Pastor Anne-Grethe Krogh Nielsen, R.

Current Pastor - Nuværende Præst

A Calling and a Blessing

The Danish Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda is a wonderful congregation to be called to.

I have been blessed to serve at this lovely and living congregation for almost 20 years. From 2004 – 2006 and then again from 2008 to present.

To be a Pastor is a multifaceted calling which always has been a true blessing for me whether I preach, teach, relate, comfort or meet with people of my congregation. The Christian Gospel brings hope, faith and love into a broken world and broken relationships, and it is a blessing to journey with so many people though time. As a Pastor I have always strived to be a present, available and compassion pastor in a church setting that should always be a place where faith and fellowship meets.  A place where hope, the sense of belonging, and humanity engage in our daily lives.

To be a Pastor is about preaching, building relationships, showing and fostering commitment and compassion, – so, we all  invest our talents and time in a community that grows to be a place where we belong.

A Church with Danish Roots and a Global Heart

The Danish Lutheran Church was founded by proud Danish Immigrants in 1906, and we continue to preserve Danish Traditions and be a Danish Church in the sprawling religious landscape of LA.  However, through the past 15-18 years the church and congregation has succeed to grow, reform, and expand the outlook  of the church from a small Danish Congregation to a local (Danish) Lutheran Church with committed outreach and presence in the community. The Danish Church is a welcoming church to all the many different people and groups that come to our beautiful campus every week– and call this their church, a comfortable place to belong. We truly are a church that endeavor to welcome alle, mindful of everything that might divide us in the world and respecting the diversity in which we are created.

A Journey from Denmark to California

I was born and raised in Denmark on the Island of Fyn, where my parents, sisters and extended family still live.  I studied Theology at the esteemed University of Aarhus and graduated with a master’s degree in theology in 1991. I was called to be a Pastor in a small parish in rural Denmark and served as the Pastor in Ringive Parish (Jutland) from 1991 to 2004 and enjoyed being a pastor, wife and becoming a mother of our two wonderful sons. 

In 2004 my husband, Soren, and I decided that I would accept a two-year calling as Pastor of the Danish Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda. After completing what became two and a half years of leave from Denmark, our family of Mads, Kristian, Soren and I returned to Denmark, our familie and our obligations.  These formative years of friendship, travel and learning,  the many wonderful people, the sunny climate, and the openness we found in California and in Yorba Linda grew on us. After two years back in Denmark, we came back in 2008, and we are still here!

A Place of Connection and Commitment

It has been my blessing and priviledge to be part of the Danish Lutheran Church & Cultural Center in these formative years of change, reform and outreach. We work to be a Danish Church for immigrants, expats and Danish Americans preserving Danish religious and cultural traditions and to be a local ELCA Community Church building on connected and committed relationship that serves the community with joy, hope, compassion and justice.

As my favorite quote from my favorite Danish theologian says: “Human first, then Christian.” (N.F.S. Grundtvig) the Danish church is a place where hope greets humanity.

contact me for coffee and conversation

Please contact me if you have any questions, - or if you would like to meet with me for coffee and a talk (714) 993-6362. We make a very good strong coffee at the church with delicious cookies to share.

Danish book recommendations by Pastor Anne-Grethe

“Kongeord” (King’s Word) By His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark

“Mod midnatsolen” By Dy Plambeck

“I en dråbe” By Sissel-Jo Gazan

”Det er de unge som forsvinder” By Lise Ringhof and Erik Valeur

”Tempel” By Anne-Cathrine Ribnitzsky

Previous Pastors

1906 -1908   Christian J. Skovgaard

1908 -1912   **** (see below)

1912 -1914   Benedict Thomsen Nordentoft

1914 -1915   Jens Møller Gregersen

1915 -1919   Frederik Christian Petersen Mailand

1919 -1923   Svend Marckmann (RD)

1923 -1925   Christian J. Skovgaard

1925 -1928   Axel Christensen Kildegaard

1928 -1935   Niels P. Gravengaard

1935 -1939   Carl C. Rasmussen

1939 -1947   Anders Ejnar Farstrup (RD)

1947 -1954   Halvdan Knudsen

1954 -1955   Aage Møller

1955 -1960   Verner Hansen

1961 -1969   Frantz-Oluf Lund (RD)

1970 -1974   Vagn Duus (RD)

1974 -1975   Paul T. Nakamura

1975 -1976   Carl Peter Ørberg

1976 -1977   Paul T. Nakamura

1977 -1986   Carl Peter Ørberg   

1986 -1988   Marie Andreasson (RD)

1988 -1991   Elisabeth Tassing

1991- 1993   Ib Helgestad

1993 -1996   S. Richard Baglien

1996 -1997   Christen Væver

1997 -1999   Poul Joachim Stender

1999 - 2001   Carsten Bøgh Petersen

2002 - 2004   Jesper Hougaard Larsen

2004 - 2006   Anne-Grethe Krogh Nielsen

2006 - 2008 Anne Mette Wind Gundesen

2008 - now Anne-Grethe Krogh Nielsen

 **** From August 1908 until April 1912 the Congregation did not disintegrate because a few were loyal and held fast (Menigheden opløstes ikke, nogle faa var Sagen trofast og holdt ud).

Interim, Visiting, and Substitute Pastors

The pastors from Denmark bring with them fresh impulses essential for the renewal of Danish spirit and culture in the congregation.

When they return home, generally after two years of service—they carry with them valuable experiences and new inspirations.

The church has also been blessed with numerous interim, visiting, and substitute pastors over the years who provided continuity when there was no regularly called pastor. They were: Christian Andersen; Einar Andersen, J.K. Higginbottom, Enok Mortensen, Anton Jensen, M. J. Jensen, J.H. Vammen, Jens Thomsen, Erik Back; Steven Mogensen; Holger Andersen; Alfred Jensen; Morris Petersen; Viggo Hansen; James Lund; Wilfred Booth; Anker Jensen; Karl Knisely; Jens Kr. Jensen; William Wallner; Harold E. Berg; Richard Baglien; Richard Wainwright; David Wenger

We are deeply grateful to the many pastors who have sustained our church community with their time, presence, and spiritual leadership.