Revd. Joseph E. Summerville III, Pastor

Click here to email Pastor Joe or call the church office.

Pastor Joe is a native of La Marque, Texas, who graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.

While at LTSS, he met Donna Huffman, a graduate of LTSS and now an ELCA deacon.

After their marriage at the seminary chapel in 1993, Joe and Donna served an internship year at First Lutheran Church in Galveston, Texas.

Pastor Joe was ordained in 1995, and has served parishes in Virginia and Texas, as well as a brief term as a teacher in a Roman Catholic parochial school in Houston.

Pastor Joe’s specific areas of interest are in the Lutheran confessions, liturgical history, and sacramental theology.

Pastor Joe and Deacon Donna have one son, Brendan and welcomed daughter-in-law, Emily, in October 2020.

They have hosted eleven students in their home through an exchange program for the past fifteen years. Although some of the "kids" are in Europe, they are still part of the Summerville family. (need photo)

To add to the fun are Simon, Maggie, and Jack, the cats, and Sophie, a miniature schnauzer-golden retriever mix puppy.

Pastor Joe is an avid reader who likes mystery novels with a religious theme, as well as historically based novels. He is an accomplished cook and loves learning about food and its place in religion and culture.

Pastor Joe also is fluent in French and speaks conversational and liturgical Spanish. His next goal is to learn to speak German.