Throughout our 31 years of marriage and 34 years in ministry, Anne and I have come to realize that it is the loving, faithful, kind, gentle, hopeful, and devoted believers in each congregation who have truly ministered to us. They embraced our five children and surrounded us with God’s grace and forgiveness. As we reflect on the numerous churches and institutions listed below, where we have been blessed to serve by God’s grace, we are reminded of Paul’s words to the Romans: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15)

THIRTY-FOUR YEARS IN VOCATIONAL MINISTRY (1992 – CURRENT)

1. Palisades Lutheran Church, Pacific Palisades, California (Executive Pastor, February 1, 2021 – current)
2. Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lawrence, Kansas (Intentional Interim Pastor, January 2020 – January 2021)
3. Ascension Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Intentional Interim Pastor, December 2018 – December 2019)
4. St. John’s Lutheran Church, St. Johns, Michigan (Intentional Interim Pastor, June 2017 – November 2018)
5. St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School, Westland, Michigan (Intentional Interim Pastor, January 2016 – March 2017)
6. St. Paul Lutheran Church & School, Glen Burnie, Maryland (Intentional Interim Pastor, June 2014 – November 2015)
7. St. Mark Lutheran Church & School, Kentwood, Michigan (Intentional Interim Pastor, August 2012 – February 2014)
8. St. Mark Lutheran Church & School, Battle Creek, Michigan (Intentional Interim Pastor, November 2010 – August 2012)
9. Grace Lutheran Church, Leslie, Michigan (Sole Pastor, November 2007 – October 2010)
10. Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Head Men’s Soccer Coach, 2007)
11. Trinity Lutheran Church, San Bernardino, California (Sole Pastor, December 2000 – December 2006)
12. UBS PaineWebber/RIA, Riverside, California (Investment Adviser, September 1999-current)
13. George S. May International, San Jose, California (Management Consultant, 1998)
14. Widowed, Divorced and Orphaned Counseling Center, San Dimas, California (Counselor, 1998)
15. Trinity Lutheran Church, Montclair, California [Sole Pastor (First Call and Ordination), August 24, 1997 – September 2000]
16. U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island (Active Duty, Chaplain Candidate, June-July 1997)
17. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ft. Wayne, Indiana (Chaplain, 1996-1997)
18. U.S. Great Lakes Naval Training Center (Active Duty, Chaplain Candidate, August 1996)
19. First Lutheran Church, Placerville, California (Vicarage, August 1995 – July 1996)
20. U.S. Naval Training Center & Marine Corp Recruiting Depot, San Diego, California (Active Duty, Chaplain Candidate, June-July 1995)
21. Clear Lake Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, Indiana (Summer Vicar, 1993, 1994; Winter Vicar, 1994)
22. Zion Lutheran Church and School, Decatur, Indiana (Field Worker, 1992-1993)
23. Red Lake, Ontario, Canada – Lutheran Association of Missionary Pilots (LAMP) (Missionary, 1992)
24. Malawi, Africa – St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School, Holt, Michigan (Missionary, 1992)
25. Beijing, China – St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School, Holt, Michigan (Missionary, 1988)
26. Manila, Philippines – St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School, Holt, Michigan (Missionary, 1988)

Team retreats play a vital role in rejuvenating church and school leaders, enabling them to fully embrace the abundant grace of God! We envision lively, gospel-centered churches and schools that are spiritually equipped, relationally connected, and financially thriving, supported by dynamic ministry teams.

• Pastor, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), (August 24, 1997, to current).
• Investment Committee Member, Palisades American Legion Post 283, Pacific Palisades, CA (2025 to current).
• Faculty, Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association (LuTMA), (Spring of 2017 to current).
• Director of Development & Advancement, Black Clergy Caucus of the Lutheran Church, (Fall 2023 to January 2026).
• Investment Adviser, (CRD# 4024387), (December 4, 1999, to current).
• Chair & Board Member, LCMS Transitional Interim Ministry, (2014 to 2019)
• Chaplain Inactive Reserves, United States Navy Chaplain Corp, (February 27, 1995, to 2001).
• Doctor of Ministry, Missional Leadership & Congregational Stewardship, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO., (2021).
• Master of Divinity, Practical Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN., (1997).
• Bachelor of Arts, Communications/Classical Languages, Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI., (1992).

The Bible teaches that a family is truly blessed to have children, and we wholeheartedly agree. Our eldest, Kyle, is now thirty and happily married to Reychelle (the elder). Kelsey is in her final year of medical school in Sydney, Australia. Justin is gearing up for engineering school at Michigan State University. Rachel (the younger) is a certified emergency medical technician, and Katie has just graduated from high school!

I cherish spending quality time with my family and church community while pursuing my passions for research and writing on missional leadership and congregational stewardship. I also enjoy distance running, including participating in the Boston Marathon (BQ, 3:13:44.8 at age 50; Average Pace: 7:24), and managing a 12-acre hobby farm in Michigan.

Pastor Lee’s Articles, Lessons and Book Reviews

1. “The Social Economics of LCMS Stewardship Practice: Aligning God’s Supply with Ministry and Missional Goals“
2. “Behavioral Covenants in Congregations”
3. “The Eight Concepts of Bowen Theory”
4. “Church Be Nimble”
5. “Polarization and the Healthier Church”
6. “Transition Teams”
7. “Congregational Learning”
8. “Inviting Community”
9. “Leading Across Cultures”
10. “The Mission of God”
11. “Transforming Mission”
12. “Transforming Worldviews”
13. “Treasures in Clay Jars”
14. “World Religions in America”
15. “Welcoming the Strangers”
16. “African Friends and Money Matters”
17. “Citizen Brown: Race, Democracy, Inequality in St. Louis”
18. “Free At Last: The Gospel in the African American Experience”
19. “Dear White Christian: What Every White Christian Needs to Know About How Black Christians
    See, Think, & Experience Racism in America”
20. “Ministering in Honor-Shame Cultures”
21. “Misreading Scriptures with Western Eyes”
22. “Missional Map”
23. “Missions Dilemma: Is there a Better Way to do Missions”
24. “The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb”
25. “White Fragility: Why is it so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism?”