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Rev. Victoria Hamilton, is co-pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Florida. She co-pastors with her husband William (P-Ham). Vicki was called to St. John’s in January 2000 as a mission developer to the then 128 year old historical congregation, whose membership was declining. The congregation has changed dramatically and has become ethnically diverse. The faith community is proud to be a congregation striving to love and respect one another as Christ does.
Pastor Vicki (PV) has served within the church and community in several areas for many years. Her service includes - member of the taskforce for the formation of the race, ethnicity and culture social statement, planning committee member for the new women’s organization, two term executive board member for Women of the ELCA, and church-wide board member of the African American Lutheran Association (AALA). She has served or serves synodically as small group leader at region 9 Bishop School, Assistant to the Bishop for the African American Strategy, synod’s leadership task force, outreach committee, anti-racism team and candidacy committee. She has also served ecumenically as keynote speaker with Church Women United, the Via De Christa movement, Beat the Odds (a community program helping and encouraging young teen parents to finish school) and has conducted numerous workshops on self-esteem and empowerment.
Pastor’s interests lie in preaching, Bible study, youth, empowering women, reading, learning, singing, sewing, riding with Pham on the motorcycle, baking, and cooking to feed folks. She was selected in 2005 to preach at both the ELCA assistant to the bishop’s conference and the ELCA Church-wide assembly, which are two highlights of her ministry. PV is a breast cancer survivor and is always open to journey with others.
She most identifies with the prophetess Deborah, (Judges 4: 8-9a) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1: 4-8). While she continues to stretch and grow in the WORD, she tends to ‘return’ to Philippians 4:13 – ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ as well as her mother’s favorite Bible verse – ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, leaning not on your own understanding’! (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Pastor and her husband are both 2002 TEEM graduates from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkley, California. She was ordained in April 2002
She and P-Ham have been married for 42 years. Their children are William III and wife, Autumn who live in Atlanta. Daughter, Stephanie, her husband Panashe and 3 granddaughters Sekai (8), Nyasha (7) and Francisca (6) and Godson Charles.
