Our History

By the grace of God, a Lutheran congregation has been at this location in the heart of Fort Wayne for more than 125 years. What started out as Concordia Lutheran Church became Shepherd of the City in 1970. God has faithfully distributed His blessings of Word and Sacrament ministry to His people at Shepherd of the City ever since.

Our pastors

• 1970-71  |  Rev. Frederick Rusch
• 1971-1976  |  Rev. Donald E. Rauhut
• 1977  |  Rev. Fred Boelter
• 1977-1978  |  Rev. Robert Collins
• 1979-82  |  Rev. James Martin
• 1983-84  |  Rev. Robert Collins
• 1985-87  |  Rev. Dennis Marshall
• 1987-90  |  Rev. Werner Wadewitz
• 1990-2000  |  Rev. Don Kleinschmidt
• 2000-01  |  Rev. Tom Eggold
• 2000-01  |  Rev. Greg Manning
• 2001-06  |  Rev. Wayne E. Rutz
• 2006-08  |  Rev. Harold Senkbeil
• 2008-23  |  Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Pulse
• 2023-Present  |  Rev. Chad Schopp

For years, Shepherd of the City has partnered with Concordia Theological Seminary to provide the opportunity for future shepherds in God's church to learn as both field workers and as vicars.

Our vicars

• 1977-1978  |  Dave Jaskierney
• 1983-84  |  Ed Watson
• 1984-85  |  Richard Stokes
• 1988-89  |  Bertram Lewis
• 2002-03  |  Tim Tolar
• 2007-08  |  Kenneth Kelly
• 2008-09  |  Emil Woerner
• 2009-10  |  Mark Hesse
• 2010-11  |  Tony Booker
• 2011-12  |  Chad Schopp
• 2012-13  |  Curtis Stephens
• 2013-14  |  Aaron West
• 2014-15  |  Jesse Gullion
• 2015-16  |  Gabriel Martin
• 2016-17  |  Amadeus Gandy
• 2017-18  |  Theodore Hoham
• 2018-19  |  Jonah Domenichelli
• 2019-20  |  Philip Jaseph
• 2020-21  |  Jason Zoske
• 2021-22  |  William Winter
• 2022-23  |  Kevin Hempe
• 2023-24  |  Justin Chester
• 2024-25  |  David Gray
• 2025-26  |  Kyle Sorkness