Loma Linda University Church of Seventh-day Adventists

Home About Us Staff

Darold Retzer

If you’re looking for a pastor at the University Church, well, there are usually about 15 of them. Darold Retzer is the one you’re most likely to find on site.

In spite of his role as executive pastor, he’s achieved a reputation for his easy smile, his approachable nature, and his how-can-I-help-you stance. In his University Church assignment, he is charged with the myriad tasks of an administrator, overseeing a staff that in turn is revolving wheels within wheels—Sabbath schools, seminars, public relations, elders, deacons, media, campmeeting, choir, orchestra, welfare matters, signage decisions, hospitality, to name a few.

Both experience and temperament qualify Pastor Retzer for his tasks. He knows a pastor’s role. After completing a bachelor of arts degree at La Sierra University and a master’s and master of divinity degree at Andrews University, he served as a pastor for several years in Northern and Central California churches.

Moving into more distinctly administrative roles, he became a departmental director and conference secretary in Central California Conference. Two conference presidencies (Nevada-Utah Conference and Northern California Conference), positions that his father, Helmuth Retzer, had held before him, were under his belt, as well as three study tours to the Middle East, when he joined the University Church staff, April 2001.

In his position as University Church executive pastor, Pastor Retzer has oversight of 14 church boards and committees. This means he is in regular contact with a host of university church members. Chairing the general staff meeting, he dependably upholds practices and policies designed to create a smooth running operation.

Pastor Retzer describes his passion in the ministry by quoting from Christian Service (page 24): “There is no limit to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.” Members find in Pastor Retzer a person who is comfortable putting self aside. He looks at ease when setting up tables and chairs for a hospitality dinner. He slips into his chair in the choir loft to sing along with his wife, Carol Ann, who is a teacher, educational consultant, and textbook author. He has also participated in three Maranatha Volunteers building projects, going to Cuba, Panama, and Honduras.

The Retzer home is often the site of informal groups who find a listening ear—and, on occasion, also get to meet the Retzers’ energetic son Marklyn and daughter Melody Cortese, both teachers, who have presented their parents with five lively grandchildren.

Title: Executive Pastor

Responsibilities at LLUC: Participates with the senior pastor and church business administrator in the administration of the pastoral staff and church ministries. Provides oversight to 14 church boards and committees and chairs the general staff meeting. Coordinates pastoral staff in areas of ongoing ministry concerns, problem solving and evaluation. Does Bible studies, visitation and on-call rotation.

At LLUC since: 2001

Name of Spouse: Carol Ann (Bailey)

Previous Pastoral Experience: Six years of pastoring in the Northern California Conference and seven years in the Central California Conference. Then Central California departmental director and conference secretary. In 1987 was elected president of the Nevada-Utah Conference, following in father’s (Helmuth Retzer’s) footsteps who was president of Nevada-Utah 23 years earlier. After seven years at the Nevada-Utah Conference, Pastor Retzer was invited to return to the Northern California Conference to serve as president, again following in his father’s footsteps. (Helmuth Retzer was president of Northern California from 1972 -1977.) Darold Retzer was president of the Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for seven years.

Education: Attended La Sierra University – completed in 1964. MA in 1965 and MDiv in 1966 from Andrews University.