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Meet the Pastors

George Detweiler, Lead Pastor
Pastor Detweiler was born and raised near Philadelphia, in Bucks County, Penn. His first job was working on his uncle ’s diary farm there. After high school, he attended Thiel College (B.A.), Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (M. Div.), and Princeton Theological Seminary (D. Min.) He served pastorates in New York City, Connecticut, Baltimore, Norristown, Penn. and York, Penn., before coming to Appleton in 2006. The year he turned 50, he ran the New York and Boston marathons. He and his wife, Debra, have four adult children. Among his favorite Bible verses are the following from Philippians 3:13-14: "Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it on my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Michael Dismer, Pastor
Pastor Dismer hails from Iowa and was educated at St. Olaf College and Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament. For more than 20 years he has served congregations in Idaho and Nebraska. He has served as pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in American Falls, ID, since 1999. He has been active in outdoor ministry for many years and serves on the ELCA National Outdoor Ministry Board. He also has served as the director of an adult retreat center in England. While there, he worked with the exiled bishop of Damaraland, Namibia, to care for Namibian exiles. This has given Pastor Dismer a strong sense of biblical justice and the call for all Christians to work for peace and justice throughout the world. The many gifts which Pastor Dismer brings to ministry include faithful preaching and worship leadership, evangelism, youth ministry, pastoral ministry and music. He has a strong sense that local congregations have much to share with those who do not yet participate in church life. Pastor Dismer also values the importance of connecting with congregation members through visits to homes, work places, hospitals and nursing homes. He often has sung in the adult choir in congregations that he’s served, and also plays trumpet, French horn and hand bells. He lives an active, healthy lifestyle that includes walking, biking, swimming, hunting and training dogs for hunting. He and his wife, Karen, live in Neenah. They have two adult children who live in the Washington, D.C. area: a daughter, Berit, who along with her husband has three children; and a son, Matthew.

Dave Lyle, Associate Pastor
Pastor Dave Lyle, a native of Appleton, Wis., was baptized into Christ at First English Lutheran Church, Appleton. It also was at First English that he was ordained into Word and Sacrament ministry and installed as a pastor on Dec. 14, 2003. He and Erika Estenson were married at First English on Sept. 2, 2006. Pastor Dave received degrees from The College of William and Mary and Luther Seminary. Through a fellowship grant from Luther, he studied preaching at the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. His call to parish ministry was greatly enhanced by four summers as a counselor with Crossways Lutheran Camps in Waupaca, Wis.
“My confirmation verse, Psalm 40, is still central to my understanding of ministry and the Christian life: ‘He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.’"

Bob Herder, Visitation Pastor
Pastor Robert Herder was born in Drake, North Dakota. He lives with his wife, Mildred, in Appleton. The couple has two children: Pastor Steven Herder of Whittier, Calif.; and Ann Voermans of Vernon Hills, Ill. Pastor Herder received a Bachelor of Arts from Wartburg College in 1951 and a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary. He completed an internship at Grace Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Wis. in 1954. Pastor Herder also served at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Belgrade, Minn. and First English Lutheran Church, Oshkosh, Wis. He served as Executive Assistant to the bishop from 1972 to 1984 and became bishop of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin in 1988, where he served until 1994 – and named Bishop Emeritus. He also was Development Associate at Wartburg Theological Seminary from 1999 to 2004. In 1999, Pastor Herder became the First English Lutheran Church Visitation Pastor and continues to serve in that role. One of his favorite Bible verses comes from Romans 1:16: "I am not ashamed of the gospel; for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith ..."