Pastor Bill Crabtree

Pastor Bill Crabtree came to Silverdale Lutheran Church in June of 2007.  Prior to his Call to Silverdale, he was lead Pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Lodi California. He grew up in Phoenix Arizona and was a member of Christ Church Lutheran all of his childhood.  He attended college at California Lutheran University where he majored in Psychology.  After college he attended Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley California where he received his Masters of Divinity in 1989.  He has been in parish ministry since then.

Pastor Bill was married to Sandy Gessner in 1988 who he met in college. They have two daughters, Katy who is 17 and Becca who is 14.  His wife Sandy has over 20 years of experience as a public school elementary teacher and now is Principal at Viewridge Elementary School in Bremerton.

“I pray that through my ministry at Silverdale Lutheran Church many will come to love Jesus or have their love for him enriched. This is an awesome congregation doing amazing things for God and I hope and pray my leadership will strengthen this dynamic and powerful church.  I would invite all who do not have a Church home to come and hear the good news of God’s love and become a part of Jesus’ life here at Silverdale Lutheran Church.”

Pastor Bill Crabtree 

Pastor Jonathan Sansgaard came to SLC from Hope Lutheran Church in South Tacoma, where he was the solo pastor.  He grew up on a farm in Decorah, Iowa, where his father was pastor of a rural congregation (Washington Prairie Lutheran) and his mother was a preschool teacher.

Pastor Jonathan attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA.  He worked for Head Start Preschool and Boeing for several years, and then attended Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa from 1999-2003.  He served Hope Lutheran and urban South Tacoma for 5 years before coming to SLC.

In 1993, he married his wife Karen, whom he met while studying at PLU.  Karen has a master’s degree in special education, and currently directs the Sylvan Learning Center in Gig Harbor.  They have one son, Jadon, who is 5 years old and just starting Kindergarten.

"I am thrilled to be here and focused on what God is doing in youth and family ministry.  There is great opportunity at SLC to pass on a rich history of faith while being open to where the Holy Spirit is moving the church in the future.  This is an exciting time of seeking and wondering, of challenge and opportunity, of renewal and rebirth.  I look forward to being in meaningful relationship with youth, their families, and the larger body of Christ as we make this journey of faith."

Pastor Jonathan Sansgaard

Pastor Paula Lund Burchill came to serve part-time at SLC from being a stay-at-home-mom.  Prior to that, she was associate pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island from 1998 to 2005.  She grew up in Williston, ND, where she was baptized, confirmed, married and ordained at First Lutheran Church.  She is the oldest of five, and her dad was a banker and her mom was a homemaker.  She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1993 with a degree in psychology, and from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN in 1998.

In 1998 she married Corey Burchill, her childhood friend.  Corey is a math teacher at Kingston High School.  He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1995 and continues to serve in the Navy Reserves.  They have three children, Erik, 10, Carl, 8, and Ingrid 5.  They are 4^th, 2^nd and Kindergarteners at Vinland Elementary in Poulsbo.  They love to camp, play games and watch movies.

“What a privilege it is to serve at SLC.  This is a congregation that loves to worship, sing, learn and serve those in need.  It is a treasure and a privilege to be able to wrestle with others over what it means to be the latest in the line of Jesus’ disciples.  God loves us so much and calls us to share that love with others.  Come and check out how God is calling you.”