John W. Ekstedt's vocational life has been a curious mix of religious and secular experiences. John grew up in the United States and served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He attended Sea...ver másJohn W. Ekstedt's vocational life has been a curious mix of religious and secular experiences. John grew up in the United States and served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He attended Seattle Pacific University completing degrees in microbiology and public health, and Concordia College and Seminary acquiring degrees in liberal arts and theology.
John’s early training included positions at several hospitals working in medical microbiology and medical technology, as well as internships in education, mental health and penology.
In 1965, he was called to serve a large mission parish in north central Alberta, Canada. Following this assignment, he helped coordinate projects involving aboriginal people and public school teachers in the province of Manitoba. During this time, he served a church in the city of Brandon, Manitoba.
John and his family moved to British Columbia where he worked with young offenders and assisted with the chaplaincy program at the University of British Columbia. He worked in correctional administration and was eventually appointed deputy minister with the Attorney General. He began teaching at Simon Fraser University where he achieved the rank of full professor and served two terms as associate dean. John has taught at the University of Western Australia and was awarded a fellowship at the University of Edinburgh.
John and his wife Kay currently live in New Westminster, British Columbia. They have four children and five grandchildren. They have worked as volunteers with the Canadian Executive Service Organization including an assignment in the Philippines. Their most recent volunteer commitment was to serve in the pastorate at one of the churches in the mission parish to which they were originally called when they first came to Canada.ver menos