Our Pastors
My first parish was in a town called Fort Ransom, ND. It was named for a cavalry post that was established in 1868, and abandoned in 1873, to protect settlers on the northern version of the trail from St. Paul to the Oregon territory. In the five years the fort was in operation eight wagon trains passed along the trail. A Catholic priest in a neighboring congregation had collected diaries kept by settlers in those groups and I learned something about wagon trains from him. Part of what he shared informs my ministry today as an interim pastor.
The settlers on their way to a new land needed a guide to help them find their way across the plains and through the mountains. They would hire someone who had been over the trail before as their “Wagon Master.” The wagon master traveled with them, helping them find water, safe river crossings, and also to avoid dangers along the way. When they arrived in Oregon the “wagon master” would saddle his horse and ride back to help another group.
A congregation in the time between pastors is on a journey to a new era of ministry. The interim pastor has been over the trail before and can help a congregation reach that goal. When that happens the interim leaves to help another congregation. This will be my nineteenth interim and I look forward to being with you on this journey.
If you wish to contact me my cell phone number is 507-438-1500 and my email is whhagen@yahoo.com.
I will be in the office Monday through Thursday most weeks.
Wayne Hagen, Interim Senior Pastor
Pastor Hagen is a graduate of Luther College (‘66) and Luther Seminary (71). He earned a Master of Theology degree from Luther Seminary in New Testament Studies (‘81) and completed basic training for interim ministry in 1993. Pastor Hagen has completed fifteen interim assignments since 1993 and is a charter member of the National Association of Lutheran Interim Pastors. He became a Registered Church Transition Consultant of the Interim Ministry Network in 1996.
Pastor Hagen lives in LeRoy, Minnesota where he and his wife Nancy, share their home with three cats. Nancy is a graduate of Augsburg College (‘71) and earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Luther College in 1992. Nancy is employed as a social worker for St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin, Minnesota. They have two children, Kristine and Mark. Kris, and her husband Duane Thofson, live in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Mark, and his wife Angela, live in Waukon. They have three grandchildren; Autumn, Emily, and Brianna.
The interim pastor fills the role of the senior pastor and has the additional mission to help Decorah Lutheran prepare for a new senior pastor. This will involve helping to resolve past issues and preparing for the next Call process.
The Rev. Bryan Robertson began his Call as Associate Pastor at Decorah Lutheran at the end of January 2001. He is a graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois and Luther Theological Seminary. He served First Lutheran Church in Rock Island, Illinois prior to accepting the Letter of Call to Decorah Lutheran Church.
Email Pastor Bryan at brobert148@aol.com