years, and served on the Board of Missions of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), Schwehn wrote. Kersten has worked with the Lutheran Deaconess Association.

Kersten has written Bible studies and is an award-winning author of articles published in Lutheran Woman Today, a magazine of Women of the ELCA. She has served as keynote speaker and Bible study leader at district and synod conventions of LCMS and ELCA women's organizations; led workshops for pastors, teachers and principals, and congregational planning retreats, he added.

Information about Valparaiso University's Chapel of the Resurrection is at http://www.valpo.edu/chapel/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service