Senior Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Ray is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. He received his Bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his Master of Divinity degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Pastor Ray has also completed additional studies at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina.

Pastor Ray, a second-career pastor, was a business executive in the beverage industry. He is married and the father of two sons. Active in the community, Pastor Ray is past-president of the Cary MacGregor Rotary Club, a past president of the Cary Area Ministerial Association, and served as chair of the Re-building Task Force at Faith Lutheran School. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Agape + Kure Beach Ministries, and also is a member of the Investments Committee of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

He has served at Christ the King since mid-1995.

Pastor Ray's sermons (new window).

Office Phone: (919) 467-8989 ext 23
Email Address: kenneth.ray@christthekingcary.org

Associate Pastor

The Pastor David H. Brooks is a native of Georgia. He graduated from Duke University in 1990. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Church History from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. After working with St. Martin's Press in New York City and in Richmond, Virginia, he returned to LTS to earn the Master of Divinity degree in 1998. He was ordained as a pastor in the ELCA on July 12, 1998.

Pastor Brooks has served as a pastor in Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina. He and his wife have been married six years. Pastor Brooks' areas of interest and special gifts include discipleship, faith formation, and leadership development through preaching and teaching. He has served as a mission re-developer and parish pastor. His experience in leadership development and successful small group ministry are essential skills for a larger church environment. He has a passion for continuing education and has explored areas as diverse as evangelizing the un- and under-churched young adults, treasuring our traditional Lutheran heritage, and developing faith and discipleship among members.

Pastor Brooks' post-pulpit blog (new window).

Office Phone: (919) 467-8989 ext 27
Email Address: david.brooks@christthekingcary.org

Director of Spirituality and Health

The Rev. Thomas E. Nelson is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas. Pastor Nelson received a Bachelors degree in chemistry from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelors degree in computer science from North Carolina State University. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Prior to coming to Christ the King, he served as Campus Pastor at North Carolina State University and has recently served as Interim Pastor of Circle of Grace in Apex, North Carolina. Pastor Nelson, who is on the faculty in the College of Engineering at NCSU, is married and enjoys reading, the Internet, travel, the mountains, and games.

Office Phone: 467-8989 ext 40
Email Address: thomas.nelson@christthekingcary.org

Pastor Emeritus

The Rev. John Nagle is a native of Pennsylvania. Pastor Nagle received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg (PA) College, his Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (PA), and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, NJ.

He is married to Elaine (Lanie) Ann Hartzell Nagle and the father of two grown children. Pastor Nagle has served on numerous church and community boards of directors. He is the author of a variety of published devotional materials and five books of his sermons. He served as Pastor of Christ the King from mid-1969 until his retirement on March 31, 2005.

Pastor Nagle's sermons (new window).

Email Address: jrnagle@nc.rr.com