Following a unanimous vote of LCH members during a special congregational meeting, Amanda McGlynn was called and has accepted that call to become the next pastor of Lutheran Church of Honolulu.

Pastor Amanda is currently at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Oceanside, CA, where she has been serving for five years.

During a visit this month, many LCH members and attendees discovered her close ties to Hawaiʻi and familiarity with our church. Amanda was born and raised in Honolulu. She grew up as an active member of Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church. She is a Kalani High School graduate and has family on Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island. From an early age, she recognized that many of her gifts and passions were similar to her pastor. She’s felt called to pastoral ministry since age 14. LCH’s late Pastor Jeff Lilley was one of her confirmation teachers.

Pursuing her calling, Amanda attended California Lutheran University, double majored in theology and Christian Leadership and global sudies, with a music and worship minor. In her time there, she sang in all three university choirs, played in the wind ensemble, and served as a musician for many worship services on campus. She studied abroad at Oxford University, and graduated summa cum laude with university honors. In her summers, she worked at three Lutheran bible camps in Wisconsin and Texas, serving as a counselor, worship leader, ropes course director, and high school ministry coordinator.

Pastor Amanda met her husband, Cole, in college. He is also a Lutheran pastor currently serving at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and School in San Clemente, CA. He also serves as an IMA reserve chaplain in the Air Force at Joint Base Charleston. Pastor Cole is attending Officer Training School this summer, which means the McGlynns won’t be moving to Hawai‘i until September. Following OTS, Cole is taking a position as Chaplain at Pohai Nani in Kāneʻohe.

The McGlynns have two children, Rowan and Nora, whom many of us had the joy of meeting during their visit last month. They also have two rescue dogs—an Australian Shepherd named Banjo and a Great Pyrenees mix named Cricket.

Deepest thanks to the members of the LCH call committee for their hard work in identifying a pastoral candidate who we believe is an excellent fit for LCH. A huge mahalo to the members of our congregation, who demonstrated the LCH welcome so wonderfully. Also, thanks to everyone who helped organize, donate, prepare food, and clean up for the meet and greet, pūpū, ice cream social, and silent auction. The spirit of the Lord was certainly present throughout this entire process.