Prior to joining the churchwide staff of the ELCA in June 2021, Rev. Vaughn served as a pastor of congregations in Southeast Michigan, Northeastern Ohio and Southwestern Texas Synods, and as Assistant to the Bishop in the New Jersey Synod. She is from Cleveland, Ohio, a proud graduate of Cleveland Public Schools, Cleveland State University (2003, US History) and The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (2008, Master of Divinity, Urban Ministry). In her younger years, she was active in Lutheran Campus Ministry at Cleveland State, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio, and youth ministry in ELCA congregations in Ohio. In her pastoral ministry, she has delighted in preaching, pastoral care, teaching, urban ministry initiatives, and facilitating conversations on congregational call processes, racial justice, discipleship, outreach, hospitality and active bystandership.
In her role as Senior Director of CCLM, Rev. Vaughn leads the team that has primary responsibility for: children’s ministry, youth ministry, the ELCA Youth Gathering, young adult ministry, Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM), Lutheran Campus Ministry Network (LuMin), deaf ministry, disability ministry, Mission Builders and Total Inclusion. This dynamic and diverse team embodies the ELCA’s goal to engage new, young and diverse people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Vaughn is the child of a Baptist preacher, the late Rev. Emory Vaughn and a nurse, Evelyn Vaughn who will celebrate her 100th birthday in May 2023, God willing! Rev. Vaughn is the youngest of 14 children, and has many, many nieces, nephews, godchildren, cousins, etc.
Creator/Facilitator
- “The Rise of the Alt-Right” – Conference of the Council of Anglican Episcopal Churches in Germany, Heidelberg, 2018
- “Active Bystander Training”, 2017 – present
- “Hospitality Habits for Congregations” – 2017-2021
- “History of Defining of Race”, New Jersey Synod WELCA, 2018
- “Nurturing Faith: Holy Week and the Three Days” – New Jersey Synod digital resources, March 2020
