Pastor – Rev. John J. Bombaro, PhD

Pastor Bombaro has served as the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, San Diego, since April 2007. His ministerial and academic training was completed at the universities of Edinburgh, London, and Cambridge. In addition to his duties at Grace, Dr. Bombaro teaches philosophy and religion at the University of San Diego, serves as a faculty member of the Wittenberg Institute, and is a USN chaplain serving the USMC in a reservist capacity. John and Melinda Bombaro are blessed with four children and spend their leisure time cleaning up after the kids.

Pastoral Staff:

Vicar – Brian W. Thomas

Brian Thomas is serving a concurrnet four year vicarage at Grace while he completes his studies at the Cross-cultural Ministry Center at Christ College, Concordia University, Irvine. Brian is a former Navy officer and received his BA in Biblical History from Puget Sound Christian College. Brian and Joy are blessed with two daughters and one very fat cat.  

Deaconess Doris Snashall is a graduate of Concordia, Irvine, where she holds an MBA and a Master of Arts in Theology and is a graduate of Concordia, Chicago where she earned her Deaconess Certification. In addition to her work at Grace, Deaconess Doris is also Director of Property Management for Interfaith Housing Assistance Corporation. She has been blessed to serve at Grace Lutheran since September 2007 and is delighted to serve the people of Grace alongside her husband, Deacon Gleason Snashall.

Deacon Gleason Snashall has been a deacon for 8 years and holds a masters in applied math from SUNY Binghamton. Deacon Snashall is an engineer with the US Navy. He has had the opportunity to serve at Grace since Apr 2007. He is blessed with a wonderful wife, Deaconess Doris Snashall.

Gretchen Jordan brings her experience and a diversified background in several industries to Grace where she loves coming to work each day. Gretchen loves the sunny San Diego weather, creating things and cooking. She is at home in Bonita with her husband, Mark, two dogs, Lucy and Ethel and her cat, Valentine.

Michael Burke studied music with an emphasis on organ and piano under Anne Musser Honeywell at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY. He began serving Grace as the Principal Organist and Choir Master in January 2009. Michael is married to his wife Betty, who is not only his partner in marriage, but also in the small business they have run for the past 20+ years. Together they are blessed with 2 grown children and 3 Shih-Tzu’s.

Rexanna Blas is a dedicated and learned Preschool Director with more than twenty-eight years of teaching and leadership experience. Nineteen of her years have been within the Lutheran Parochial Educational system, where she has found the most joy and inspiration. "Miss Rexanna," as she is affectionately known by children and parents alike, has been serving at Grace Lutheran Preschool since March 2009 in the capacity of Director of Preschool Education. She is blessed with four young adult children with whom she enjoys spending her free time.