PASTORS
Contact: GErdos@trinityenglish.org
Click here to view Pastor Erdos' personal blog
Pastor Erdos grew up in Butler, Pennsylvania, a town forty minutes northwest of Pittsburgh. After attending Grove City College, Grove City, Pennsylvania and graduating with degrees in Economics and Finance and a minor in Philosophy, he attended Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. In his time at Trinity he spent a year at the Boston Theological Consortium and a year on internship at Faith Lutheran Church in Arlington, Virginia. While in seminary, he had the opportunity to work with Walter Bouman on the Concordat of Agreement with the Episcopal Church, one of the documents leading to the full-communion agreement between the ELCA and Episcopal Church.
After graduation, Pastor Erdos served parishes in South Park, Mt Lebanon and Freeport Pennsylvania – all near Pittsburgh and then St Mark Lutheran Church in Yorktown, Virginia. In this time, he participated and taught courses at the College of Preachers of Washington Cathedral and became involved in Ignatian spirituality, leading and participating in retreats related to Jesuit ideas. While at St Mark, Pastor Erdos and the parish of St Mark were involved in Diana Butler Bass’s project studying the revitalization of mainline congregations. The ministry of St Mark was one of the parishes highlighted in Bass’s book, Christianity for the Rest of Us.
Pastor Erdos is married to Luanne Erdos, a marketing and business teacher at Concordia Lutheran High School where she also heads the Honors Academy. Luanne has also taught in New Hampshire, Ohio, Pittsburgh and Virginia where she has headed a number of popular marketing programs for high school students. Their older son Andrew lives in Northern Virginia and younger son Peter is a student at St. Mary's College in Maryland.
After graduation, Pastor Erdos served parishes in South Park, Mt Lebanon and Freeport Pennsylvania – all near Pittsburgh and then St Mark Lutheran Church in Yorktown, Virginia. In this time, he participated and taught courses at the College of Preachers of Washington Cathedral and became involved in Ignatian spirituality, leading and participating in retreats related to Jesuit ideas. While at St Mark, Pastor Erdos and the parish of St Mark were involved in Diana Butler Bass’s project studying the revitalization of mainline congregations. The ministry of St Mark was one of the parishes highlighted in Bass’s book, Christianity for the Rest of Us.
Pastor Erdos is married to Luanne Erdos, a marketing and business teacher at Concordia Lutheran High School where she also heads the Honors Academy. Luanne has also taught in New Hampshire, Ohio, Pittsburgh and Virginia where she has headed a number of popular marketing programs for high school students. Their older son Andrew lives in Northern Virginia and younger son Peter is a student at St. Mary's College in Maryland.
Contact: KHaller@trinityenglish.org
Pastor Haller is native of Detroit, Michigan, but has called a number of other states home: Pennsylvania, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, Texas, Ohio, and, for the last three-plus decades, Indiana. By sheer longevity measure, it would seem that she is an adopted Hoosier.
Her undergraduate degree was awarded in history and political science. She graduated from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary with her master of divinity degree and, later, from Luther Seminary, with a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Leadership and Mission. She came to Trinity English as an associate pastor in December 1984 . . . and never left . . . She finds joy and inspiration in working at Trinity English and within Caring Ministries.
Dr. Matthew Haller, husband, is a dentist in northeast Indiana. Daughter, Lauren, lives in Fort Wayne in an apartment complex administered through Park Center. Daughter, Anna, attends Barnard College in New York City. Son, Jonathan, completes his senior year at Homestead High School in 2015-2016 academic year.
Her undergraduate degree was awarded in history and political science. She graduated from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary with her master of divinity degree and, later, from Luther Seminary, with a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Leadership and Mission. She came to Trinity English as an associate pastor in December 1984 . . . and never left . . . She finds joy and inspiration in working at Trinity English and within Caring Ministries.
Dr. Matthew Haller, husband, is a dentist in northeast Indiana. Daughter, Lauren, lives in Fort Wayne in an apartment complex administered through Park Center. Daughter, Anna, attends Barnard College in New York City. Son, Jonathan, completes his senior year at Homestead High School in 2015-2016 academic year.
STAFF
Contact: RHobby@Trinityenglish.org
Click here to view the music department's blog
Robert A. Hobby is Director of Music at Trinity English Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his responsibilities include playing for many of the worship services, overseeing the graded choral program, and managing the concerts that the church offers. Mr. Hobby received his Bachelor's Degree in Church Music from Wittenberg University in 1985 and a Master's Degree in Organ Performance from the University of Notre Dame in 1987. An honorary Doctor of Music degree was conferred on him by Wittenberg University at its commencement in 2014. As a performer and clinician Mr. Hobby keeps an active schedule throughout the United States. Mr. Hobby is a member of a number of professional music organizations and has held a variety of leadership positions. Robert and his wife, Jennifer, are the proud parents of three daughters: Hannah, Lydia, and Elizabeth.
Contact: RKarcher@Trinityenglish.org
Click here to view Rebecca's Through the Week at Trinity Blog
Rebecca’s career has included two different stints with Fort Wayne City government, as well as public relations work with advertising agencies. She is a Kansas City native who came to our city to work as the executive producer of news at WPTA-TV and ended up making Fort Wayne her home. She and her husband Rich (a local attorney), are very proud of their recent Wittenberg graduate, Justin Fisher. Both Justin and his father, Dave Fisher, are members of Trinity English. Rebecca is developing strategies to engage the congregation with one another and with the community. She is also helping to identify different communication tactics to introduce Trinity English to our neighbors, both familiar and new.
Contact: JAltmeyer@Trinityenglish.org
Click here to view Janet's City Ministry Blog
As the Director of City Ministry Janet works closely with the pastors and staff of Trinity English Lutheran Church, volunteers, and community partners to engage people in meaningful and supportive relationships. Janet oversees Trinity English’s Mental Health Ministry, which is based on Craig Rennebohm’s Companionship model, designed to reduce isolating behavior and build a vibrant community of faith. Janet is an honors graduate of Vanderbilt University and The University of Saint Francis. For over 25 years she consulted and taught students with psychological and other learning challenges. In 2009 Janet joined the staff at Trinity English Lutheran Church. She is an amateur landscape designer, animal lover, reader, and story enthusiast. Along with being a grateful wife, mother, daughter and sister, she is the Founder/ Executive Director of PAWS, Inc. (Pets Assisting Well-Being and Success, Inc.,) an animal-assisted therapy and research organization.
Contact: BEastman@Trinityenglish.org
Brian Eastman is a lifetime resident of the Fort Wayne area and joined the Trinity English Ministry Staff in March of 2015 as Director of Facilities. Brian came to Trinity English from the City of Fort Wayne's Division of Community Development where he worked as a Community Development Project Administrator, Program Manager and Construction Specialist. Brian is a licensed Building Contractor, licensed Insurance Adjuster and a former construction company owner with property maintenance and management experience. Brian and his wife, Melissa, keep busy with their five children and enjoy outdoor activities. Brian is excited with the opportunity to help maintain the historic facilities and be part of the ministry of Trinity English.
Contact: MTedder@Trinityenglish.org
Makayla, a Fort Wayne native, is bringing her skills in layout and design as well as an artistic sensibility and perspective, to the Communications team. Makayla utilizes a range of communication tools, such as graphic design, managing the website, illustrating sermons, putting together the Sunday bulletins and more, so people can stay informed about opportunities and news from Trinity English.
CONTACT: HJohnson@TrinityEnglish.org
Hayley Johnson grew up in Fort Wayne and felt pulled back after living in Indianapolis for a while. She is a comedian, producer, and headband enthusiast, but dedicates most of her time to dressing up her cat, Gilda Catner. Here at Trinity she does whatever she can to make everyone’s life a little easier, working closely alongside Pastor Haller.
CONTACT: LFriend@Trinityenglish.org
Laura is the friendly greeter that you will see when you come into Trinity English. She is also a licensed hairstylist, and on some of her spare time she works at a salon doing hair. Laura is very artistic and enjoys doing crafts, traveling, and spending time with family and friends
CONTACT: JHEiser@Trinityenglish.org
Judy Heiser has joined the staff as a part-time administrative assistant . Judy and her husband Rich are new to Fort Wayne, having spent their married life in northeastern Pennsylvania. Upon her recent retirement from serving as the business manager for the Sisters of Mercy community, Judy and Rich moved closer to their daughter and grandson. Judy oversees the scheduling and production of much of the mailing projects at Trinity English—and there are many of those! Judy is a familiar face and voice to volunteers at Trinity English.