... the Author

I am a pastor in the ELCA, on the roster of the Northeastern Ohio Synod and called to serve at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kent, Ohio.

I am also a trainer with Church Innovations and would enjoy working with you to discover the various way the Six Missional Practices could renew and reinvigorate your congregation.

... the Site

I'm sharing here a project that I started in 2014. Using the "Index of Biblical References" in the Kolb/Wengert version of the Book of Concord, I'll be presenting the places where the texts for the Revised Common Lectionary appear and how these occurrences might be used in preaching. Look for the posts on Tuesday.

Older posts on this is a site for reflections and ponderings as I make my way through life trying to think theologically. This is a bigger task than it may seem, and it demands feedback. If you're reading this site, please reply. Questions, comments, concerns, sonnets, quatrains, free verse, limericks, what have you. Thinking theologically is about thinking God first, so thinking must happen. I think better when I have others to think with me. Please, help me think. Given this, know also that most of these posts will be exercises in me writing to think. I am more than willing, therefore, to be swayed in my opinion, challenged in my logic, or corrected in my facts. My goal is clearer thinking about what God is up to in the world, and being able to have those thoughts earlier rather than later, as an afterthought.

 

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Pastoral Experience

Preaching and Worship Leadership Examples

  • Trinity’s YouTube chanel provides a plethora of worship leadership and preaching examples both in person and remotely. Below is the sermon from the 10:45 service on January 29, 2023.

  • Below is an mp3 of a sermon from a supply preaching opportunity preached on August 14, 2016, at Redeemer Lutheran Church. What did't make it to the recording was the reverse race that was the children's time, which was part of the sermon, but doesn't work really well in audio. Ask me about it.

  • Below is an mp3 of a sermon from a supply preaching opportunity preached on June 5, 2016, at Redeemer Lutheran Church. It was Christian education Sunday and I played off of the connections between the 1 Kings 17:17-24 story and the Luke 7:11-17 readings. Oh, and a reference Into the Woods.

  • Below is an mp3 of a sermon from a supply preaching opportunity preached on October 12, 2014, at Redeemer Lutheran Church. The primary text was the gospel reading: Matthew 22:1-14.

  • Below is an mp3 of a daily chapel service from January 27, 2012, at Luther Seminary for the minor festival of Lydia, Dorcas and Phoebe. The worship assistant was Rebecca Sullivan. Music was provided by Luther Brass under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Paul Westermeyer.

 

Teaching Experience

  • February 5 and 12, 2020 - Bowling Green State University Firelands Campus Elder College class, presenting “Complexities of Faith: The Crusades,” a high level introduction to the Crusades. (See Presentations for more.)

  • December 5, 2017 - Northwestern Ohio Synod Dean's meeting, presenting "Becoming a Minority: The Reported Collapse of Modern American Christendom and Your Congregation" at the synod office. (See Presentations for more.)

  • November 4, 2017 - LIFT Team meeting, presenting "Becoming a Minority: The Reported Collapse of Modern American Christendom and Your Congregation" at Grace Lutheran Church in Fremont, Ohio. (See Presentations for more.)

  • September 26, 2017 - Eastern Conference meeting of the Northwestern Ohio Synod, presenting "Becoming a Minority: The Reported Collapse of Modern American Christendom and Your Congregation" at Grace Lutheran Church in Castalia, Ohio. (See Presentations for more.)

  • October 30, 2016 - Adult forum about the Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogues, focusing on "Declaration on the Way" and talking about the Lund Reformation 499th anniversary service at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Illinois.

  • October 2016 - Facilitator with Dr. Cristina Traina for "From Conflict to Communion: Paving the Way for Ongoing Dialogue Between Catholics & Lutherans" at St. Nicholas Church in Evanston, Illinois, as part of Evanston Reformation 500 and Beyond

  • Fall 2013 - Teaching assistant for Lutheran Confessional Writings taught by Mary Jane Haemig and Patrick R. Keifert; teaching assistant for Philosophical Topics: Phenomenology taught by Patrick R. Keifert

  • Spring 2013 - Teaching assistant for Truth and Meaning (Online) taught by James L. Boyce and Patrick R. Keifert 

  • Fall 2012 - Teaching assistant for Lutheran Confessional Writings taught by Mary Jane Haemig and Patrick R. Keifert; teaching assistant for Theological Hermeneutics taught by Patrick R. Keifert 

  • Spring 2012 - Teaching assistant for Lutheran Confessional Writings (Online) taught by Mary Jane Haemig and Gary M. Simpson; teaching assistant for Truth and Meaning (Online) taught by James L. Boyce and Patrick R. Keifert 

  • Fall 2011 - Teaching assistant for Lutheran Confessional Writings taught by  Mary Jane Haemig and Patrick R. Keifert; teaching assistant for Lutheran Confessional Writings (Online) taught by Dirk G. Lange and Amy E. Marga; teaching assistant for God, Evil, and Suffering taught by Alan G. Padgett and Kathryn M. Schifferdecker  

  • Spring 2011 - Teaching assistant for Holy Spirit, the Church, and the Triune God taught by Alan G. Padgett; teaching assistant for Truth and Meaning taught by James L. Boyce and Alan G. Padgett 

Other Experience

  • 2023 thru Current - Northeastern Ohio Synod Constitution Committee Member

  • 2019 Northwestern Ohio Synod Assembly Parliamentarian

  • February 2018 thru May 2018 - Member of the Northwestern Ohio Synod Flexible Assembly Task Force

  • October 2014 thru February 2017 - Member of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod Candidacy Committee

  • Summer 2012 thru Spring 2014 - Luther Seminary Grounds Crew

  • Summer 2012 - Data analysis consultant for the Luther Seminary Program Revision

  • July 2007 thru June 2010 - Member of the Central States Synod Congregational Constitution Review Committee

  • July 2005 thru June 2006 - Chair of the Central States Synod Nominating Committee

Publications

Scholarships, Awards, and Recognitions

  • 2014 Doctoral Scholarships from Luther Seminary and Donors

  • 2013 Doctoral Scholarships from Luther Seminary and Donors

  • 2012 Doctoral Scholarships from Luther Seminary and Donors

  • 2011 Doctoral Scholarships from Luther Seminary and Donors

  • 2011 Goethe-Intstitue Language Course Stipend

  • 2010 Doctoral Scholarships from Luther Seminary and Donors

  • 2004 Central States Synod Award for Growth in Average Weekly Attendance