Staff

Staff can be reached by calling the church at (440) 845-2060, or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rev. Douglas S. Gunkelman, Senior Pastor

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Education

Centre College of Kentucky - BA Political Science, 1981
Trinity Lutheran Seminary - M. Divinity, 1985

Previous Pastorates

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Ypsilanti, Michigan - Internship 1983-84
Valle/Willow Creek Lutheran Parish, Rolette, North Dakota - 1985-88
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fargo, North Dakota - 1988-94
St. John Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Nebraska - 1994-2003
Divinity Lutheran Church, Parma Heights, OH - 2003-Present

Family Information

Married to Danette, who was born in New Guinea to missionary parents; her father was an ELCA pastor. Daughter, Rachel, is married to Andy with sons Colton and Cason and resides in Columbus. Son, Nathan, lives in Columbus; Son, Micah, resides in Strongsville.

Lori Schifano, Visitation Minister

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Paula McCormick, Parish Administrator

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Rachel McDonnell, Minister of Youth

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Tricia Crane, Minister of Music

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Tricia grew up at Divinity, and feels very blessed to be serving in her home congregation. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Cleveland State University in 2004. She also is certified in the Kodaly Music Pedagogy, which is a unique approach to teaching music, earned from a three-year program at Brigham Young University. Previously, Tricia has served at St. Mark Lutheran Church and School in Brunswick, where she was the Director of Parish Music as well as the music teacher at the school. She has also served in other congregations, including Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Westlake as the children’s choir director and adult vocal choir director, and Rocky River United Methodist Church as the children’s choir director. She was a director of the Primary Music Makers and Performing Choir at the Beck Center for the Arts for several years as well. Tricia lives in Lakewood, with her husband, Ian, and her two children, Phoebe and Alex.