Leadership at Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Team Ministry is a group of disciples, bound together under Christ, committed to and working toward a shared vision.
Pastor Abigail Zang Hoffman
co-Pastor
Pastor Abigail Zang Hoffman became a co-Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church at the end of June 2017 after serving as Senior Pastor here since September 2010. She previously served as Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Elmira, New York.
Born in Buffalo, she grew up mostly in New Orleans and Houston, where she graduated from high school. Her bachelor’s degree is from Cornell University where she was an active member of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ithaca. She earned a Master of Divinity and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago.
Pastor Hoffman lives with her husband, Kevin, and four children in Fairport. As a family, they enjoy going for walks, riding bikes, swimming, cooking and reading. She fondly remembers a time when she enjoyed sleeping through the night.
The Rev. Amy Walter-Peterson
co-Pastor
I am the co-pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, a position I’ve shared with my colleague, the Rev. Abigail Hoffman since June 2017. Congregation-based ministry provides me the opportunity to deepen relationships and work with people who are seeking to grow and live out their faith within the context of community. Together, we listen deeply to God’s call for our lives and seek ways to faithfully embrace that call.
Prior to coming to Bethlehem, I served for six years as the Coordinator for Area Ministry Strategies and Coaching Ministry for my denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Since my ordination in 2003, I’ve held a variety of positions in local congregations as well as on synod staff, all within the Upstate New York Synod.
Outside of work you can find me at The Birdsong Bistro, the name I’ve given to my back porch, overlooking wetland and woods. There I enjoy my morning coffee or evening dinner with my partner, Hans, often with binoculars in hand to get a closer view of the birds and wildlife that share the space with us. Our chirping often centers around the next meal we’ll make or the next trip we’d like to plan!
Raelynn Clare
Music Director & Organist
Raelynn Clare is excited to join the team of Bethlehem Lutheran Church as Music Director and Organist. She brings with her from sunny southern California extensive experience as a church organist and choir director; performing as soloist and collaborative pianist in chamber music concerts; and teaching in elementary and junior high schools. She was a staunch volunteer for the renowned Ojai Music Festival in the town of Ojai, where she also taught piano and raised three children. Her B.A. in Music is from Whittier College. She is also passionate about youth education and has a M.A. in Education from Azusa Pacific University. In the summer of 2017, she found herself following the music and driving across the country to attend the Eastman School of Music to pursue a M.M. in Organ Performance and Literature. She considers herself a world citizen and has lived in both Asia and America and traveled to several countries in Europe. When her mind is not preoccupied with music, she also enjoys walking, hiking, gardening, and listening to podcasts.
Chrisanne Gates
Director, Chancel Choir
Chrisanne Gates is thrilled to be a part of the BLC team as the new Chancel Choir Director. She holds a Master of Music in organ performance from the University of Michigan, and a Certificate in Harpsichord and Early Music from Florida State University. Her love of choral music began in high school when her choir teacher took a group of students to Madison, WI to see a choral music conference, and she was hooked. She is the founder and director of the Lyric Chorale, an auditioned community chorus in Rochester now in its 21st season. After retiring from her full-time position serving as Director of Music Ministry at St. Rita Catholic Church in Webster, she found that she missed having a church choir under her direction. The opportunity to serve in her chosen church is very exciting.
Chrisanne also enjoys golf, football, baseball, and hanging out with her four children – which happen to be canines.
Support Staff
Sarah Morrissette
Communications and Administrative Support
As the communications manager and admin support, I work to ensure the congregation and greater area community know what is happening at BLC. This includes writing the weekly STAR email newsletter, sharing updates through our social media, managing our website, answering email or phone inquiries, and more.
Prior to my current role, in what seems like a different life, I worked as a clinical trials project manager. More recently, I was a full time stay-at-home mother and enjoyed helping with various volunteer tasks in the BLC community. I was very happy to transition to a remote staff position at BLC while still caring for my two kiddos at home.
Outside of work, I enjoy cooking and baking, vegetable gardening, platform tennis, pickleball, and all things music including singing with the BLC Chancel Choir.
Patty Chaffee
Faith Formation Coordinator
Patty Chaffee is currently serving Bethlehem as the Family Faith Formation Coordinator. While serving in this position is a new development, Patty is no stranger to BLC. She served as Youth Minister from 2004 – 2017, working mostly with middle and high school aged youth. In 2005, Patty received her certification in Youth Ministry from the youth ministry school at Gettysburg Seminary. At Bethlehem Patty has also given children’s sermons, taught Sunday School and led Worship for Kids. She also proudly serves as a board member for Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center on Chautauqua Lake.
Patty is a recently retired Fairport Central School teacher who taught for 30 years at Dudley School in grades K-2nd. During that time, she worked for 12 years as Dudley’s lead teacher, focusing on curriculum and instruction and professional development.
Outside of work, Patty enjoys scrapbooking, cooking and dabbling in gardening. With her husband David, she enjoys attending concerts on both the local music scene and the national level. Patty has two amazing adult children and two terrific high schoolers and is the loving owner of a sweet black lab named Lacey. If not in Fairport, you can find Patty and her family at their cottage in Barcelona, NY.
Volunteer and Ministry Support Coordinator
Currently Vacant
