Rev. Albert Starr Jr.

Began work as Director for African Descent Ministries for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in March of 2009.  Prior to accepting the call to the Chicago office, Rev. Starr served as pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles, California from Sept. of 1982 until March of 2009. 

Together with his wife, Judith, Pastor Starr studied at the Makumira Theological College near Arusha Tanzania, East Africa as a part of completing the Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

In addition to Tanzania and Kenya, Pastor Starr’s ministry travels have taken him to Hong Kong China, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Moscow Russia, Tallinn Estonia, Budapest Hungary, Warsaw Poland and other countries within the former Soviet Union.  During sabbatical 2007, Pastor Starr had the privilege of visiting churches in Addis Ababa, southern Ethiopia and the ancient churches at Lalibela. A highlight of the sabbatical included touring Ghana west Africa and being in Independence Stadium in Accra for the national celebration of the “50^th” anniversary of Ghana’s Independence.

He served as the founding chairman of the New City Parish Coalition, a Los Angeles based network of Lutheran congregations in the greater Los Angeles area. 

In September of 2009, Rev. Starr was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus Ohio.

In August 2014, Pastor began work as ELCA Director for Ethnic Specific and  Multicultural Ministries.

His call to ministry has always included a strong notion of serving God by serving God’s people.  As a pastor /teacher he takes great delight and special joy in helping to lift up and engage the gifts and talents of people of African descent and others, celebrating their capacity for building a stronger church and a better world to the glory of God through Jesus Christ. 

Pastor Starr and his wife Judith have two adult children, their daughter Jordann and their son, Temesghen.  He is the first of seven children born to Albert and Eunice Starr of Durham, N.C

Rev. Wyvetta M. Bullock

Wyvetta has served as Assistant to the Presiding Bishop/Executive for Administration, in the Office of the Presiding Bishop since 2007.  Prior to serving in this position she served as Executive for Leadership Development and Executive Director for the Division for Congregational Ministries. 

Wyvetta is an ELCA pastor. She received her Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC).  Wyvetta received the Distinguished Alumni Award from LSTC in 2003.  In 2004 she was conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Grand View College, Des Moines, Iowa.

Wyvetta serves as a pastoral associate at Bethel Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois.  Wyvetta serves on the Board of Directors of Augusta Victoria Hospital, Jerusalem. 

Wyvetta is a contributing author to two books: The Evangelizing Church:  A Lutheran Contribution, Called Out of Our Comfort Zones, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Spring 2005; and The Missional Church & Denominations:  Helping Congregations Develop a Missional Identity, The Challenge of Developing Missional Denominational Agencies and the Implications for Leadership, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2008. 

 Wyvetta and her husband, Neil, have two children:  David and Karen Ann.