Faces
Father & son care for those in need O
f all his travels, one plane ride stands out for Robert Duea. The ELCA pastor, who has spent decades with Lutheran Social Services, went to South Korea for an
international adoption mission, along with a colleague and his son David, who was attending Pacific Lutheran Univer- sity in Tacoma, Wash. Robert and his working partner became ill, leaving
David to care for three babies on the plane while studying for school. “It was the longest 24 hours of my life,” David said. It also was one of the moments that helped David follow
his dad’s path into caring for those in need. Decades later, father and son currently hold the titles of
CEO and president of LSS of the Southwest and Lutheran Community Services of the Northwest, respectively— though the position is an interim for Robert, who has been retired for a decade. The Dueas have also been able to work together on
national campaigns and conferences, including workshops for the Alliance for Children and Families. While David followed his dad, Robert’s passion came
from courses he took with LSS during his years at seminary. “I began to feel like I was called to a life serving people who were more vulnerable and less fortunate than us,” said Rob- ert, who served three years as a pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Chevy Chase, Md. “I had thought I would get my Ph.D. and teach, but the concept of service became so important to me that I went toward that.” Robert landed at Lutheran Family Services of Oregon, a
forerunner to the organization David now heads. Later he moved to LSS of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, where he was president and CEO. David grew up around his dad’s service work. He planned
to become a pastor but, like his dad, took social work classes and found that to be his calling. “There was never pressure to do it,” David said. “It sort of winded up just being that way.” David admits that holding a similar position as his dad
100 + birthdays
David Duea (left) is joined by his father, Robert, at his commissioning service as CEO and president of Lutheran Community Services of the Northwest. With Robert’s interim position at Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, this may be the first time a father and son have held simultane- ous positions in Lutheran social ministry.
is “bizarre,” and that he even has a staff member Robert had hired. Their roles may be the same but their leadership style dif-
fers. “I’m more over-prepared,” Robert said. “I put out a body of information. David is more spontaneous, and I find it fasci- nating how he can get people involved in a conversation about the issues. I feel like we complement each other.” David added, “It’s almost surreal that we’re peers.” The family service business may not end with David, who
has a son in college and a daughter in high school. “My daughter is already looking at studying social jus-
tice in college,” David said. “She’s already volunteering on the national level. I wasn’t doing near as much as she is at that age. She’s going to blow me away.”
Author bio: Favre is an assistant professor at Pierce College in Los Angeles and a freelance theater critic.
108: Margot Glavis, Reformation, Washington, D.C. 107: Til- lie Aichele, Grace, Driscoll, N.D.; Gladys Johnson, Grace, Elroy,
Wis.; 104: Lena Michael, Bethlehem, Encinitas, Calif. 100: John Akkala, Messiah, Marquette, Mich.; Hazel Carl, Trinity, Pottsville,
Pa.; Mayme Jindra, St. John, Montgomery, Minn.; Eunice Wright, Peace, Alexandria, Va.
Send stories Share your stories of ELCA Lutherans and your 100+ members in “Faces.” Send to
lutheran@thelutheran.org or “Faces,” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Hig gins Rd., Chi- cago, IL 60631.
January 2015 43
By Jeff Favre
JOSEPH SANDERS
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