Mark Donald
Pastor
Pastor Mark Donald is a native of San Diego, CA, and has lived in Minnesota, Washington and Montana. He holds a BA (History/English) from Gustavus Adolphus College, a Masters (Education) from the University of Minnesota, and a Masters of Divinity from Luther Seminary. His wife, Julie, is a school principal, and they have two sons (Alec--Environmental Consultant for Merjent in Mpls., and Micah--Mechanical Engineer for Boeing in Seattle).
Mark taught high school Social Studies and English and served Cross & Crown/Renton WA as Youth Director before going to Luther Seminary. After getting his MDiv he served Bethlehem/Fergus Falls MN and First English/Billings MT (Mission Reveloper) before being called as Executive Director of Christikon Lutheran Bible Camp in south-central Montana near Yellowstone Park. After 12 years in that role he was called as Pastor of Calvary/Solana Beach.
Cole Doolittle
Director of Faith Formation
Cole Doolittle is a lifelong Lutheran and San Diegan who answered the call to serve as Calvary’s Director of Faith Formation. His love for community, learning, and service are values shaped through experiences such as volunteering as a camp counselor for children impacted by cancer and actively participating in Lutheran life since childhood. Cole earned His Bachelor of Science in Physiological Sciences at UCLA.
At Calvary, Cole oversees all Children, Youth, and Family faith education programs. He teaches KidZone during the education hour, leads our Youth Group, and coordinates our monthly Family Faith Gatherings to build meaningful, cross generational connections. Cole is on campus Monday-Thursday from 9am–4pm and is always glad to meet with families or connect with anyone interested in volunteering in this important ministry.
Tanya Buchanan
Office Administrator | Contact Tanya at: clcadmin@calvarylutheranchurch.org
Tanya and her husband Greg have lived in San Diego since 1997. They married in 2000 and are the proud parents of two grown children, Gregory and Sydney. After spending many years as a dedicated stay-at-home mom, Tanya returned to the workforce and has spent the past several years serving in a variety of roles. Most recently, she worked at another local church, where she enjoyed supporting the church community and building meaningful relationships.
Now that their children are grown, Tanya and Greg enjoy spending time with their dog, Ollie, hiking local trails, visiting dog parks, and gathering with friends and family.
Amanda Backsen
Worship Support
Originally from Fargo, ND *cue Scandinavian accent*, Amanda received two B.S. degrees, one in Criminal Justice and the other in Political Science with a minor in History, from North Dakota State University, Go BiZon (not biSon)! Amanda started working for Calvary June 2014. In her free time, Amanda loves to bake, work out, tend to her vegetable garden, and hang out with her four girls, yellow lab, and of course her husband.
Ministry Teams
Each team is responsible for supporting the mission and vision of Calvary Lutheran Church.
Our goal is to welcome newcomers, build relationships founded in Christian fellowship, and care for member needs.