Guthier to mark 35th anniversary as minister

GALVESTON — Not every pastor has a fan club, but for most of his professional life, the Rev. Doug Guthier, pastor of Galveston’s First Lutheran Church, has had one. It started in August 1973.

That’s when Vera Danner first met the man whose career she would follow closely and, later, subtly influence.

“That day, we immediately formed a mutual admiration society for one another,” she said.

In addition to sharing the same birthday, Danner had found a kindred spirit in the young minister who bridged the dozen years between their ages.

“For 22 years, I kept in touch with him while he was off the island,” she said. “When I called him, Doug would provide comfort and reassurance. He never let me down.”

Danner then was appointed to the pulpit search team, where she became instrumental in helping bring Guthier back to Galveston from Baytown. She recalled the meeting that took place eight years ago.

“I sang Doug’s praises to the committee,” she said. “They said I was prejudiced, and I totally agreed. But, needless to say, he got the call.”

Danner isn’t alone in her enthusiasm. Joyce Ekelund said she has valued him during both good and bad times.

“Our son, Charles, was honored to be an acolyte in Doug and Mary Lee’s beautiful wedding,” she said. “When Charles was 23, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Pastor Doug had many telephone calls with Charles and later came from San Antonio to be at his funeral.”

Ekelund described Guthier as her faithful “prayer buddy” who since has helped her through several health crises with her grandsons.

Guthier was born in Alice, grew up in Texas City and attended San Antonio’s Trinity University, where he later would serve as campus chaplain. He also was minister at St. Paul’s in Baytown.

His present pulpit is considered to be in the oldest continuously operating Lutheran Church in Texas. First Lutheran’s roots run to 1850, just eight years after the first editions of The Daily News were published.

Though formally listed as the Rev. Dr. Douglass C. Guthier, he’s much more likely to respond to “Pastor Doug.” An informal church luncheon after the 10 a.m. Sunday worship service at 2415 Winnie St. will note his first 35 years of service.

Guthier could be described as humble, maybe even self-effacing. He clearly did not set out to create a fan club, but he does have an undeniably strong following.

“Doug’s ministry isn’t a career, but a calling,” Danner said. “He truly has the gift, and he is not in this for his own glory. Instead, he is here to serve God and the congregation.”

For details on the luncheon, call 409-741-0769.

Rick Cousins can be reached at ourfaith(at)galvnews.com.

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Quoting The Pastor

Notable quotes, as collected by First Lutheran members:

• “Laughter is one of the great gifts of God.”

• “I think it is possible to be a real human being and a Christian at the same time.”

• “I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give God is to appreciate the experience of being alive and to help other people to do that, too.”