Ordained and installed as pastor of Zion's Lutheran Church in Trinidad, Colorado, on Aug. 10, 2025, the Rev. Lisa Rygiel has served Zion's for more than three years as a lay leader and then vicar before becoming its pastorl
Born and reared in Tennessee, Pastor Rygiel has lived in many different places including Oklahoma, Texas, New York, Louisiana, and now Trinidad. She spent most of her working life as a Certified Safety Professional and recently retired to dedicate herself to full-time ministry. Pastor Lisa has served as a lay leader in the ELCA since 2015, before beginning her studies to become a Lutheran pastor.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Hygiene and Safety from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Keller School of Management.
Explaining that the Holy Spirit put in motion for her a series of improbable events that brought her to the new pastor describing those events, Pastor Lisa talked about her early life being raised in church by godly parents and about meeting her husband John and their move from Texas to New York. There they joined an ELCA church in South Glens Falls. Pastor Lisa spoke about the welcoming nature of that congregation and the support of Pastor Joyce Fiore, who became her spiritual mentor, encouraging Lisa to explore God’s calling in her life. She also described how the support she received from her predecessor Pastor Andrea Doeden helped encourage her to accept God’s call.
In 2021, Pastor Lisa received a Certificate of Biblical Studies from Liberty University. Then on Oct. 30, 2022, Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Jim Gonia (now retired) installed her as the vicar for Zion’s. A vicar is a formally installed (but not yet ordained) minister who serves a congregation with the consent of the synod while continuing seminary education and training. Pastor Lisa began her formal call of service as vicar in January 2023. In the meantime, she began seminary studies through the TEEM program at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) of California Lutheran University, a program she completed earlier this year.
On Feb. 7, the Rocky Mountain Synod Candidacy Committee approved Lisa for call as an ordained ELCA pastor. This is a significant accomplishment and demonstrates that she met all the requirements for First Call pastors as set forth by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the seminary. And, on Sunday, Aug. 10, Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelagouni ordained Lisa Rygiel as pastor.
Pastor Lisa admits, “Yes, I can look back and see how God, through the Holy Spirit, was acting and orchestrating God’s plan for me. Thanks be to God!”
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