Pastor Ed was born in Chillicothe, MO, and raised in Jerseyville, IL. He graduated from Millikin University, Decatur, IL, with a bachelor's degree in church music. He holds a Master of Science degree in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His Master of Divinity is from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and he received a Doctor of Ministry from LSTC in 2006.

Ordained in 1986, Pastor Ed served as pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Creston, NE, and St. Paul Lutheran Church, Leigh, NE, 1986-1991; and Zion Lutheran Church, Hudson, IA, 1991-1997. From 1997-2000, he served interim pastorates in Marion and Oelwein, IA. He has been pastor of St. Andrew since May 2000. His wife, Cindy, is the ELCA Chaplain at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, sponsored by Lutheran Chaplaincy Outreach. The Breeds have two daughters: Melissa currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, and Elizabeth is a senior Theatre Arts major at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln.

Vicar Divaker Pathak is our eighth seminary intern. Interns serve in a congregation for a period of one year to practice their personal witness of Jesus Christ though preaching, pastoral care, teaching, and outreach into the community. Vicar Divaker comes to us from The Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Columbus and will be with us until August 2010.

While not serving in ministry, Vicar Divaker enjoys reading, keeping abreast of world news, and spending time with his friends and the extended church family. His wife Salome is also seeking ordination in Columbus, Ohio. Divaker looks forward to learning and forming to be a “reasonable and acceptable” servant of God.

Check out Rev. Salome Pathak's mission outreach in Jamaica at Christ Is Lord Ministries

Tom is an Associate in Ministry [AIM] and was recently called to be our new cantor. His biography will be posted shortly....

Teresa Girard has been a long term resident of Marion working at a variety of administrative positions throughout Cedar Rapids. She graduated from Hamilton College with a Bachelors of Business Administration in June of 2004 before joining the staff at St. Andrew.