Pastor Search
Interim Pastor Update
Introducing the Revs. Ruth and David Sandberg
The Interim Pastor Search Committee is pleased to share the follow biography on our newly selected Co Interim Pastors. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to represent you in this search process. Aloha,
Donna Fouts, Jim Drorbaugh
Suzanne Jambeau, Linn Garcia
Tom Van der Hout
Ruth Sandberg is an ordained UCC minister and Long Island native who earned a B.S. in Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, an M.A. in music from the University of Illinois, and her Master of Divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion. Along with her many Interim Ministries, Ruth is a well-known composer and church musician in the UCC. Five of her compositions have been included in the UCC’s most recent songbook, “Sing, Prayer, and Praise.”
Dave was the founding pastor of Shepherd of the Hills UCC in Laguna Niguel, CA and spent 21 years there. He has also served churches in Ohio and Massachusetts and as an Interim Associate Conference Minister in the Northern California Conference UCC. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Dave received his BA from Northwestern University and M.Div. from the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology. Pacific School of Religion honored his ministry in 1989 by appointing him Parish Minister in Residence.
Together and separately the Sandbergs have served 14 previous interim positions, including several well known congregations in Northern California and three here in Hawaii (Po’okela on Maui, Koloa Union on Kauai, and the Church of the Crossroads in Honolulu). They both received basic and advanced training from the national Interim Ministry Network and have been long time members and leaders of the Northern California Conference Interim Ministers’ Guild. They have served the wider Church in many program areas, both regionally and nationally.
The Sandbergs’ daughter, Vicki Ayala, lives in El Segundo, CA with her husband, Fernando. Their son Paul and his wife Hillary are living and studying in Austin, TX.
For fun, Ruth and Dave travel; go to concerts, plays, and movies; relish their time on Oahu and getaways to the outer islands; and look forward to visits from their children in the coming months. Ruth loves to spend time with her photography and semi-professional choral singing. Dave is an avid tournament bridge player. They expect to be at Windward UCC for 12-15 months - or until the calling of a new Pastor – whichever comes first!
