Introducing the Interim Pastors
Pastor Larry Resmer Stiles was born and raised in upstate New York. He graduated from The Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia in 1982 and has served churches in New York Chicago, southern California, Philadelphia, Arizona and Texas. During the last 10 years, he has served churches as a trained intentional interim minister. He especially enjoys assisting congregations through the process of renewal and visioning.
Pastor Adele Stiles Resmer was born and raised in northern Ontario in Canada. She worked as an Intensive Care Nurse prior to attending the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia. After graduating in 1984, she went to Emory University in Atlanta where she received a Ph.D. She has served the church as pastor, professor, and assistant to the bishop. She has completed part of the training in interim ministry and a one year residency in spiritual care at VITAS Hospice—both reflect her commitment to accompanying people in times of transition.
They have been married for 23 years, and he has two grown children in upstate New York. They enjoy hiking, dining with friends, meeting new people, going to the movies, and talking together over Starbucks’ lattes.He also enjoys geneology, golf, reading and exercising. She plays the piano, sings, reads and writes. They are already enjoying the Tucson area and are excited about serving Beautiful Savior.
Rhonda Karrer
Rhonda Karrer is the Director of our Academy which serves children ages three through kindergarten. Rhonda holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Arizona. She has experience not only in education, but also in counseling as an intern and contract family counselor at Sierra Tucson. And, most importantly, she is the mother of two young men. Rhonda has more than 20 years experience working with children. She has been in her current position since the fall of 1993.
Brenda Engelby
Brenda J. Engelby, Associate in Ministry, was commissioned on July 1, 1981. She attended the University of Minnesota, California Lutheran Bible School (now LBIC), and the University of Alaska. She served Bethany Lutheran Church and American Lutheran Church in Tucson; Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Tempe; and Central Lutheran Church in Anchorage, Alaska. In November 1987, she became the Assistant to the Bishop of the Alaska Synod and served there for ten and one-half years before moving to Chicago to become the Associate Director for Grace Matters (Lutheran Vespers), the radio ministry of the ELCA. She held that position for eight years before moving back to Arizona. Her work at Beautiful Savior is in group ministry. She also does administrative work, editing, writing, and likes to organize just about anything.
Greg Swanson
Gregory Swanson has been the Director of Music at Beautiful Savior Lutheran church since 2001 and is a life-long Lutheran. He decided to get his music degree following a three week tour with the 1971 Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir just after high school. He taught music for a short while in public schools, but found that church music was where he truly felt at home. Greg believes that the message presented in vocal and choral music, is of greater importance than technical perfection. Greg has directed church choirs (both adult and youth) in South Dakota, as well as three other churches in Arizona.
Rebecca Solomon
Becky Solomon has served as the pianist/accompanist at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church since 2003, where her work includes playing liturgical service music as well as accompanying soloists, small ensembles, choir, and congregational singing. Becky began to learn to play the piano at age six, and she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and music at the University of Arizona. Through her classical training, Becky developed strong sight reading and improvisation skills which she has used as a church musician for over four decades. Firmly grounded in the hymn tradition, Becky was influenced by the Maranatha Music and Praise and Worship movements, which contributed to her dynamic yet sensitive playing style.