Pastor Donald Patterson

Contact Information

The Patterson family

About Pastor Patterson

Donald Patterson grew up in Garland, Texas. He was in a Missouri Synod Lutheran congregation there until 1986, when he transferred to Calvary Lutheran in Dallas along with his family. In 1985, he married Mary Donovan, whom he had met in Garland. God has blessed their marriage with four sons: Donovan, Seth, Caleb, and Blake.

Patterson earned a degree from East Texas State in agriculture education before pursuing the ministry. In the fall of 1986, he entered the Bethany Program at Bethany Lutheran Seminary in Mankato, Minnesota for introductory training in theology. Later he attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin. He served his vicar year with District President Vilas Glaeske in Houston during the 1990-91 school year.

Upon graduation from the seminary in 1992, Donald was called to Holy Word, and he has served as our pastor since that time. In addition to serving the congregation of Holy Word, he has also served the church at large. In 1996, he was appointed second Vice President of the South Central District of the WELS, and in 2000 he was appointed first Vice President. He is currently serving on the Spiritual Growth Project Team for the synod, and he has spoken at numerous conferences, marrige retreats, and seminars. He has also written several articles for various synod publications such as Forward in Christ, Meditations, Lutheran Parenting, and Lutheran Leadership.