Get to know ... Marcelle Schaefer our Minister for Congregational Life

Marcelle Schaefer comes to Calvary with experience in business, education and ministry.   In the early years of her career she was a corporate trainer and organizational development consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area.  After Marcelle and her husband, John, moved to the Sierra Nevada Foothills in 1996, she worked for Sierra Community College designing and teaching courses such as supervisory leadership, problem solving, communication and career planning.

Marcelle served God and church by volunteering as adult Bible Study leader, council member, conflict resolution facilitator and small group ministry coordinator.  In 1998 Marcelle sensed God calling her to full-time ministry and enrolled in studies to become an Associate in Ministry of the ELCA.  She was commissioned in 2001 and served as Director of Congregational Life at Bethlehem Lutheran in Auburn until 2006.  In this role Marcelle had responsibility for a wide array of congregational ministries such as spiritual formation, new-member inclusion and community outreach.  In 2006 Marcelle and John came to the Pacifica Synod, where Marcelle served a call to the Office of the Bishop as Associate for Specialized Ministry.  In this role she was responsible for special projects to strengthen the effectiveness of the leadership structure and function of the synod.

Marcelle holds a B.A. in Sociology from California Lutheran University and an M.A. in Career Development from John F. Kennedy University.  She is currently studying “Theology and Culture” with an international on-line study group.  Ask her about connecting with ministry leaders in places such as Africa, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia and Singapore!

John holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and is now retired.  His ministry is focused on volunteering at Monarch School for homeless and at-risk children and youth in downtown San Diego.  Marcelle and John love serving God as the focus of their life together.  To maintain good stewardship of God’s blessings in their lives they make sure they have Sabbath time, stay connected with family, and take time for walks at the ocean.  They also enjoy reading, music and classic black and white films.

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