The Good News • June 2009

Welcome The Rev. Dr. Erwin M. Smuda: Our Interim Pastor/Priest

Born and raised in Minnesota, Father Erv, as he prefers to be called, after earning a B.S. and a Master of Arts in Education, served as a teacher, youth advisor, and director of education in several Lutheran congregations in the Chicago land area for ten years. After that, discerning a call into the ordained ministry of the church, he enrolled at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, from which he received a Master of Divinity Degree. He then served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wyoming, Minnesota, for 10 years, senior pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, for five years, and senior pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Canton, Ohio for 16 years. During this time he completed studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago leading to a Doctor of Ministry Degree, majoring in liturgical studies

He has written articles for the Journal of Lutheran Education, Currents in Theology and Mission, professional and devotional materials for Augsburg Fortress Press, and a publication on worship for the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Father Smuda also served as president of the Southwest Ministerial Association of Suburban Cleveland and president of the Canton Association of Churches.

Since his retirement from full time ministry he has served as an interim pastor in Lutheran congregations in Canal Fulton, Newcomerstown, Canton, and North Canton. His most recent interim was at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, in Canton.

He and his wife Jan, a retired high school English teacher, make their home in North Canton, Ohio. They have two children, Pamela, who lives in Gahanna, Ohio, and Jonathan who resides in Canton and two grandchildren, Phillip and Claire, both of Gahanna.

Father Smuda will begin his ministry the second week of June and will preside at the Sunday morning liturgies for the first time on June 14th.

The Letter of Agreement between St. John's and Father Smuda stipulates, "The interim pastor's scheduled work week is 25 hours, which shall include Sunday liturgies. In general, no more than one evening per week is expected. The 25 hours includes sermon and liturgical preparation, visitations, and at least 12 hours in the office for counseling, staff meetings and other activities."

Office hours have not, as yet, been established but will be soon after he begins his ministry at St. John's.