James Schmidt

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Completed a metal patternmaker apprenticeship at Chevrolet Saginaw Grey Iron Foundry while completing my B.A. at Saginaw ValleyCollege (69) and M.A. and Teacher Certification at Central Michigan (72). Upon graduation from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (76) I was assigned to Zion, Morgan,Minnesota,near new New Ulm. While serving Zion I also taught Religion half time at Martin Luther Academy for its final year in New Ulm,and for the first year of operation of Minnesota Valley Lutheran H.S.,its area replacement. I also served on the original MVL Board and as New Ulm Pastoral Conference Secretary for five years. I served in the WELS ministry for 8 years, and in the LCMS for 3 years. I joined the LCMS at the time they had severed fellowship with the ALC when there were no calls in the WELS, and it appeared the LCMS was trying to return to the same scriptural precepts they had shared with the WELS for over 120 years. Since my LCMS congregation was located in Jefferson City, Mo. I was able to engage in pulpit exchange with Herman Otten, editor of Christian News and a notable conservative in the LCMS. I left the LCMS ministry when I couldn't accept the synod's unwillingness to deal with widespread practices that are inconsistent with it's formal doctrine. I was not eligible for a colloquy back into the WELS ministry since I had left the WELS to join the LCMS. I have been an agent for Farmers Insurance Group since 1987, semi-retired in 2013.

Our life is pretty much wrapped up with family, church,and my golf habit. Five of our children live in the Minneapolis area,and three of our daughter Jill's daughters will be at MLC this year. I have served for many years on Church Councils,and on the Board of Directors of Christian Life Ministries for two years. I am the current Treasurer and an elder of our home congregation, Christ Lutheran Church, N.St. Paul, Mn.(WELS) I also teach Sunday adult Bible class. Mary is involved in LWMS, the MLC Auxiliary,Christian Life Ministries, and is the correspondent/contact for Christ Lutheran Church mailings to visitors,shut-ins,etc. The Lord continues to bless our family in countless ways. Of course much has changed since our days at MLS. Yet by God's grace our faith and what the WELS teaches, remain the same.

Every year we return to Saginaw for me to play in a golf tournament with my Dad, George, now 93, who is one of the last surviving Pearl Harbor veterans. Last year Al Fergin joined us for a practice round and had so many birdies that I was forced to lose the scorecard on the last hole in order to avoid being able to document his best round ever.-sorry Al-It won't happen again.

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