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Mortenson Moves on to Leadership at Nationally Renowned Church
She and husband Don to also teach at Bethel Seminary San Diego
Sherry Mortenson and Karen Tangen, business faculty
member, at farewell reception
“Sherry possesses a boldness and courage to tackle tough conversations with people and confront truth…from the pulpit, the classroom or in a conversation.”
Barb Martin, former associate dean of student life
By Cindy Pfingsten
“I do Sunday morning 40 hours per week.” That’s how Sherry Mortenson, associate dean of campus ministries and pastor of spiritual formation, described the passion and intensity of her job here at Bethel. So, when Whittier Area Community Church (WACC) in California approached Sherry and her husband Don about leaving their respective positions at the Bethel College of Arts & Sciences and Bethel Seminary and coming on staff at the church, her first response was a firm “no.”
Yet God’s consistent prodding led her to reconsider. Last December, Mortenson said farewll to Bethel after 23 years to serve as lead pastor of spiritual formation at WACC while her husband Don is now serving there as lead pastor of community life.
“We’ve been praying for three years for leaders to fill these two positions,” explained Bill Ankerberg, senior pastor of WACC. The Mortensons’ ministry will differ greatly from Bethel as the Los Angeles area features a strong Roman Catholic following as well as the largest Buddhist temple in the world just blocks from WACC.
But Bethel has prepared Mortenson well for the new challenges she will face and the opportunity to work with Executive Pastor John Ortberg. An evangelist at heart, she created the course Creative Evangelism for the College of Arts & Sciences in which students have had to “convert” Mortenson to Christianity for their final. “Who knows how many times I’ve been saved since starting that class 20 years ago?” Mortenson quipped. In addition, she has taught the class Christian Worldview to adult students in the College of Adult & Professional Studies, many of whom had been burned and abused by Christians or the church. Fortunately, Bethel is privileged to have both Sherry and Don also teach part time at Bethel Seminary San Diego.
The Bethel community said good-bye to Sherry and Don Mortenson in a farewell chapel service and reception on Wednesday, December 12. Students, staff, and faculty gave Sherry a standing ovation and the Student Senate presented a resolution thanking her for 23 years of service to Bethel.
For many on campus, it’s hard to imagine Bethel without Sherry Mortenson. “Lots of people talk about the programs started under Sherry’s leadership—RIOT (residence hall Bible studies), Vespers, etc.,” says Matt Runion, interim campus pastor. “These are important, but equally deep in her impact is the personal care she has shown so many students, faculty, and staff at times of family loss and crisis.”
President Brushaber reflected: “I have been so very pleased about the ways in which Sherry has entered into the lives of literally thousands of students, sharing with them the joy and light of a walk with Christ. In so many ways, she has been key to maintaining the spiritual vitality of Bethel University.”
“I was a new Christian when I came to Bethel. My relationship with God is integrally connected with this place,” concluded Mortenson, an alum of Bethel Seminary (’85). “Most of my Christian life has been on campus, and it has been an incredible privilege to serve and see God at work.”
But for those of us in the Bethel community who have known her, we’d say the privilege has been all ours.
“Sherry’s extraordinary gifts in communication and preaching
will be welcomed.”
Leland Eliason
Executive Vice President and Provost of Bethel Seminary
(and former pastor of WACC)