Leadership

Meet Our Pastor

Pastor Misipouena Tagaloa

The Reverend Dr. Misi Pouena Tagaloa has over twenty-eight years of experience in education and parish ministry, in a variety of settings and roles.  As the Senior Minister at Second Samoan Congregational Church, he sets the vision and strategic direction for the institution and provides leadership for volunteers and staff, extending an extravagant welcome to the Pacific Islander diasporic community in Southern California.

Dr. Misi Pouena Tagaloa is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Practical Theology from the Claremont School of Theology, and a Master’s in Theological Studies from the same.  His dissertation “Tafesilafa’i: Towards a Samoan Epistemology in the Diaspora” codified perception from a grounded perspective for the Samoan community.  A bi-vocational minister, he served as the President & CEO of Decro Gamma, an affordable housing developer, having served on its Board of Directors for over a decade.  He worked as a Lead Civic Engagement Advocate for Molina Healthcare learning from the founders the intricacies of the Healthcare Industry. He explored a political career which afforded him a front row seat in the justice system arena and a profound appreciation of a just legal system.

Susuga Misi Pouena worked extensively with Samoan youth ministries for adolescents and has led workshops focusing on second generation youth in the Samoan community. He taught courses on Christian education at the Claremont School of Theology and has worked with the University of Los Angeles – College of Divinity, extending the college experience to young African American athletes.  As co-founder of the Tafesilafa’i Festivals, he developed leadership training programs for lay leaders, and youth. He has a weekly podcast “Ia Outou Manuia” and is a visiting guest on KPPO 90.5 Mapusaga, American Samoa, a leading source of Christian talk and Bible teaching, where he speaks about theology and the role of diasporic Samoan youth in the community. He is married to Mareta Paepae Faiai and they have three adult children.

Contact: misipouena.tagaloa@secondsamoa.com