Meet Our Pastor

After growing up in south suburban Chicago, Pastor Jim Turriff graduated from Northwestern College in Watertown, WI in 1991 with a BA degree.  He earned the Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.) in 1995 and the Master of Sacred Theology degree (STM) in 2009 from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI.  He married Janine Schulz in 1997 after serving as a teacher, coach, and dorm supervisor at Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, WI for two years.  Pastor Turriff served Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Madison, AL for 10 years and Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima, WA for 8 years before coming to Gloria Dei in 2015.  Janine teaches 4th grade at Barret's Chapel Elementary School and is a church musician at Gloria Dei.  The Turriffs have two children, Emma and Evan, who both attend college.  In his spare time, Pastor Turriff enjoys shopping at the local thrift stores, geocaching, microbreweries, and cheering for the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Sounders.