Ascension Lutheran Church is pleased to announce that Pastor Martin Lee has accepted the call to serve as our Intentional Interim Pastor. For those who would like to know more about Pastor Lee, he has provided a brief biography which can be found below.
Biography
I was born into a bi-racial family and named after Martin Luther King Jr., who of course was named after the first Martin of the Reformation. By the age of 7, I had lived in seven foster homes and was then adopted by two incredible Lutheran school teachers. God is good. I attended Lutheran schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
I received a BA degree from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN, and am a doctoral student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. While a student at Concordia Theological Seminary, I also studied at the US Navy Chaplain’s Candidate School and graduated from the officer’s school in Newport, RI. Since graduating from college, I have been a professional church worker in ten different churches (four with schools) over the last twenty-six years. I have served in small, program, large, and corporate sized congregations; in positions varying from youth ministry to senior administrative pastor.
My first call out of seminary was to a “mission” congregation in southern California requesting me to seek outside employment. I was hired by UBS PaineWebber, where I had oversight of a large portfolio of private investments, including many non-profit endowments. I have served in the securities industry providing financial planning advice, developing planned gifts for churches, and developing estate and retirement benefit plans for church workers over the last 20 years. I also serve as the financial and recording secretary on the Intentional Ministry Conference (IMC) Board of Directors.
In 1994, I married Anne R. (Lockwood), who is an estate planning attorney. Together we have been blessed with five children: Kyle (23), Kelsey (20), Justin (18), Rachel (16), and Katie (12). I enjoy spending time with my family, running, landscaping, and reading. I also love spending time with God’s people, and am passionate about working with congregations in times of transition.
