Behold! God is Making All Things New
The Presbytery of Los Ranchos held its first Stated Meeting of 2026 on Saturday, February 28th, at Vietnamese Presbyterian Church in Garden Grove. All were welcomed warmly and then gathered for worship led by members of the praise teams from both the Vietnamese congregation and First Presbyterian Church of Garden Grove. Rev. Leanne Strommen preached on the theme text, Revelation 21:1-5.
The business meeting began with the election of TE Ryan Romberg as Moderator Elect and the installation of CRE Vanessa Bates as Moderator and Ryan as Vice Moderator.
Moderator Vanessa Bates and Vice Moderator Ryan Romberg
Outgoing Moderator RE Lori Ruff-Schmalenberger shared on what she called a Kairos Moment in the life of the church and reminded all that “Behold” is a command.
Lori Ruff-Schmalenberger
Items of business – some requiring action and others for information only were shared by the various teams and committees of the presbytery. The Trustees presented the slate of corporate officers for 2026, which was approved – They are:
President, RE Suzanne Elkins
Secretary, TE Sandra Kim
Treasurer, RE Julie Sager
Stated Clerk, TE Sandra Kim reminded pastors and Clerks of Session about the upcoming Review of Records. Synod Commissioner TE Gail Stearns reported that RE Sue Currie was elected Vice Moderator of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii. Congratulations, Sue!
Executive Presbyter, TE Andrea “Andi” Saccoccio shared her love of restoring things – keeping what’s valuable and unashamedly doing the hard work of birthing a new thing. She noted that she hopes to do some of that work here in Los Ranchos as she looks deeply into and learns who and what we are as a presbytery of God’s gathered people.
The Committee on Ministry led the presbytery through an exciting session of meeting new pastors and examining others for ordination. RE Gerald Haraguchi was commissioned to serve La Habra Hills Presbyterian Church and to administer the Sacraments and moderate meetings of Session upon request of the Session, and officiate at marriages where permitted by state law.
Commissioned Pastor, Gerald Haraguchi
SueJeanne Koh of St. Mark Presbyterian Church was examined and approved for ordination; she will serve there as Supply Associate Pastor.
SueJeanne Koh
Inseo Song was also examined and approved for ordination; he will serve as Pastor of Orange Canaan Presbyterian Church, Santa Ana.
Inseo Song
TE Darren Pollack was introduced as the new pastor of Geneva Presbyterian Church.
TE Darren Pollack
Ralph Su was introduced as the Transitional Pastor of Formosan Presbyterian Church, Garden Grove.
Ralph Su
The closing of Whittier Presbyterian Church was recognized. Maggie Goodwin, the most recent pastor of Whittier Presbyterian Church sent a farewell message. View here. Then Geoff Nelson, Whittier’s long-time paster, prayed over the church’s faithfulness past and present and for the light it will continue to shine long into God’s future. Other reports for information reflected the ongoing work of the presbytery.
Geoff Nelson
Strategic Coordinating Team Moderator, RE Roy Ketring presented three Overtures regarding the closing of World Missions and the dissolution of relationships with mission partners (The Overtures) to the 227th General Assembly (2026) for presbytery concurrence. All were approved without objection and the concurrences will be reported to the General Assembly. The final item of business concerned the motion to dissolve Church of Amazing Grace International’s (NWC) relationship with the Presbytery of Los Ranchos so that they may seek recognition by the Presbytery of Riverside. The motion was passed and well-wishes and prayers were offered for the continued ministry of CAGI by TE Steve Wright.
Kiraku (Johnson) Kinyua and Steve Wright
After the meeting adjourned, commissioners and guests gathered in the Fellowship Hall for a delicious Vietnamese catered lunch while EP Andi Saccoccio shared more about herself and her vision for the presbytery with an emphasis on listening and learning. She then responded to questions from the participants.
EP Andi Saccoccio
The worship service, the business meeting, and the lunch conversation confirmed that God is, indeed, doing a new thing among us.
