The REv. Nina Bacas

St. Bartholomew’s, Poway

Nominee’s Bio: The Rev. Nina Bacas is in her third year serving as rector of St. Bartholomew’s, Poway. Although she is a third-generation native San Diegan, she was raised up as a priest in the Diocese of Virginia, her husband’s home diocese. A graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, Nina served in four churches in the Metro DC area while she and her husband were raising their four children. It was her very first church call that formed her love for church sustainability: After a large breakaway group split from the church, resulting in on-going litigation, Nina and a core team of clergy and laypeople were tasked with rebuilding the remnant congregation. Through this healing, collaborative experience of renewal, church vitality became her passion. In her leadership role at St. Bart’s, Nina has been committed to nurturing the health of not only her own congregation but also other congregations, diocesan programs, and organizations. She has been personally involved in a broad array of ministries, including military, border, LGBTQ+, and refugee support.

Prior to ordination in the Episcopal Church, Rev. Petersen worked as a church planter, starting missional communities for homeless youth in Portland, Oregon, and New York City. He also brings experience from the education and software industries, where he developed skills in organizational leadership, strategic planning, and innovation.

His ministry is shaped by a passion for accessible, inclusive, and creative expressions of church that meet people where they are and invite them into deeper engagement with God and community.

Nominee’s Statement in Favor of Their Candidacy: It is an honor to put my name forward for Executive Council in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. I have great respect and admiration for the work and people of our diocese, and I hope to serve in all the ways that I can. I bring experiences of promoting growth, vitality and engagement from a variety of church settings including serving on staff for a church in reconstruction after a schism, as an associate rector for a Spanish-language congregation, as well as a school chaplain and religion teacher in Episcopal schools. I hope to broaden my support of our bishop and our entire diocese by serving on Executive Council.