By David Fleet
Editor
The Rev. Joel Walther is the new pastor at the Goodrich United Methodist Church. He replaces interim pastor Rev. Steven Buck who had served since January.
“I’m look forward to being a part of this community,” said Walther. “I’m all about upholding traditions, but not afraid to do things a little different. I also will bring a sense of humor here.”
Walther attended Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC starting in 2008. He graduated with his Master of Divinity in 2011. While at Wesley he met Megan, whom he married in 2011. Megan is also a pastor. They both served in rural Southeast Michigan churches for six years.
Megan is the new associate pastor at the Clarkston United Methodist Church. The couple live in Clarkston.
“As a clergy couple we love church,” he said. “But we don’t always get to worship together. Megan is a Canton (Mich.) native so we really prayed about whether to move to Michigan or Minnesota. The new appointments are ideal for us—Megan prefers a larger church and a smaller more rural (church) is for me. We have no children, yet.”
A LeSueur Minn. native and the son of a United Methodist minister after high school Walther studied acting at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York earning a certificate in studio acting.
“I’m a little unconventional, but hope to bring a calm presence here,” he said.
Walther originally felt that call to ministry when he was at a Christian summer camp at the age of 12, but wanted to pursue acting first. Following 9/11, he became a part-time youth director at a United Methodist Church and also worked as a teller at a bank. After four years of working as a youth director, he went back to school at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul where he earned his BA before attending the seminary.