Senior Pastor Vernon L. Schindler

Zion Lutheran is blessed to have a very experienced Senior Pastor.   Here are some facts about his life and service to the Lord:

Vernon L. Schindler was born January 20, 1941 in Aurora Illinois.   He began school at Bethanly Lutheran School.   After graduating from Wheaton High School, he began his studies for the ministry at Concordia Junior College in Milwaukee, Wisconsion.  He completed college at Concordia Senior College in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.   He went on to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, where he graduated in 1967.

He married Belva Walz from Freeman, South Dakota on August 5, 1967.   Belva is a Lutheran Teacher, and 1962 graduate of Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska.  Pastor and Belva have one son Jonathon who lives in Tucson, Arizona with his wife
Alma and their daughter Veronica.

His first call was an evangelistic missionary to Ghana.  He and Belva arrived in Ghana in November of 1967.  He served in Ghana from 1967 through 1978.  During that time he served four congregations and opened a number of "preaching stations".   He was responsible for the training of national pastors.  He also served on the missionary council and as an officer of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana.   He translated and compiled a Lutheran hymnal in the Fanti language.

Pastor Schindler's first call in South Dakota was to Zion Lutheran in Chamberlain. Pastor, Belva and their son Jonathan moved there in 1979.   His next call was to Christ Lutheran in Sioux Falls, where he served from 1984 - 1989.  In 1989 he was called to Bethlehem Lutheran in Rapid City.    It was while serving at Bethlehem that he was elected District President.   He held this office from 1998 - 2006. 

Pastor Schindler is an avid reader and particularly enjoys learning about genealogy and ethnic heritage.   He also enjoys jogging, gardening, and stamp collecting.

During his ministry, he has served in numerous capacities at the District and Synod level as well as auxiliaries and other service.  Several of these are listed below.

District Service:

• Forward in Remembrance, Sub-District Directors                 1979 - 1981
• Parish Education Task Force                                                1981 - 1984
• Circuit Counselor                                                                 1982 - 1984
• Secretary, South Dakota District Board of Directors             1989 - 1994
• Structure Committee                                                            1997
• Nominating Committee                                                         1997
• Floor Committee                                                                  1997
• First Vice President, SD District                                           1997 - 1998
• Chairman, District Pastoral Conference(twice)
• Delegate, Synodical Convention (three times)
• District President                                                                  1998 - 2006

Synodical Service:

• Standing Committee, Health & Healing                                  1984 - 1989
• Chairman, Synodical Convention Floor Committee 4              2001
• Member, Synodical Convention Floor Committee 1                2004
• Secretary, Council of Presidents                                             2000 - 2006
• Doctrinal Reviewer                                                                 2001 - Present        

Auxiliaries & Other Service:

• Pastoral Advisor, Zone LWML and LLL
• Speaker LWML and LLL Rallies and Workshops
• Pastoral Advisor, SD District LWML                                        1985 - 1990
• Pastoral Advisor, IL LWML                                                     1993 - 1997
• Member, Board of Directors, Lutheran Bible Translators            1987 - 1996