Pastor Ken Smith grew up in Muscatine, Iowa, and over the years received degrees from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa; Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio; and Boston College. He has been in active ministry in the ELCA for forty-five years, serving First Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (1973-1980), Midvale Community Lutheran Church in Madison (1980-1987), as Associate Director for Christian Education at the Churchwide Office in Chicago (1987-1994), First Lutheran in Janesville, in Wisconsin (1994-2001), and St. John’s Lutheran Lutheran in Madison (2001-2017) In retirement, he now serves as Visitation Pastor at Midvale Community Lutheran.

Ken is a member of the American Society on Aging (ASA) is on the leadership council of its Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging (FoRSA).

Over the years, Ken has been interested in biblical interpretation, learning ministry, congregational initiatives, and pastoral care. His work at St. John’s focused on homelessness and poverty. He likes to walk, snowshoe, and get out on the frozen lakes in the winter. Household upkeep both in Madison and in Door County fills out his schedule.

Ken is married to Judy Nolde, a deacon in the ELCA, serving as chaplain at Central Wisconsin Center in Madison, a state facility which provides short-term and residential services to assist people living with intellectual disabilities. Both grown children, Emily and Ethan, live in Chicago with their families.