Brian Eklund is Pastor Emeritus of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, a bi-lingual multi-cultural congregation in South Central Los Angeles.  After graduating from Muhlenberg College in 1966 with a B.A. and the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago in 1970 with a Master of Divinity, he worked for 7 years as Coordinator of a short term acute care mental hospital in San Diego. 

His 32-year ministry at St. Mark’s began in 1977, and brought people of many backgrounds (African American, Belizean, African, Latino, Anglo), ages, and economic levels into one community.  During those years he was involved with and helped found various organizations including Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, New City Parish, the NCP Urban Training Center, the Figueroa Coalition for Economic Justice and CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice). 

Following his ministry at St. Mark’s he served for 10 years as Coordinator of the New City Parish Urban Training Center, offering a variety of urban experiences as well as Spanish language training to clergy and laity from across the country.  He and his wife, Ruth, a retired LAUSD school teacher, along with two of their three children (and grandchildren), continue to reside in Los Angeles.