Leadership

Interim Pastor

Rev. Braaten retired in 2012 as Senior Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Reformation, an historic ELCA congregation on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, A graduate of St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, and Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN, Pastor Braaten has worked in ordained ministry since 1972.  During this time, he has served for over 33 years in parish ministry, 4 years as part of the national executive staff of the ELCA,  working in the areas of urban ministry and public church, and 5 years as the

Director of various Lutheran church-based educational organizations in south Florida. He was a member of the church-wide Board of Global Mission of the American Lutheran Church for 6 years and has served on the Board of Directors of numerous faith-based community organizations – locally, nationally and internationally. He has been a consultant in the areas of congregational leadership development and conflict resolution. In retirement, Pastor Braaten has worked with two Interim assignments and has chaired the GCS Retirees Retreat for 7 years. In 2015 he co-founded the Forgotten Luther Project, which has published three congregational study- books on dimensions of Martin Luther’s theology and practice that has been largely overlooked in the past 500 years. A fourth book is in process.

Conrad has been married for over 55 years to Dr. Jennifer L. Braaten, President Emeritus of Ferrum College, Ferrum, VA [United Methodist Church affiliation] and former President of Midland Lutheran College, Fremont NE. They have two married children: Kirsten, a former corporate COO in Delray Beach, FL, and Conrad Donald, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine specializing in Internal Medicine in High Point, NC.

Organist/Choir Director

A lifelong church musician, Nancy is a graduate of Arizona State University where she studied organ performance with the esteemed Dr. David N. Johnson, with additional studies in piano, accompanying and conducting.  She has been with Spirit of Joy since our first worship service and continues to serve and facilitate the music ministry in many ways including leading the weekly hymn sing before worship on Sundays with the Joyful Choir.  She also coordinates soloists, instrumentalists, liturgical dance and other special music from church members and the community throughout the church year and welcomes all to participate in making a joyful noise!

Office Administrator

Rosie handles phone calls, power point presentations, and the newsletter and  calendar and everything else that needs doing in the church office.