Russell L. Matteson has accepted a call to serve Pacific Southwest District as district executive, beginning Jan. 16, 2015. He has 18 years of experience in ministry, currently serving as co-pastor of Modesto (Calif.) Church of the Brethren with his wife, Erin Matteson.
Previously the Mattesons co-pastored Fellowship in Christ Fremont (Calif.) Church of the Brethren from June 1993 to July 1996. Additionally, he served as director of Marketing and Sales for Brethren Press from July 1999 to August 2003, and was a youth worker with Brethren Volunteer Service from September 1988 to August 1989.
His leadership in Pacific Southwest District has included service on the Program Committee, Ethics Committee, Financial Task Force, and Camp Peaceful Pines Program Committee, where he has been chair and has served on the Executive Committee. Denominationally, he has been a worship coordinator for the 2012 Young Adult Conference, presenter at Annual Conference sessions related to technology and creativity in worship, and served on the Worship Planning Committee for the 2015 Annual Conference.
He holds master of divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Grinnell College.
The Pacific Southwest District Office will continue to be located in La Verne, Calif.