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St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Wurtemburg |
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 Founded in 1760 |
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The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Isaacs; Called and Ordained Lutheran Clergyman: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Wurtemburg, Rhinebeck, New York (June 1996- Present). Prior to being called to St. Paul’s, Pastor Mark served a small congregation in the village of Rhinebeck from June 21, 1992 - December 31, 1999. Pastor Mark is a teacher/preacher, rostered with the Evangelical Lutheran Conference and Ministerium [ELCM]. In addition to weekly sermons in sync with the Three-Year Revised Common Lectionary Cycle, he teaches an 8:30 A.M. Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study and Ziegenfuss University [a college level adult forum] on Monday nights at 7 PM. Over the past 12 years Pastor Mark has led adults in discussions on Cults; Reformation History; Comparative Religion; The Lutheran Confessions; The Da Vinci Code; Hermeneutics and Textual Criticism; the Works of Martin Luther; The Book of Concord; The Book of Revelation, etc. At Z.U. Pastor Mark is infamous for his many tangents and digressions. Pastor Mark also teaches weekly confirmation classes, presides at weddings, funerals, and baptisms; and participates in a host of meetings dealing with all aspects of Church administration, mission, and worship planning. He also takes the Confirmands to Camp SonRise in the Adirondacks each summer [the first week in August]. Adjunct Economics and Business Ethics Instructor: Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York (December 1999- Present). At Marist College Pastor Mark currently teaches --and has taught-- Economics of Social Issues; Macroeconomics; Microeconomics; Global Business and Society [Business Ethics]; Intro to Business Management; Organizational Management and Behavior; Public Presentations; World Religions; as well as Personal History; Interpersonal Communications; and World Views and Values in the Organizational Leadership and Communications Program. In addition to teaching traditional college students on campus [School of Management] Pastor Mark has also taught Marist courses at the Danbury Woman’s Federal Correctional Facility; the Otisville Federal Correctional Facility; Greene [NY State] Correctional Facility; the Marist-Fishkill Center; the Marist-Goshen Center; Marist-Kingston [BRC]; and at IBM -Fishkill through The Division of Graduate and Continuing Education. To date, Pastor Mark has taught more than 60 classes at Marist College. Adjunct History Instructor: State University of New York, Ulster County Community College. At SUNY-Ulster Pastor Mark currently teaches American History II, Western Civilization I & II and Macroeconomics, (May 2003-Present). Adjunct Social Science Instructor: Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, New York. Physical Geography; Economic Geography; Intro to Biblical Studies; and American History II (Fall 2004 - Present). Editor-In-Chief (1986-1988): The Business Times, Rocky Hill, Connecticut. The Business Times was Connecticut’s largest circulation monthly business newspaper (circulation 26,000). At The Business Times he edited, wrote feature articles and editorials, handled the layout, photography, graphics, printing, and distribution. Features Editor (1985-1986), The New American magazine, Belmont Massachusetts. In addition to writing and copyediting he supervised all aspects of production including typesetting, graphics, photo-editing, layout, design, etc. Contributing Editor (1985-1993), The New American magazine. After The New American relocated to Appleton, Wisconsin he contributed many book reviews, business and economics articles, history pieces, and cover stories. Publisher and Managing Editor (1982-1984), West Springfield, Massachusetts. On Principle was a bi-weekly free market economics and political newsletter. His partner was attorney Donald A. Feder who is now the author of two books and a nationally syndicated columnist with The Boston Herald. Research Economist (1980-1982), American Institute for Economic Research, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. EDUCATION: Ph.D. [Economics, History and Theology]; Trinity Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana. His 411 page dissertation is entitled: “Paradigm Lost? A Centennial Reflection on Max Weber’s Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1904-1905) and the Future Prospects for Capitalism in this Secular, Global, and Multicultural Post-Modern Era.” Doctor of Ministry [D.Min.]; Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. His D.Min. project is The History of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Wurtemburg. Pastor Mark hopes to publish this history and distribute it to interested members and people in the community. With the support and assistance of congregational members, he has been researching and working on this interesting project for several years. Master of Sacred Theology [S.T.M.], Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. Pastor Mark's 115 page thesis, with 467 footnotes, is entitled “Textual Criticism and Apocalyptic Speculation in Johann Albrecht Bengel (1687-1752).” Master of Divinity [M.Div.] (1992), Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (1988-1992), including a fourteen-month internship as Vicar of Ascension Lutheran Church in Deer Park, New York. Master of Arts, History [M.A.], (2003), Concordia College and University. This is a “non-traditional degree” awarded based on 60 transfer graduate level history credits earned from various institutions, life experience, and published articles. B.A., Economics (1980), Westfield State College, Westfield, Massachusetts. PUBLICATIONS: During his writing career Pastor Mark has published more than 350 articles on topics that include economic analysis, business commentaries, editorials, history pieces, book reviews, and business history articles. His articles have appeared in Research Reports; The Libertarian Review; The Freeman; Ideas-on-Liberty; On Principle; The Business Times; and in The New American. One of his articles was even quoted in The Wall Street Journal! ASSOCIATIONS AND HOBBIES: Pastor Mark is a member of Hendrick Hudson Lodge No. 875, F.& A.M., Red Hook, N.Y.; Elm-Belcher Lodge, A.F.&.A.M, Agawam, Massachusetts; Morning Star Royal Arch Chapter; Springfield Council of Royal and Select Masters; Springfield Commandery, No. 6 K.T.; Cyprus Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. of Albany; The Philalethes Society; and The Scottish Rite Research Society. Because of Church, school, teaching, and family responsibilities Pastor Mark is not as active as he would like to be in the Masonic fraternity. He has had the honor of delivering many lectures at various Masonic meetings on topics such as “Anti-Freemasonry,” “Albert Pike,” and “The Life of Henry Lafayette Ziegenfuss.” Pastor Mark is also an enthusiastic stamp collector. He specializes in American stamps, and is working on a WWII topical collection. Since the age of 15 Pastor Mark has been an avid book collector. He can be seen haunting used book stores and library discard sales. To date he has amassed a personal library of over 12,000 books on a wide range of topics including theology, history, comparative religions, philosophy, and classic fiction. He teaches his students “He who LEADS, reads”! FAMILY: Pastor Mark's wife Linda A. Isaacs, is a practicing nurse of 27 years. She takes an active role in the parsonage and in the church. She is presently enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Natural Health program in Alternative Medicine. Linda is currently heading up the St. Paul's WELCM group, assisting with the new Confirmation Class, running the St. Paul's Medical Loan Closet and manages the church office. Pastor Mark has two daughters and one step-daughter. His oldest daughter is Haley R. (Isaacs)Pritchard. She received her Associate Degree from the Physical Therapy Program at Loma Linda University and is now in the RN program. She was married last year to dentist Tyler Pritchard, who is in orthodontics school at Loma Linda as well. The two will move to Washington state upon graduation. Jenna E. Isaacs will be graduating from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in December of this year. She is engaged to Justin Seeley and will be getting married in October. He is the new owner of the Hudson Valley Anglers shop in Red Hook. The two will live locally. Step-daughter Jennifer L. Palmatier graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with her Bachelor's Degree in Law and Justice. She will now attend George Washington University for her Master's Degree in Legal Studies as a student in the paralegal program. |
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| Sunday Worship Weekly at 10:00 AM ( 9:30 AM during the months of June, July, and August ) *** The sanctuary of the church is handicap-accessible. Member of the Evangelical Lutheran Conference and Ministerium 371 Wurtemburg Road, Rhinebeck,NY 12572 |
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