The Rev. Dr. Paul D. Opsahl

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Pastor Opsahl's ministry as Senior Pastor of Community Lutheran Church began on the First Sunday of Advent, November, 1988, and concluded April 23 2006, the First Sunday after Easter, with his retirement. Pastor Paul was baptized at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell, Iowa, in 1934. During elementary school years, the family moved several times due to his father's World War II service as US Army Chaplain. Paul was confirmed in Halstad Lutheran Church, Halstad, Minnesota. His undergraduate work (B.A.) was completed at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, with majors in English and Music. He was trumpet soloist with the Concordia Symphonic Band, and earned his way through college by teaching trumpet at the Concordia Conservatory of Music. Seminary training was at Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, and included an internship year as Vicar at Grace Lutheran Church, Washington, DC. Upon grad uation in 1960 (MDiv), he received a scholarship from the German government for study at the University of Heidelberg, Germany - a Dankstipendium that was a thanks to the American people for post-World War II Marshall Plan help.

After earning the Doctorate of theology degree, he returned to the States and in 1964 was ordained into the Holy Ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Minnesota, by his father, the late Rev. Carl Opsahl. His mother, Olina Onstad, died in early 2006 at the age of 100.  His sister, Mary Hellerud, has been organist for 55 years at the church where he was confirmed.

Pastor Opsahl's first Call was to Lakota Lutheran Church, Lakota, North Dakota. In 1967, he resigned to join the staff of the newly-formed Lutheran Council in the USA, New York City, where he served as Executive Director of Division of Theological Studies and Director of the Office of Theology and Worship of the USA National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation. He carried responsibilities for national level dialogues between Lutherans and representatives from Catholic, Episcopalian, Reformed, Methodist, and other churches, as well as conversations with representa-tives from Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism. In 1979, he returned to the parish ministry and until 1988 was Senior Pastor at Memorial Drive Lutheran Church, Houston.

In 1957, Pastor Opsahl married Geri (Ness), also a graduate of Concordia College and a public school music teacher in Minneapolis and Washington, DC. In 1992, after graduating from the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg, she was ordained at Community Luther-an Church by Bishop. E. Harold Jansen in the first worship service held in the congregation's new facility. Pastor Geri served at King of Kings Lutheran Church, Fairfax, Virginia, until retirement in 2001.

The Pastors Opsahl have three children and five grandchildren: Kathryn (and Roger) Balettie and their children Melanie and Andrew, Round Rock, Texas; Stephen (and Patti) Opsahl and their children Matthew and Nicholas, Bainbridge, Georgia; LeAnn (and Timothy) Lemke and their daughter Kiersten, Ashburn, Virginia. Following retirement they will continue to reside at their Sterling home.

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