REV.  RACHAEL PRYOR (she/her)

CONFERENCE MINISTER

Mentored into ministry from childhood at Sylvania United Church of Christ in Northwest Ohio, Rachael’s call and vision are rooted in extravagant welcome, faithful generosity, and a commitment to advocacy and justice.  She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Rachael lived and worked in eastern Austria as an English teaching assistant through the Fulbright program for two years between college and seminary.

Before coming to the SCNC, Rachael served as Associate Conference Minister with the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference and as part of the Tri-Conference staff team in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. She also spent 7 years working with Kansas Interfaith Action: first as a volunteer, and later in a staff role as Director of Engagement and Development.  Rachael has served local congregations of the UCC and the ELCA in interim, transitional, and settled calls.  She also has experience in campus ministry, in children and teen ministries, and with new church starts.  She is a former participant with the UCC’s Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI).

Rachael currently serves on the Board of Directors with the Cornerstone Fund of the United Church of Christ, and she is completing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Pacific School of Religion. Rachael and her four young children live in Ventura, where she is a member of the Church of the Foothills UCC.  She enjoys cooking for friends, reading, cold weather, and traveling to new places. 

Email: pryor@scncucc.org
Office: (626) 798-8082
Mobile: (620) 504-2888

REV. DR. PHIWA LANGENI (they/he)

ASSOCIATE CONFERENCE MINISTER FOR EQUIPPING LEADERS

Originally from South Africa, Phiwa [pronounced PEE-wah] is passionate about helping people understand that different doesn’t have to be dangerous. Their work invites those aligned with the mainstream to reframe fear as something to interrogate, not inherit.

Their ministry spans a wide range of contexts, from rural multi-charge churches to a thriving progressive congregation, from a large suburban church to a new church start/nonprofit hybrid. In every setting, Phiwa brings warmth, insight, and a passion for equipping leaders to thrive in their unique calls.

Before ministry, Phiwa was (and still is!) a tech nerd. Today, that love of technology fuels their curiosity about algorithmic integrity, digital equity, and leveraging tools in service to the mission: faithful, just, and communal. Their approach is grounded in practical theology, innovation, and a deep reverence for the sacredness of human connection.

Phiwa is the solo parent of an adult daughter who challenges them in brilliance and beauty. In their free time, Phiwa enjoys reading, upcycling, 90s R&B, dad jokes, and creating all manner of things. Like vibranium in fictional Wakanda, creativity is inextricably woven into Phiwa’s existence, strength, and wisdom.

Email: langeni@scncucc.org

REV. CHAD TANAKA PACK (he/they)

ASSOCIATE CONFERENCE MINISTER FOR BUILDING THE FUTURE

Chad helps empower church leaders at the intersection of spirituality and materiality. His work includes stewardship, financial sustainability, and legacy planning for the Conference and local churches. He is grateful for the opportunity to help the church more honestly see its present, so that it can more boldly plan its future.

Before discovering church, Chad earned a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He worked on Wall Street, where he was a vice president at Goldman Sachs. He has been licensed as a certified public accountant in New York. In New York City, he was Minister for Stewardship and Finance at Middle Collegiate Church. He earned an M.Div. at Yale Divinity School.

Before this position, Chad was bi-vocational for over ten years. Most recently, they served part-time as Assistant Minister at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles and full-time as Controller at Inner City Law Center in the Skid Row neighborhood.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Chad is fourth-generation Japanese and Korean American. They have served on boards of directors of several faith-based organizations striving for racial justice and LGBTQ+ equality. Chad loves sewing, birds, and Paris.

Email: tanaka@scncucc.org

VIRGINIA ARROYO (she/her)

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Virginia has been with the Conference for over 37 years. Virginia’s portfolio also includes Search and Call administrative duties. She is the primary presence in our physical office, making Virginia one of the most recognizable faces in our Conference. 

Email: arroyo@scncucc.org
Office: (626) 798-8082

MICHELLE “SHELLY” MENDEZ (she/her)

ACCOUNT CLERK

Shelly has been with the Conference since 2023. Shelly manages Conference bookkeeping functions and interfaces with internal and external partners. 

Email: mendez@scncucc.org
Office: (626) 798-8082