Pastor Libby Pfaff was ordained to the ministry of Word & Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Blacksburg on Saturday, Aug.7, 2021, and effective Aug. 15, 2021, she will serve as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Radford and as pastor to The Well at Virginia Tech, a campus ministry of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Blacksburg.
Pfaff grew up in the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) but attended many other churches as she searched for the Holy Spirit. During that time, she studied theater at the University of South Carolina, served in the Navy as a sonar technician, and worked for an electrical equipment distribution company in Seattle.
In Seattle, Pfaff discovered the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous after an accidental encounter with the testimony of an ELCA pastor. She began attending Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Seattle and fell in love with the community. Within the first year at that church, she felt “pulled” to ministry. She attended Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., completing her Master of Divinity in December of 2020 after serving as pastoral intern at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Phoenix.
Upon her appointments, Pastor Pfaff said, “Life has been a spectacular journey thus far and with joy and gratitude, I eagerly await the miracles of the Spirit every day. I am excited to get to know my parishioners at Christ Lutheran, and look forward to fellowship and taking part in mission and faith opportunities with the Well students at Virginia Tech.”
The Reverend Monica Weber, lead pastor of Luther Memorial, said about Pfaff’s appointment to The Well, “We are so thankful that Libby will join us to shepherd our Well students. The Well community recently achieved an affiliation with Reconciling in Christ, to include, welcome, and affirm all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, past history, or political opinions. The Well gathers regularly as a community of faith to discuss and celebrate the love and grace of God, and we know Libby will help foster this spirit of inclusion for all.”
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Blacksburg is a Reconciling in Christ congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Founded in 1886, the church serves the Blacksburg community and residents of Southwest Virginia’s New River Valley.
The Well Campus Ministry, hosted by Luther Memorial, offers weekly opportunities for fun, food, and fellowship in Christ for students at Virginia Tech. Luther Memorial offers worship services, faith formation, and Christian education studies throughout the week and enjoys a long-standing tradition of mission and community service in the New River Valley. For more information, visit https://lmlc.org/campus-ministry.
