Reverend Lorie Burnett (L.B.) Tatum
Interim Pastor, First Lutheran, Carson
Board Member, Churchwide Council, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Reverend L. B. Tatum is presently the Interim Pastor of the First Lutheran Church of Carson. Rev. Tatum returned to the Southwest California Synod having served as the pastor of Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands (2015-2017). Founded in 1666, Frederick Church is the oldest, continuously worshipping Lutheran congregation in the Western Hemisphere.
Born and raised in South Los Angeles, California, he received his baccalaureate from Biola University, La Mirada and later his Master of Divinity from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), Berkeley. His entry into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) began at Ascension Lutheran Church, Los Angeles, where he served as Minister of Youth and Families (2005-2009). He completed his theological education and internship while serving as the Lay Minister at Messiah Lutheran Church, Los Angeles (2010-2015).
Rev. Tatum’s formative ministry journey began in the American Baptist Church, USA, where he volunteered and served in nearly every area of congregational ministry (deacon, financial secretary, usher, choir, Sunday School, youth & children’s ministry, men’s ministry), an indication that he understood very early on the importance of dedicating one’s time and talents to the Lord!
Rev. Tatum’s vocational training includes serving as a faith-rooted, community organizer. He worked in support of local and statewide policy advocacy, civic engagement and social justice for neighborhood transformation and revitalization in the area of public school accountability, parent engagement, consumer education, recidivism reduction and criminal justice system reforms. He has continued this level of passionate work in the ELCA as a member of the ELCA Churchwide Council, (its Board of Directors, serving on the Budget and Finance committee), as the former national president of African Descent Lutheran Association (2011-2015), and as the former Assistant to the Bishop of the Southwest California Synod, for African Descent Ministries, 2013-2015.
LB (as he is fondly referred to) enjoys reading, exercise and traveling to spend quality time with his grown children: Shafari, age 30, Jordan, age 25 and Sydney, age 20.