St Michael’s - Staff

The Rev. Randy A. Knutson

Pastor Randy came to St. Michaels in September of 2015, through a special call of ‘Shared Ministry’ with Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA), also in Fort Bragg, CA. He serves both congregations in a part-time ministry, created by both churches and guided to this unique call by both of our Bishops at the time. Randy grew up in the Pacific Northwest and attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. He studied to be a vocalist and choir director in public education. He was drawn to use those skills in the church setting, first part time and then full time in the Lutheran Church. He has worked closely with his wife, Robin Knutson, who is a skilled organist and piano player. Together they created strong musical programs at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fresno, CA and then St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lodi, CA. Ever more drawn by the relationship of scripture, music and worship, they started working at The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, in Lodi, CA in 2000. There they worked with their priest to enhance that music program and prepare that congregation to move to a newly built church site in 2002. During that time they created a children’s’ choir, handbell choir and enlarged the adult choir. They also remained involved members of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, leading workshops and helping to plan local and national conferences for that organization.

Randy felt compelled to consider pursuing Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church at that time, so he commuted to attend the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. With the help of his parish and the Diocese of Northern California, Randy was ordained a Deacon in 2014 and a priest in 2015. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Sacramento, the clergy and members there all played a big part in Pastor Randy’s formation, along with The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Lodi, CA where Randy remained Music Director while at seminary. He served in the Diaconal role at St. John’s and the Cathedral. Additionally, he received CPE training at U.C. Davis Medical School. His long history in both the Lutheran Church and then the Episcopal Church prepared him to be a good candidate in this ‘Shared Ministry’ model to serve at Trinity Lutheran Church and St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church simultaneously. He preaches at both congregation each Sunday and serves in a number of ways building shared ministry with both congregations as they participate together in Bible Study, Sack Lunch Ministry and many other ways that the gifts of each congregation are encouraged, amplified and happen together. He is grateful for the work to bring the two congregations together before he came and the encouragement of both former Bishop Mark Holmerud (ELCA) and former Bishop Barry Beisner (Episcopal Diocese of Northern California) to create this opportunity for this unique ministry.

Randy and his wife, Robin, are involved in many musical opportunities on the Mendocino Coast, including the Music Festival Chorale and the Redwood Community Choir.