Gary Grindeland Leaves as Pastor of Christ the King in Delafield; Gary Johnson to be Interim Pastor

Christ the King Lutheran Church of Delafield has announced that former pastor, the Reverend Gary A. Grindeland, has left for his new position as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Bayonne, New Jersey.  It also announced that Reverend Gary Johnson is the new interim pastor.  Christ the King Lutheran Church is located at 1600 N. Genesee Street in Delafield.  Rev. Johnson will lead the congregation, including its weekend services, and provide theological and spiritual support to its members.

While serving at Christ the King, Grindeland was instrumental in creating a series of events and activities that were open to the general public.  Included were a variety of music concerts, a mental health series, vacation Bible school, intern program, AA support group, Thanksgiving dinners, blood drives, interdenominational events, a church 60th anniversary celebration, in addition to building closer relationships to the Boy Scouts, All God’s Children Preschool, Rogers Memorial Hospital, St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy, and Nashotah House Theological Seminary—even a “pet blessing” day.  

Prior to coming to Christ the King, Grindeland worked as vice president of church & community relations for Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan and as the state coordinator for Lutheran Disaster Response.

Grindeland has twenty years of parish experience and over twelve years of social ministry experience in states throughout the Midwest and in New York City and the surrounding area. He also served on the Synod Council of the Greater Milwaukee Synod and the Lutheran Campus Ministry Board. A native of Ames, Iowa, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. In 1980, he was graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Grindeland and his wife will continue to reside in Brookfield. They have two children.

An ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) church, Christ the King has nearly 1,000 parishioners and welcomes new members. Weekly worship is held on Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 8:15 and 10 a.m. 

For information on Christ the King, call (262) 646-2343 or visit www.ctkdelafield.org.