To contact Good Shepherd:

Summer Office Hours (June-Aug):

Mon-Thurs 8:00AM - 5:00 PM

Friday: Closed

Regular Office Hours (Sept-May):

Mon-Thurs 8:00AM - 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM- Noon

For staff contact info, photos and bios, click their name:

David A. Sloop

Senior Pastor and Faith Formation Manager
e-mail

Pastor David, also known as PD, is a North Carolina native. He grew up in Asheville and descended from Lutherans who settled in central NC in the 1750s. PD is a graduate on UNC-Chapel Hill but pulls for NCSU. He graduated both from Harvard Divinity School and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

PD and Sally Sloop were able to raise their family in Raleigh having moved here in 1982 to help start Good Shepherd. Their daughter Elizabeth teaches math at Leesville High School; son Peter lives and works in Boston. PD and Sally also raised Sally's deceased sister's three children. The Sloops are proud grandparents of three grandsons who live in Hickory, NC

Pastor David likes to garden, do elementary home maintenance, plays pool and used to be competitive in golf. He is an avid movie goer and loves discussing a good flick.
He takes Fridays off and with enough coaxing will gladly 'spoil a good walk' on the golf course.

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Jennifer Lutz

Associate Pastor and Congregational Life Manager
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Pastor Jennifer grew up in Kannpolis, North Carolina and is a life-long Lutheran. She is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and received her Masters of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. She has been serving at Good Shepherd since January 2002. Among her duties, she works with our Stephen Leader team and with the HESED retreat for differently-abled adults.

In her free time, Jennifer enjoys music and riding the Greenways here in Raleigh. She also has been known to be a raucous sports fan. One of her joys is cycling in the MS150 ride in New Bern each year.

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Lauren Dow Wegner

Associate Pastor and Director of Faith Formation
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Lauren Dow Wegner received a Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia in May 2010.  Born and raised in Texas, Lauren graduated from Texas Lutheran University in 2003 with a B.A. in Theology.  Throughout college, she was involved in campus ministry, band and chapel choir, and residence life.  She spent her college summers working in camping ministry in Wisconsin and a summer inner-city ministry program in Chicago.

After graduation from TLU, Lauren served as Director of Youth & Family Ministry at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, where she led and coordinated the faith formation of youth in grades 6-12.  Lauren taught numerous Bible studies and facilitated youth discussions, activities, and faith development workshops.  The youth group traveled to Mexico for mission trips, Minnesota and Colorado for high-adventure trips, and served their local Austin community, as well.  Lauren spent time with the youth both inside and outside the church building, and she continues to believe that

Christ-centered relationships are the most important part of ministry with people of all ages.  She loves learning about people and exploring God’s presence in our daily life together.   While at Shepherd of the Hills, she continued to discern her call to ordained ministry and made the decision to enroll in seminary. 

In her third year of seminary, Lauren served an internship with Crooked Creek Cooperative Lutheran Ministries in rural Ford City, Pennsylvania, where she and her supervising pastor shared all aspects of ministry among three small congregations.  This unique and very independent internship experience helped Lauren grow in her preaching, worship leadership, pastoral care, and teaching skills, as her pastor entrusted Lauren with leading Sunday mornings and many other ministerial tasks on her own.  Her internship deepened her awareness of her call to ordained ministry; through her experiences in Pennsylvania, she focused on cultivating her gifts for ministry as well as engaging the areas in which she needed further practice and growth.

            Lauren counts her strengths for ministry as pastoral care, youth and family ministry, preaching and worship leadership, stewardship, and community-building.  She has discerned the call to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, continually remind God’s people of the places in which Christ comes to us in Word and Sacrament, and call God’s people to mission and service in the world.  She counts the most prominent themes of her ministry as a genuine interest and care for people, sensitivity to the needs of others, awareness and affirmation of the God-given gifts of others, and the intentional practice of reminding  herself and others of the cross of Christ with which we have been marked and claimed in our baptism.

            As both a team-player and a self-starter, Lauren has felt open to serve her first call in virtually any congregational setting.  The Associate Pastor-Director of Faith Formation position at Good Shepherd seems to particularly fit her gifts and her passions for ministry, and she is excited about the opportunities it holds for the congregation to further develop and strengthen the faith of all ages of people at GSLC, particularly the youth and families. 

            Lauren plays flute and a little guitar, and she often incorporates music into her ministry.  She has a deep appreciation for the practice of spiritual direction.  She hopes to continue this practice in her own life as well as encourage it in the lives of others, as it keeps us grounded in the Word and action of God in our lives and in the world. 

            Lauren is married to Dave, a North Carolina native and another candidate for first call in the North Carolina Synod.  The two met at seminary and married in 2008.  Lauren and Dave are looking forward to the next step of their journey as they seek to continue following God’s call to serve the Church.

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Denny Brake

Pastor Emeritus

Pastor Brake has served four Lutheran congregations in Montana, and Iowa. He and his wife Sarah moved to Raleigh in 1993, and Pastor Brake began serving as Pastor Emeritus in 1997. The Brakes celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary in 1999.

The Brakes have three children, and five grandchildren. Their daughter and son-in-law, Jeanette and George Kuchenreuther are members of GSLC, along with their three grandchildren: Karen, Amy and Adam.

Pastor Brake is a published humorist, and frequent guest speaker for other organizations.

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Nathaniel Anderson

Vicar
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Vicar Nathaniel was born in Boston and grew up in a suburb called Easton. Nathaniel met his wife, Carolyn Starz when the two were students at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa

Nathaniel enjoys running and cheering for his beloved Red Sox. Carolyn and Nathaniel both enjoy cooking and singing. Nathaniel also enjoys listening to indie rock music (or as Carolyn calls it, "weird music") and watching movies (often also the independent "weird" kind.).

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Pam Montgomery

Interim Director of Music

Bio Coming Soon

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Bill Shelton

Organist
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Bill was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  He has lived in Raleigh since 1980, after graduating from UNC in Chapel Hill, where although he received a degree in mathematical sciences, he also studied organ and sang in the Carolina Choir and Men's Glee Club.  Bill has worked at IBM for 27 years in programming, operations research, and information technology support.

Bill has served as organist at a number of area churches, including North Raleigh United Methodist, Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian, and for six years at Hayes Barton United Methodist.

Bill and his wife Carol have three daughters, Heather, a nursing student at UNC; Claire, a freshman at Elon; and Hayley, an eighth grader at Ligon Middle School.  When not enjoying his favorite hobby of music, Bill continues to try to become proficient at tennis.

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Brian Grimes

Interim Youth Director
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Brian was born and raised here in Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 25, 1986. He was brought into our community at Good Shepherd in 2001 after the passing of his mother.  Ellen and Allan Dickson adopted Brian into their family shortly after. Brian graduated from Broughton High School in 2004 and spent 2 years at NC A&T SU in Greensboro, where he played football on an athletic scholarship.  In 2006 Brian returned home and enrolled at Wake Tech Community College and soon began volunteering with the youth at church. In the summer of 2009 Brian accepted the job as Interim Youth Director.

Brian’s family includes Mother and Father  Ellen and Allan Dickson. Brian’s siblings are Bo, Stephen, Bryan, Michael, Davey, Tory and Dee.

In Brian’s free time he enjoys audio books, exercise, outdoor sports, football, singing, practicing guitar and drums, and spending time with family and friends. He enjoys most movies and a wide variety of music. His favorite food is Strawberrys.

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Barb Newcomer

Children's Director
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Barb is originally from Waynesboro, PA and has lived in Raleigh since 2001 after a move from Minnesota. Barb her husband Ken and their two children Kyle (15 and Cathy (14) transferred from St. James Lutheran Church in Burnsville, MN in the fall of 2001.

Barb has been the part time Children‚s Director since January, 2002. She enjoys the many wonderful times with her 3rd thru 5th graders. She is involved with the Children‚s Ministry committee and all of their activities. Barb plans and takes part in Lutheridge Day Camp at our church every summer for about 40 children.

Barb enjoys time with her family, traveling, going to the beach and all of her aerobic activities.

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Lois Walker

Admnistrative Assistant

Lois is originally from Syracuse, NY and has lived in Raleigh since 1975. Lois and husband Fred, since deceased, transferred from Grace Lutheran to GSLC in the fall of 1994. She has 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren. Lois is retired after working 23 years with the NC Division of Mental Health, Child and Family Services Branch.

Lois has been a part-time staff person since February, 2001. She sings in the Chancel Choir, and is a member of the Worship & Music, and Hospitality Committees.

Lois enjoys family activities, going to concerts and plays, traveling, and Via de Cristo activities.

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Peyton Cline

Financial Manager
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Born and raised in North Carolina, Peyton has lived in Raleigh since 1993.  She and her husband Chris have been blessed with two daughters, Grace, 7 years and Olivia, 6 years.  Peyton joined the GSLC staff in the fall of 2004 as an assistant while her youngest daughter was enrolled in the preschool at Good Shepherd.  She accepted the Finance Manager position in June of 2005. 

Peyton and her family are active members of Bay Leaf Baptist Church.  Among her favorite activities are Saturday morning picnics, library trips, and tea time with her girls.

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Deanna Klimek

Preschool Director
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Deanna and her family joined the Good Shepherd community in 2000 after moving from Allen, Texas where her family had attended Christ the Servant Lutheran church. She taught preschool at Preston Meadow Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas. Prior to Texas, her family lived in northern Virginia. She is originally from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She and her husband Mark have 3 children, Rebecca, Nathan and Karissa.

After teaching at Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool for seven years, Deanna felt called to take on the role of Director in June of 2008. She is also an Equipper in the ChristCare small group ministry at Good Shepherd where she is involved in the training and support of small group leaders. In her early years at Good Shepherd, Deanna helped with VBS and taught Sunday School. She attended a Via de Christo weekend of February 2005.

Deanna enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, gardening, and Bible study.

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Pam Mansueti

Wedding Coordinator
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Pam and her husband, Mark and two boys, Matthew 16 and Scott 11 joined GSLC in March, 2007. They moved here in 2004 from South Florida. Pam has started her own decorating business "The Decorating Coach". Previously, she had a twenty year career with Estee Lauder Cosmetics. She enjoys working with people and organizing projects and events.

GSLC has allowed their family to worship and participate with warmth and friendliness.

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Paul D. Phillips

Resource Ministry Manager
e-mail

Paul was born in Charleston, SC but spent 6 years of his childhood in India where his dad, a Lutheran Pastor, served as a missionary. Upon returning to the United States, he lived in both North Carolina and Virginia before attending Pfeiffer College where he majored in Accounting. Paul became a CPA and embarked on a career that spanned over thirty years in the utility, apparel and pharmaceutical industries. He and his family moved to Raleigh in 1988 when Paul joined Glaxo Inc. and shortly thereafter, they became members at Good Shepherd. In December, 2003 Paul took an early retirement from GlaxoSmithKline and, prior to joining the staff at Good Shepherd, he and his wife Gail spent time traveling and remodeling their home and re-landscaping their yard.

Paul and Gail have three adult children who all live and work in the Raleigh area. Their oldest son, Mark and his wife Wyndi have a son, Collin. Their son David and his wife Heather have a daughter, Reese; and their daughter Laura and her husband Josh have a son, Evan.

In July 2006, Paul joined the Good Shepherd staff as Resource Ministry Manager and is excited to be involved in our ministry together. When not working, Paul enjoys BSF, reading, woodworking, repairing things that appear non-repairable, most sports in general and particularly NC State sports, and traveling, especially to our beautiful North Carolina mountains.

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Brenda Dozer

Administrative Assitant and Sunday Morning Education Coordinator
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Brenda and her husband Jeff have been members at Good Shepherd since 1996. They have two sons, Matthew and Ryan. Brenda works part-time as an administrative assistant, coordinates the Sunday Morning Education program for children through 8th grade, and serves on the Christian Education Ministry Team. She is a lifelong Lutheran and has attended many Lutheran churches through various moves as a child. She is passionate about seeing everyone grow in their faith and believes that children are often the best teachers!

In her free time Brenda enjoys playing board games, hiking and biking with her family, and watching Matthew play in soccer games.

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