The Rev. Dr. Grafton Eliason Applause
First Presbyterian Church in California welcomes the Rev. Dr. Grafton Eliason as pastor at the 10 a.m. worship service Sept. 8.
Eliason is looking forward to ministry and hopes to help create an open and welcoming environment for all who are seeking a positive Christian place of worship. The congregation plans to begin a young adult and family ministry.
A professor and coordinator of Clinical Mental Health Counseling in the Department of Counselor Education, Graduate Studies and Research, California University, Eliason has a special interest in pastoral care, counseling, cross-cultural studies, spirituality, existentialism, grief and loss.
He has been co-leader of mission trips that include India, Peru, Belize, Puerto Rico and South Africa.
Eliason is an active member of the National Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Team, volunteers with the Yellow Ribbon Program and works with military returning from active deployment.
He was awarded Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania Hero Educator and became a Paul Harris Fellow for the Rotary Foundation of Westmoreland County.
Eliason and his wife, Trisha, a licensed professional counselor, have four children.