Married couple ministers to two different churches

Two local ministers are married to each other but take care of two congregations of different Protestant denominations.

“We have been lovingly disagreeing ever since we met,” said the Rev. Tim Delkeskamp. Their opinions may differ somewhat, but Chamie, a United Methodist, and Tim, a Lutheran, said they’re happy ministering to diverse Christian congregations.

“We are not bored with each other and love each other,” said Tim.

The couple became acquainted while they were students in a small class, teaching confirmation at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.

They were married on Valentine’s Day in 1988 and both minister to congregations in the Conejo Valley.

Tim Delkeskamp began to hear God’s call to the ministry while he was a student at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks He switched to a religion major, graduated from Luther Seminary, and was ordained in 1988.

After visiting Jerusalem and the Middle East, his first assignment was assistant pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in La Habra. “This job kind of showed me how to become a pastor,” he said.

Having previously served five years at First Lutheran Church in Mission Viejo, Tim has been co-pastor at the Ascension Lutheran Church, 1660 E. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks, for the past two years.

“We are all called to do something. If you are called to be a pastor, you will be happy . . . and it is beautiful,” said Tim, a native Californian and avid sportsman currently training for a Santa Monica triathlon of swimming, biking and running.

His wife said she married a California surfer who happened to be going to seminary while training to be a pastor.

Although the Rev. Chamie Delkeskamp didn’t “grow up in church,” she was introduced to the Christian faith when a young friend invited her to Vacation Bible School.

After graduating in journalism and broadcast writing at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., Chamie decided to enter the ministry while reading the writings of a journalist who was struggling with his faith. She entered Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., and was ordained a United Methodist deacon in 1998.

She served four years at a new church start in Rancho Santa Margarita and later transferred to the United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks at 1000 E. Janss Road.

Chamie said she’s very happy in her work as a minister. “This is very much a blessing. My husband received his appointment to Thousand Oaks before I was transferred, and we are serving only a few miles apart.”

Tim and Chamie share their Thousand Oaks home with sons Jude, 1, and Aidan, 4.

Both participate in the “Emergent Conversation,” a local group of pastors and church leaders who believe that modern churches must learn a new language, rethink theology and practice radical grace with a renewed passion for Christ. Chamie said that, contrary to beliefs held by some, Lutherans and Methodists are the same religion.

The two denominations are cooperating in a Labor Day Youthfest scheduled for Mon., Sept. 5 at United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks. The 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. free event i s sponsored by Westlake Lutheran Church and the United Methodist churches of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Moorpark at Ascension Lutheran Church.

Weekend services consist of a bluegrass/country music theme at 6 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays, traditional services begin at 8 and 9:30 a.m., and a contemporary service starts at 11 a.m.

United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks conducts a blended traditional service at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays and an emergent contemporary service at 11 a.m.

Additional information can be obtained by calling Ascension Lutheran Church of Thousand Oaks at (805) 4950406 or United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks at (805) 495-7215.