Church installs new pastor

The Rev. James J. Naumann was installed as pastor of Our Savior’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on May 26. The Naumann family moved to Jamestown from Valentine, Neb. The Rev. James Sandeen of St. Paul’s Lutheran, Lakewood, Colo., officiated at the installation.

Naumann was extended a call to serve in Jamestown after Our Savior’s former pastor, Eric Libby, accepted a call to serve Grace Lutheran in Sleepy Eye, Minn.

Our Savior’s is a charter congregation of the Church of the Lutheran Confession, a synod which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The CLC is a confessional Lutheran church body which is dedicated to proclaiming the good news of Christ. Teachings and practices “are as narrow and broad as the Scriptures themselves, since we bow only to the authority of our Lord’s inerrant Word,” according to its website.

What will the future hold for Our Savior’s and its new pastor?

“Starting in a new place, celebrating the anniversary of our synod, these are times of reflection,” said Naumann. “We are not the kind of church that is constantly changing to try to stay ‘relevant.’ In fact, you could say that Our Savior’s is your grandfather’s church, and the CLC is your grandfather’s synod, when it comes to remaining true to God’s Word.”

The ministry is a family affair for Naumann. His late father, the Rev. Ber-tram Naumann, served in churches of the CLC for four decades. He has three brothers serving congregations in the CLC: Paul, Tacoma, Wash., David, Clarkston, Wash., and Bruce, Eau Claire, Wis.

Naumann is a graduate of Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, with a Bachelor of Arts in pre-theological Studies in 1994, and seminary, receiving a diploma as a Candidate for the Holy Ministry in 1997. He has served CLC congregations in Lamar and Colorado Springs, Colo., Valentine, Neb., and Mission and White River, S.D. He has served in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Washington State National Guard.

Naumann and his wife, Sheila, have three boys ages 10, 8, and 6.

“The people here, the church members have all been great, very friendly to me and my family, and also the people of Jamestown and the people in my neighborhood have made us feel welcome,” he said.

He said everyone is welcome at Sunday services at Our Savior’s. There is a Bible class at 9 a.m. and worship is at 10 a.m. They will hold an evening vacation Bible school July 11-15, and Sunday school will resume in the fall.

For more information, go to the website at www. jamestown lutheran.com or call Naumann at his office, 252-2288.

Tags: life, religion, evangelical, lutheran, pastor, naumann