LOUISVILLE — Elder Roger Shoemaker, a member of Southern Heights Church in Lincoln, Neb., has become the fourth candidate to stand for moderator of the upcoming 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Shoemaker, 74, was endorsed Feb. 16 by Homestead Presbytery.

The only elder in the race, he joins Bill Teng of National Capital Presbytery, Bruce Reyes-Chow of San Francisco Presbytery and Carl Mazza of New Castle Presbytery as a candidate for the denomination’s highest elected office.

Born and reared in Illinois, Shoemaker moved with his family to southern California when he was a senior in high school. He is a graduate of Fresno State University with a degree in industrial engineering.

Shoemaker became a Presbyterian in 1960 when he met his wife, Sue. First members of Community Church in Ventura, Calif., the Shoemakers later became founding members of Eastminster Church there. They moved to Lincoln in 1969.

Shoemaker has served at all levels of the PC(USA) and in a variety of capacities. He has been a deacon and an elder, has served as vice-moderator and moderator of Homestead Presbytery, and has served as vice-moderator of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies.

He says a turning point in his church life came in 1989, when he served on a task force at Southern Heights church that formed a partnership with a Lutheran church in Lohmen, East Germany, a partnership that continues to this day. 

Growing out of that partnership came an interest in the Czech Republic. Shoemaker became involved in the General Assembly Council’s Czech Working Group and is currently co-convener of the PC(USA)’s Czech Mission Network. As a result of that work, he has attended several Synods of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren as the PC(USA)’s representative.  

“The experiences of these varied exposures are the small grains of sand that make up the rock upon which Roger Shoemaker stands, his Web site says. “These granules of sand are held together by the faith that has grown within him over the years and continues to grow in order that it may be shared.”