By JACK PALMER

palmer@crescent-news.com

HAMLER -- There's a new face in the pulpit at Hope Lutheran Church near Hamler.

He's Rev. J. Lindsay Shaner, who has served as pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Williston (east of Toledo) for the past 17 years.

"This is a wonderful congregation and I'm happy to be here," said Shaner. "In a very short time the people have made me feel very welcome."

The church, located on Ohio 18 west of Hamler, has been without a regular pastor since the departure of Rev. Steve Knape in early 2006. Rev. Roger Marlow has faithfully served as interim pastor since that time.

"For a rural church, it's a moderately large parish," noted Shaner. "We have about 400 members and an average weekly worship attendance of around 225."

Shaner will be installed as pastor during a special service Sunday at 9 a.m. ELCA Northwestern Ohio Synod assistants to the bishop Marc Miller and Dennis Maurer will participate in the installation on behalf of Bishop Marcus Lohrmann and the synod.

The service will include communion and a baptism. Following the service, there will be a continental breakfast in the church fellowship hall.

Shaner, whose father was an Air Force chaplain, lived in several different places in the U.S. and abroad during his childhood. He completed his high school education at Sylvania High School.

"One of my early career aspirations was becoming a professional baseball player," he said with a laugh. "It didn't take me long to realize that I was not professional caliber."

Shaner received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Wittenberg University and master's degree in theology at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.

"I come from a family of Lutheran pastors," he stated. "Besides my father, my older brother, two uncles and two cousins became pastors."

He was ordained in 1978 and served Grace Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minn. from 1978-80. His next stop was Duluth, Minn., where he pastored French River Lutheran Church from 1980-90. He moved back to Ohio after being called to the Williston church in 1990.

His wife, Mary, has a music degree and is a registered music therapist. She presently works in design and sales at a furniture store in Genoa.

"Right now I am commuting from the Toledo area until such time as the church parsonage is ready," said Shaner.

The couple have four children: Jon, a civil engineer in Valparaiso, Ind.; Mark, an architectural designer in Toledo; Kathleen, a recent Ohio State University graduate living in Columbus; and Karl, a University of Toledo sophomore.

Shaner, who was active in Lutheran-Catholic dialogue groups in Toledo, hopes to meet other Hamler area clergy members and possibly become involved in planning community outreach events.

"This seems to be a hotbed of Lutheranism and church-going people of other denominations, but the fact is that there are still many unchurched residents," he stated. "My sense is that the community has been very parochial over the years, which is true about many small towns. I think there is a real opportunity for spiritual growth among the people here."

His first task, however, is to get to know his own congregation.

"Most of my energy in the first several months will be spent meeting the people here and adapting to their way of doing things," he said. "Trust doesn't come overnight. I want to build their trust through establishing a strong relationship with them."

Hope Lutheran Church begins its fall worship schedule with a Rally Day celebration on Sept. 16. Sunday School is held at 9 a.m., followed by worship at 10:15 a.m.

The congregation will unite with St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Hamler for a joint Sunday worship service on Sept. 9.

For more information about the Hope Lutheran, call the church office at 419-274-2611.