Pastor Morehouse
Rev. Dr. Michael Morehouse was born and reared in Toledo, OH. He is a graduate of Adrian College (1987, BBA, Management and German, Magna Cum Laude), Concordia Theological Seminary (1998, MDiv, Historical Theology), and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (2017, DMin, Pastoral Ministry). Pastor Morehouse is Senior Pastor of Catalina Lutheran Church, having served at Christ’s Altar here since July 12, 1998.
Prior to entering the Office of the Holy Ministry, Dr. Morehouse was a financial consultant, and before that, spent several years in retail management. Throughout that time, he served as a Signal Corps enlisted soldier and second lieutenant; then became an Army aviator (1LT – MAJ), and finally as Chaplain, US Army, retiring in 2006 after a tour in Iraq, with 23 years of military service.
He served as Vice-President of the Campus Christian Center of the University of Arizona (2007-2018), on the Board of Regents for Concordia University, Irvine, CA (2010-2016) and was Circuit Visitor for the Southern Arizona Circuit of the English District of the LCMS (2019-2022).
He continues to serve as a member of the LCMS Operation Barnabas Advisory Group and is currently Western Region Vice-President and 4th Vice President of the English District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Deacon Tom
Dcn Tom Honebrink was raised in Mayer, MN where he was blessed to attend Zion Lutheran School and Mayer Lutheran High School. While attending Concordia College-St Paul he met his to-be wife Diana. He and Diana are privileged to be raising their three children – Max, Athena and Beatrice. Deacon Tom has been honored to serve on district, circuit and congregational boards and offices throughout his life. He was installed as deacon to Catalina Lutheran Church in January 2014 and is also currently serving on the Board of Directors for the English District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Reverend von Hindenburg
Rev Bruce von Hindenburg began his ministry in Coarsegold, CA, at Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Church in November 1997. He served there until April 2010 when he accepted a call to serve as sole pastor at The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Inglewood, CA. In addition to pastoral duties at Good Shepherd, he also served on the Board of Directors for Pacific Lutheran High School and taught Theology to grades 9-12 for 8 years.
He resigned this call, effective December 31, 2020, and relocated to Catalina, Arizona. Rev. von Hindenburg remains on the LCMS pastoral roster, meaning he is eligible for a call. He is an active member at Catalina Lutheran Church and provides pulpit supply ministry in the Arizona South Circuit area.
A second career pastor, von Hindenburg worked in the financial field for more than 25 years prior to beginning ministerial duties. He is a proud graduate of the University of Arizona (1974, BA Public Administration) and an alum of the business graduate school at USC (1978 International finance and administration). He studied for the ministry at both Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN.
He is married to Karina Lindsey-von Hindenburg. They have no children, but do spoil their beloved cat, Samson.
Deacon Roni
Dr. Roni Grad is a retired pediatric pulmonologist (lung specialist). He chairs the Life Team, serves on council as Director of Child and Youth education, leads Sunday school openings and teaches occasional classes, ushers, and assists with altar guild duties at the Wednesday midweek DS. He completed the lay-diaconate training program of the Lutheran Servanthood School in December, 2023 and was commissioned Deacon by the congregation on Misericordias Domini Sunday, April 14, 2024, with a sanctity of life focus. Roni serves as Life Coordinator for the English District (LCMS). He also serves on the Lutherans For Life Board of Directors as secretary, chair of the Verba Vitae (academic Lutheran sanctity of life journal) steering committee, and member of the position statements committee. He recently completed service as President of the Arizona-South Circuit Forum. In the Tucson community outside CLC, he serves with his wife Dr. Judy Pugh on the board of Family First Pregnancy Care Center and Family Diaper Bank, Oracle, Arizona, where he also volunteers. He meets regularly with the Tucson for Life coalition.
Vicar Spangler 2023-2024
Vicar Isaac Spangler was born in Lancaster, OH where he was
home-schooled until High School. His family enjoyed being outdoors and has raised quail, partridge, rabbits, and racing pigeons — his dad
still races them. He went to college at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale
MI, originally intending to major in Bio-Chem and Music, but, instead, graduated in 2021 with a B.A. in Religion.
At Hillsdale, he met his wife, Katie, they were married in 2021 after his first quarter at the seminary. They have since been blessed with a son, Basil, who was born on their first wedding anniversary. Vicar Spangler is currently serving his vicarage year at Catalina Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ. Afterward, he will return to the seminary to complete his MDiv.
Vicar Strawn 2022-2023
Vicar Gabriel Strawn grew up in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, just west of Minneapolis. He is a graduate of Bethany Lutheran College (2019 BA History). He met his wife Jennifer attending Bethany. He is currently a MDiv student at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is serving his one-year vicarage at Catalina Lutheran Church from August 2022 to August 2023. Vicar Strawn previously spent three years working for the National Lutheran Outdoors Ministry Association at Camp Omega in Waterville, MN, two years as a counselor and one year as an administrator. When he is not serving at CLC he enjoys writing, painting, video games, board games, and trading card games. He and his wife Jennifer have a toddler, Aurora, who keeps them on their toes and anticipating the arrival of Baby Boy Strawn in June.