Baptized in the NC Synod at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Lincolnton at just 2 weeks old, Pastor Richard Goeres is glad to continue calling both the Lutheran Church and North Carolina home. His path to ordained ministry included degrees in Mathematics (Roanoke College) and Statistics (N.C. State) before graduating from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 2014. Pastor Richard has served in large urban, small rural, and mid-sized suburban congregations, finding particular value in each. Immediately before joining the staff of Good Shepherd, Pastor Richard spent 5 joyful years among the saints at Macedonia Lutheran Church in Burlington, just an hour west of Raleigh.
Pastor Richard is hopeful about the church’s future and particularly energized by what the Lutheran expression of church has to offer the world these days. His wife, Lindsey, has roots in Raleigh and serves as a family physician. Their son, Bennett, brings tremendous light (and some longer nights!) into their life.
Pastor Richard loves his work, but he also enjoys getting away for time with family, golfing (so long as he is with his Dad, brother-in-law, or grad school roommates), and cheering on all things University of South Carolina athletics.