| Joshua Elliot-McGuffie has waited patiently for the Lord, but the wait
is finally over. Those were the words of Pastor John Kauffman, Pastor of Christ the Shepherd
Lutheran Church in Altadena, as he delivered the sermon at the ordination of Pastor Joshua Elliot-McGuffie.
The well-attended ordination was presided over by The Rev Dean W. Nelson, Bishop of the
Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The ceremony, which took place at the Sanctuary of Pastor Elliot-McGuffie’s home church in
Altadena, featured the St Andrew’s Lutheran Church choir, performing in conjunction with the choir
of Christ the Shepherd.
Pastor Kauffman remarked that the call of Joshua Elliott-McGuffie as Pastor of St Andrew’s Lutheran
Church appeared like a match made in heaven, or better still, ‘God’s will has been done’. However,
he reminded the brand new pastor that there will be good times as well as some not-so-good times ahead.
He enjoined Pastor Elliot-McGuffie to savor the good times and always remember that his call as a
pastor requires him to show leadership and help his congregation move forward, even in difficult times
when the congregation may not necessarily agree wholeheartedly with his plans.
In his remark, Bishop Dean Nelson expressed his elation at seeing one of the brightest minds in the
synod snapped up by St Andrew’s Lutheran Church. He wished he could simply waive his crozier and
automatically make this seemingly perfect match happen for all the other congregations in the synod still
searching for a new pastor.
 An obviously delighted
Pastor Joshua Elliot-McGuffie beamed in smiles as he was presented with the
stole and officially pronounced a Pastor. In his brief thank you speech, Pastor Elliot-McGuffie thanked
his wife, his home congregation and his friends for all their support. He reiterated that he is only the
sum of all they tried to make him.
Also in attendance was the outgoing interim Pastor of St Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Pastor
Ruth Ellen Sievert. Pastor Ruth noted that St Andrew’s has not had a male pastor or a pastor with
a spouse for over 23 years. He assured Pastor Elliot-McGuffie that his new congregation is waiting to
receive him with open arms as they begin a new era in their journey.
A reception was held in honor of Pastor Elliot-McGuffie after the ceremony.
The new pastor was presented with gifts from his home church as well as from St Andrew’s congregation.
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