Ministerial Experience

Archbishop New England Diocese
Lutheran Orthodox Church

Ordained in 1976

Called to the Ministry at an early age I was ordained in 1976, and began preaching. Ministered for 6 years before doctrinal differences forced me to choose between remaining true to scripture or staying in a ministry moving towards the teachings of men. Founded a small family ministry nearly 25 years ago and returned to preaching the inspired word of God to congregations both large and small.

I serve as Archbishop of the New England Diocese of the Lutheran Orthodox Church (LOC) and hold a seat on the LOC Council of Bishops. My duties include; pulpit service, sick calls, pastoral counseling, congregational and administrative oversight, officiating at ceremonies, ordination of new ministers, investigation of complaints and discipline. These duties are performed for congregations primarily within the New England region of the United States. I am also the Executive Vice-President for the Lutheran Orthodox Church, Inc. providing administrative direction and counsel for the denomination as a whole.

Prior to my affiliation with the LOC, I served in the administrative position of Executive Minister of the Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church (June 2001 - June 2003). I served as administrator of the Church at the denominational level, responsible for day-to-day operations and assisted the Presiding Minister and Board of Advisors. Duties also included service as Director of Chaplaincy for the LEPC coordinating both crisis and routine response to emotional and stressful situations. Chaplaincy services are provided in hospital and nursing facilities as well as for citizens and public safety professionals in crisis situations in the field.

Over the years I have also served in leadership roles for the United States Corps of Chaplains and Elite Soldiers for Christ, both civilian Chaplain organizations serving active and retired military members and families as well as public safety professionals in Law Enforcement, Fire and Emergency Medical Service and E911 Dispatchers.

34 years of Biblical Study and Ministerial experience.

Over 20 years experience as a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Counselor dealing with emotions immediately following traumatic events, loss and disasters.

20 years experience as a Certified Pastoral Counselor dealing with crisis, grief and loss. I have spent over 28 years working with State and local police and emergency service agencies.

Experience as a Regional Minister providing guidance and oversight to congregations in a six State area.

Person with a disability, wheelchair user, familiar with the emotions and trauma of medical crisis.

Parent of two children born seriously premature, familiar with the stress, grief and potential loss of a child as well as other loved ones.

Cared for three generations of my family as they lived and died with cancer, heart disease, diabetes and kidney failure. I lost both my parents, within two months, during the winter of 2008/2009.

Vast personal experience caring, physically and spiritually, for terminally ill patients and their families.

Americans with Disabilities Act
Compliance Consultant

Phase I - Washington, DC - August 1993
Phase II - San Diego, CA - January 1994

Certified Mediator
Key Bridge Foundation - Arlington, VA

Phase I - Washington, DC - August 1993
Phase II - San Diego, CA - January 1994

Trained through the ADA Training and Implementation Network, a joint project of the EEOC and US Department of Justice. 150 people, nationwide, were selected to receive all of these Federally sponsored trainings.

Basics of Supervision
VanMeter & Associates - Concord, MA - April 1999

Educator and respected speaker on communications and disability issues.

Nationally recognized Expert and Educator on Accessibility, Diversity and Disability Policy Matters.

Very experienced, energetic speaker before groups large and small.

Able to guide and counsel firmly yet compassionately.

Possess a demonstrated ability to handle stressful situations and deal effectively with difficult or emotional people with diplomacy.

Present a professional image.

Detail oriented, able to multitask, delegate and maintain appropriate records.

Personally familiar with medical trauma and crisis as well as grief and loss.

Well developed “people skills” with a natural ability to be a consensus builder, while maintaining my faith and principles.

Warm and resonate vocal performance skills with a deep, rich voice.

Own and operate, Wagoner Expert Services, an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance and Expert Witness Firm.

Executive Vice-President, Lutheran Orthodox Church (2010-Present)

Executive Minister for the LEPC at the denominational level (2001-2003).

Senior Pastor of a small, family based ministry serving congregations throughout the New England region.

Twice elected to the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Hartford, VT. serving a total of five years. Served as Vice-Chairman of the Board for three years.

Responsible for approval and oversight of a 16 million dollar municipal budget.

Managed all aspects of employment for 90+ municipal employees.

Effectively disposed of a municipal budget deficit of over $300,000.00 without a significant tax increase to the public.

Responded to citizens offering both praise and complaints.

Instituted a "citizen friendly" policy within municipal government to eliminate the seemingly endless red tape involved in acquiring services or resolving problems.

Addressed the United States Senate in June 1992

Invited speaker on dealing with crisis for the 1998 & 2005 National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Annual Conferences.

Invited speaker for two separate lectures at the 1998 & 2005 National Conferences of the Association of Public-safety Communications Officials (APCO).

Selected to participate in "People First - A Report to the President" for President William J. Clinton

Addressed Governors, Legislators, Judges and three US Presidents.

Certified Government Contractor and NASA Trainer.

Have addressed literally thousands of audiences, large and small, speaking on a variety of topics including, motivational, inspirational and educational issues.

Provide pulpit service for congregations large (1000+) and small (30) for nearly 33 years.

Officiate at weddings, funerals, baptisms, ordinations and other ceremonies.

Former system administrator.

Familiar with IBM and compatible hardware & numerous software.

HTML author, acting as internet webmaster for several organizations.

The best time, is time spent with my wife and two children at our timeshare at Walt Disney World.

Sing in a semi-professional vocal quartet.

Reading, Music, Travel, Actively involved in the Community.