Brian Charles “Char” Brodersen is an American pastor who serves as the Lead Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in Orange County, California — a position he officially took on January 12, 2025.
He is the son of Pastor Brian Brodersen and the grandson of Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement.
Before returning to Costa Mesa, Char spent over a decade planting and leading Refuge Christian Fellowship in Northern California.
He holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Leadership from Western Seminary and is married to his wife, Grace. Together they have three children.
Char Brodersen At a Glance
| Full Name | Brian Charles Brodersen |
|---|---|
| Known As | Char Brodersen |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Grace Brodersen (m. 2007) |
| Children | Judah, Hudson, and Evelyn |
| Father | Pastor Brian Brodersen |
| Grandfather | Pastor Chuck Smith (founder, Calvary Chapel) |
| Education | MA in Biblical Leadership, Western Seminary |
| Church | Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, Orange County, California |
| Role | Lead Pastor (since January 12, 2025) |
| Denomination | Non-denominational / Calvary Chapel |
| Previous Church | Refuge Christian Fellowship, Santa Rosa, California (14 years) |
| Joined CCCM Staff | January 2021 |
Who Is Char Brodersen? The Third Generation of a Legendary Ministry
Char Brodersen did not choose an easy assignment. When you are the grandson of Chuck Smith — the man who helped spark a movement that grew to over a thousand churches worldwide — and the son of Brian Brodersen, who carried that movement for over a decade, the weight of legacy is real. And Char has never pretended otherwise.
What makes his story compelling is not the name. It is the path. Before stepping into one of the most prominent pulpits in American Christianity, Char Brodersen spent fourteen years planting and pastoring a small church in Northern California.
He did not fast-track. He went north. He served quietly. Then, when the call came, he was ready.
Early Life and Family Background
Char Brodersen was born into a family already deeply woven into the fabric of American evangelical Christianity.
His grandfather, Pastor Chuck Smith, founded the Calvary Chapel movement in 1965 with a congregation of just 25 people in Costa Mesa.
Under Chuck’s leadership, Calvary Chapel became a central force in the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s — baptizing thousands of hippies in the Pacific Ocean and planting churches across the country and eventually the world.
Char’s father, Brian Brodersen, married into the Smith family and served alongside Chuck before eventually succeeding him as Lead Pastor following Chuck’s death in October 2013.
Brian led Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa for over a decade before transitioning into the role of Pastor Emeritus.
Education
Char Brodersen holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Leadership from Western Seminary — a credential he earned while already in active pastoral ministry.
That kind of decision — pursuing academic formation while serving a local congregation — says something about how he approaches the work.
He is not a credentials-first pastor. He is a practitioner who also cares about theological depth.
Refuge Christian Fellowship — 14 Years in Northern California
Before returning to Southern California, Char Brodersen spent fourteen years as the Lead Pastor of Refuge Christian Fellowship in Santa Rosa, Northern California.
This was not a high-profile megachurch assignment. It was faithful, ground-level pastoral work in a smaller community — the kind of ministry that either grows a pastor or breaks them.
Char pastored Refuge from its early years until January 2021, when he transitioned back to Southern California to join the leadership team at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Those fourteen years were not a detour. They were preparation.
Return to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (2021–2025)
In January 2021, Char Brodersen joined the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa staff as Associate Pastor — stepping into a structured four-year leadership transition process that the church and his father had been planning carefully.
He served in this role under his father’s oversight, learning the rhythms of the church, building relationships with the congregation, and gradually taking on greater responsibility.
The transition was designed to be unhurried and organic — a model that reflects Calvary Chapel’s value of long-term pastoral faithfulness over rapid platform building.
Installed as Lead Pastor — January 12, 2025
On January 12, 2025, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa’s board officially commissioned Char Brodersen as the church’s new Lead Pastor.
Brian Brodersen moved into the role of Pastor Emeritus, marking the completion of the four-year transition.
In his remarks at the installation, Char expressed gratitude for his wife, children, parents, friends, the church staff, and the congregation — and made a simple promise: “I expect God to be with us all the way.”
The moment carried the weight of three generations. Chuck Smith planted it in 1965. Brian Brodersen shepherded it through Chuck’s death and a turbulent decade for the Calvary Chapel network.
Now Char carries the baton — not as a celebrity pastor building a brand, but as a son of the house who knows the history and loves the people.
What Kind of Pastor Is Char Brodersen?
People who know Char Brodersen describe him as passionate about lifelong learning — a phrase that appears in multiple public profiles of him.
He brings the same values he built at Refuge: local church faithfulness, verse-by-verse Bible teaching (a hallmark of the Calvary Chapel tradition), and a genuine care for the people he pastors.
His theological instincts sit firmly within the Calvary Chapel tradition — expository preaching, a high view of Scripture, and a non-denominational evangelical identity.
He also reflects the influence of his father Brian, who was known for theological depth and a broader evangelical engagement than some earlier Calvary Chapel figures.
Char Brodersen’s Family
Char Brodersen married his wife, Grace, in 2007. They have been married for over seventeen years and have three children together: Judah, Hudson, and Evelyn.
The family was based in Northern California during the Refuge years and relocated to Southern California ahead of Char’s formal return to CCCM.
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa — The Church Char Now Leads
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa is one of the most historically significant churches in American Christianity.
Founded by Chuck Smith in 1965 with 25 members, it became the spiritual home of the Jesus Movement and a launching pad for a global network of churches.
By the early 2000s, the Costa Mesa congregation had grown into one of the largest churches in the United States.
Today it sits near the boundaries of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana in Orange County, California.
Its stated focus under Char Brodersen’s leadership is “formation” — a term the church defines as the process of being shaped by Scripture and the Holy Spirit to be like Jesus, love God supremely, and love neighbors as oneself.
Interesting Facts About Char Brodersen
- His nickname “Char” is short for his full name, Brian Charles Brodersen — sharing his first name with his father made a nickname necessary.
- Char is the third consecutive generation to lead Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa: Chuck Smith (founder, 1965–2013), Brian Brodersen (2013–2025), and now Char (2025–present).
- He spent fourteen years leading a small church in Santa Rosa before returning to one of America’s most well-known megachurches.
- Char completed his Masters degree while already serving as a pastor — doing graduate theological study in the field, not before entering it.
- His grandfather Chuck Smith’s founding of Calvary Chapel is depicted in the 2023 film Jesus Revolution, with Chuck being played by Kelsey Grammer.
- The CCCM leadership transition under Char was described as a four-year process — a deliberate, unhurried handoff between father and son.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1965 | Grandfather Chuck Smith founds Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa with 25 members |
| 2007 | Char marries Grace |
| 2007–2021 | Serves as Lead Pastor of Refuge Christian Fellowship, Santa Rosa, California |
| 2013 | Chuck Smith dies; Brian Brodersen (Char’s father) becomes Lead Pastor of CCCM |
| January 2021 | Char joins CCCM leadership team as Associate Pastor; four-year transition begins |
| 2024 | Completes MA in Biblical Leadership from Western Seminary |
| January 12, 2025 | Installed as Lead Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa; Brian Brodersen becomes Pastor Emeritus |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the lead pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa?
As of January 12, 2025, Char Brodersen is the Lead Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. He succeeded his father, Brian Brodersen, who now serves as Pastor Emeritus.
Who took over Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa?
When Chuck Smith died in 2013, Brian Brodersen (his son-in-law) took over as Lead Pastor. In January 2025, Brian transitioned into Pastor Emeritus, passing the role to his son, Char Brodersen.
Is Char Brodersen related to Brian Brodersen?
Yes. Char Brodersen is Brian Brodersen’s son and the grandson of Calvary Chapel founder Chuck Smith. The keyword “Brian Brodersen son-in-law” sometimes creates confusion — that phrase refers to Brian himself (who was Chuck Smith’s son-in-law), not to Char.
How old is Char Brodersen?
Char Brodersen’s exact birth year has not been publicly disclosed. Based on available information — including his 2007 marriage and his over fourteen years of pastoral ministry — he is estimated to be in his mid to late 40s as of 2025. No official birth date appears in public records.
Who is Char Brodersen’s wife?
Char Brodersen’s wife is Grace Brodersen. They married in 2007 and have three children: Judah, Hudson, and Evelyn.
What denomination is Calvary Chapel?
Calvary Chapel is non-denominational, though it has its own distinct identity and global network of affiliated churches. It is broadly evangelical and charismatic in orientation, with a strong emphasis on verse-by-verse expository preaching.
Is “Pastor Cal” the same as Char Brodersen?
No. “Pastor Cal” is a different person — a common nickname for the lead pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is a separate ministry with no direct connection to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa or the Brodersen family.
