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- Pastor – Our Savior’s, Menomonie, Wisconsin (79-89). Instead of saying “farewell” on my final Sunday, we celebrated my 10 th anniversary of ordination. During my last three years the Sunday School grew by 100 students,
- Pastor – Faith, Oxford, OH and Lutheran Campus Pastor at Miami University. (89-02). Tripled budget and building space. Congregational membership grew by 60%. Thirteen Miami University students or Faith members have gone on to full-time church work!
- M.B.A. in Church Management (1992) – The Graduate Theological Foundation
- Five years on Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio Executive Board – including two years as Chair. Knowledge of Ohio Pastors and Churches and LOMO led me to test my development skills in 2002.
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| How many years have you been a development professional? |
| I’m now in my third year as Development Director. I felt I had transferable skills in stewardship from my parish pastor experience. |
| What led you to being a development professional? |
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A desire to test my skills in development – as age 50 loomed! I’ve had an interest in development work for a much longer period of time. |
| How does your faith guide you in your work? |
| I feel that there is a huge hole in personal spirituality when there is much God-talk and religiosity without a corresponding desire to make a difference financially. |
| What has been the biggest challenge for you as a development professional? |
| I enjoy every personal visit with donors but there sure are a lot of people afraid of letting a development director in their front door! Pastors are also hesitant about pulpit and council time, even when I can offer them a Sunday off from sermon preparation! |
| What excites you about your position? |
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Despite my note above, I have visited in more than 160 congregations in my 2 and one half years. The parish pastor in me enjoys the Sunday proclamation time. The development director in me appreciates the meeting and greeting people and building relationships. |
| What is a favorite book you have read recently and why? |
| Loving Jesus by Dr. Mark A. Powell. Powell is a grateful Lutheran – his faith tradition and spiritual formation as a Lutheran have worked for him. It’s not about “knowing Jesus” or “trusting in Jesus” but “loving Jesus.” (The book is just out.) |
| What three things do you like to do besides working? |
| For exercise and recreation, I am an avid tennis player and a car collector. For family time, my wife and our two college age children enjoy our Lake Cumberland, Kentucky getaway (retirement house?) Travel is still enjoyable, even after driving 35,000 miles or so annually in my work! |
| What is the most essential quality of a good development professional? |
| Development is all about relationships and I treasure the relationships established with many people in congregations throughout Ohio. |
| Who has been a mentor for you and why? |
| My mentors have been saints of God in both congregations that I have served. St. Harold, in my first parish, lived the Christian life in every way imaginable. It seemed odd to confirmation students that I, as a Pastor ,would tell them that I could only hope to be the kind of Christian that St. Harold was. St. Dorothy was the resident saint in my second parish. True to Luther’s example, she arises each morning at 5:00 to pray for an hour. She began to pray for me, daily, from the time I interviewed with the congregation to this very day. |
| What advice would you give to someone considering this profession? |
| Don’t expect too much the first year or two, building relationships takes time! I would also note that “making the ask” is not for the timid! |
| How many years have you been a member of ALDE? |
| This is my third year as an ALDE member. |
| Describe an ALDE experience that has been particularly noteworthy, fun, uplifting, educational, etc. |
| I attended my first ALDE Conference in Philadelphia, on scholarship, as a parish pastor. I felt welcomed and included there! |