Established in 1960, Our Saviour Lutheran Church is a confessional and liturgical member congregation of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
Pastor Brown
Born to Roy and Suzan Brown and raised in central Ohio, prior to his ordination, the Reverend Derrick C. Brown attended the now-defunct Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where he obtained an undergraduate degree in music performance. In 2005, he began his studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he met Kristine Carmack, whom he married in 2006; in 2008, God richly blessed their marriage with a daughter, Katherine. Upon completing his seminary training in 2010, he was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry and installed as the pastor of Saint John Lutheran Church in Curtis, Nebraska, where he served until mid-2018 when he received and accepted the call to serve the saints of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Vernal Utah.
Pastoral Timeline
1958-1962
Rev. Sigmund Boegl
1962-1964
Vicar Donald Garvue
1964-1968
Rev. John Kempff
1968-1978
Candidate Elmer Haight, Jr.
1979-1983
Candidate David Bahn
1984-1985
Rev. Robert Tasler
1985-1986 (vacancy)
Rev. Elmer Haight, Jr.
1986-1991
Candidate Michael Bailey
1991-1993
Rev. Laskowski
1994-2008
Rev. Roger Sterle
2009-2017
Candidate Jonathan Schultz
2017-2018 (vacancy)
Rev. Ronald Pederson
2018-present
Rev. Derrick C. Brown
Our Saviour's History
The divine work among the faithful in the Uintah Basin began in the 1940s when missionaries from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod occasionally visited the homes of Lutheran families residing in Vernal, Utah. In 1953, an official Lutheran mission took root in Rangely, Colorado. For years, Vernal's Lutheran families journeyed to Rangely for worship and catechetical instruction. By 1958, Vernal's Lutheran community sought pastor care from Rev. Sigmund Boegl at Trinity, Rangely. The inaugural services of the Vernal mission commenced on Nov. 16, 1958, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
In 1960, Our Saviour Lutheran Church was formally established with 46 communicant members and 30 children. Worship services, Sunday School, and confirmation classes were held at various locations until the construction of our current sanctuary in 1966. This initial structure, spanning 3,000 square feet, included worship space, a fellowship area, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. The building was dedicated on August 21, 1966. Rev. William Naatz, representing the Colorado District, presided over the dedication service, with C.P. Pederson crafting the first Lutheran cross, symbolizing our steadfast faith and standing as a witness to the community. The cross was placed on the southeast corner of the building, where it remains today.
Pastoral transitions marked our journey, with Rev. John Kempff installed in 1964, followed by Candidate Elmer Haight, Jr., in 1968. Pastor Haight's tenure saw significant mission work, including the establishment of Faith Lutheran Church in Roosevelt. In 1977, a mortgage-burning service celebrated financial freedom, and the congregation expanded with an educational building in 1979.
Candidate David Bahn was installed on June 17, 1979, leading the congregation in a celebration of "Twenty Years of God’s Grace" in 1980. Rev. Robert Tasler succeeded him in 1984, marked by the tragic loss of his wife, Sandy. Memorial funds honored their memory, contributing to the acquisition of a new bell from Belgium's I.T. Verdin Company, dedicated at our 25th Anniversary celebration in 1985.
Subsequent pastoral tenures brought growth and community support, with Rev. Roger Sterle's leadership marked by a liver transplant in 2004, met with remarkable community solidarity. In 2006, generous donations facilitated the acquisition of a new organ, piano, and air conditioning. Candidate Jonathan Schultz assumed leadership in 2009. During Pastor Schultz's tenure, Our Saviour Lutheran Church celebrated its 50-year anniversary.
In 2017, Rev. Ronald Pederson, a beloved son of our congregation, served as a vacancy pastor for 18 months, providing steadfast leadership during a time of transition. Then, on June 10, 2018, we joyfully welcomed Rev. Derrick C. Brown as our new pastor. Since his installation, Pastor Brown has been faithfully serving our congregation, guiding us with wisdom and compassion. We are grateful for his ministry and look forward to the continued blessings of his leadership.
Baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals have marked our journey, alongside the ordination of three sons of our congregation into pastoral ministry (Rev. Larry Gotfredson, emeritus; Rev. Daniel Prauener, emeritus; Rev. Ronald Pederson, emeritus). As we look ahead, our hope remains steadfast in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, trusting in His mercy and grace to guide us in the years to come.