Meet our Pastors

Pastor Tommy Presley, Pastor

Our pastor, Rev. Tommy Presley, recently arrived in Birmingham and he and his family have settling into their
new home. Pastor Tommy was born on June 25th and was raised in Huntsville, Alabama. He was baptized and
confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Huntsville. He attended Concordia University Wisconsin for his
undergraduate degree and went on to graduate from Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne with a Master
in Divinity degree. Pastor Tommy was ordained in his hometown in 2017 and has faithfully served since. Before accepting our call, he served Parishes in Arkansas and Kansas.
While attending seminary, he met his wife while evangelizing. They began to date in 2017, then married shortly after in 2018. Pastor Tommy and Tori had their first child in late 2019, their second in 2022, and are blessed to welcome a third into the world in 2024. They also share two dogs and a cat. During his free time, Pastor enjoys spending time with his family, watching Alabama football, being outdoors and playing video and board games
with friends. He also always looks forward to learning and enjoying more hobbies.

REV. TRAVIS THOMAS LACKEY, JR. – Emeritus Pastor
Born in Birmingham, Alabama April 13. Attended Birmingham public schools and received a BS degree majoring in Management and Economics from Samford University in 1974.

Served in the US Coast Guard from 1967-1971. Retired from Delta Airlines in 2001 and from Title South (Land Title Insurance Company) in 2011.

Attended the Lay Ministry Training Institute through the Southern District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS from 2003-2005, receiving certification as a Lay Ministry Deacon. Attended Concordia Seminar, St. Louis through its DELTO (Distant Education Leading To Ordination) program from 2005 – 2009 and was certified upon completion. He was ordained and installed as Associate Pastor of First and Emmanuel Lutheran Churches on June 7, 2009
Pastor Tom is married to Carol Arlene Heather (RT) of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and they have three grown children (Joel, Heather and Alan) and two grandchildren.
Hobbies are reading, fly fishing, watching baseball (St. Louis Cardinals).and classic movies.

REV. DR. GEORGE MURDAUGH – Emeritus Pastor

In 1979, Teresa and I moved to Baton Rouge, LA where she worked as a nurse, and I taught high school while attending LSU graduate school. During that time, we attended Trinity Lutheran Church, where the pastor tapped me to be interim senior youth counselor. At Trinity the pastor suggested that I go to Concordia Seminary to pursue pastoral ministry. After my studies there, I did a vicarage at First English Lutheran Church in New Orleans among the Hispanic community. Upon completion of vicarage, I was ordained and installed at First

Lutheran Church in Natchez, MS. Teresa and I spent 4yrs in ministry in Natchez, where our daughter Donna was born.

Following our time in MS, I took a call to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Shreveport, LA., where our son, Nathan was born. There I became involved in various cross-cultural mission and ministry areas. In Louisiana at the time, I was the local director of the Synod-wide “His Love Our Response” capital campaign. From Our Savior, I accepted a call to a recently started congregation in Gwinnett Co. Georgia (Atlanta metro area), Oak Road Lutheran Church. Our son Austin was born in Gwinnett Med. Center, where Teresa worked for 25yrs. I also was the Chairman of the Lutheran Outreach during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 2004, I was invited by the LCMS to go with a team of pastors to mentor church workers in India. I am still involved in India with a Lutheran Christian Hospital and three evangelistic and church planting organization. Additionally, Teresa and I took training from Synod to be part of the Reconciliation Ministry. We served as Fl/GA District Reconcilers.

My last call was as the intentional interim pastor of Prince of Peace congregation in Douglasville, GA. During my time in GA, I served as Circuit Counsel for a total of 12rys. We moved to Irondale, AL in 2021 to be close to our daughter and son-in-law to help them with their first child. We joined First Lutheran and have been blessed by our fellowship here. At the last Circuit Forum, I was elected to be the Circuit Visitor for Circuit 9, which includes the Birmingham metro area. Our blest relationship with First continues to be an important part

of our life here. Thank you for your friendship and faithfulness to the ministry at First.

CHAPLAIN DANIEL W. PHIFER, LTC, US Army (retired)

A native of Birmingham. Dan was born on July 11 and grew up on the “north side.” He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and as a little boy remembers standing with Pastor Conrad to shake hands as members left the church. He graduated from Phillips High School, and the University of Alabama (Roll Tide). He was in ROTC and remembers his fun on the drill team. He was a member of many choirs. He continued his education at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC. Dan holds PhD, MDiv, MA, & MS degrees.

He was Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Marietta, Georgia and Faith Lutheran Church in Roebuck. He was commissioned in the US ARMY in Seminary and served full time for 21 years. He served as a military Chaplain at Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Ord, CA, Fort Monmouth, NJ, Ft McPherson, GA and for seven years in Germany. He also served in Kuwait. Dan says his favorite part of being a military Chaplain was being with and counseling young soldiers who were away from home, family and friends for the first time facing new challenges. He also was an instructor at the Army’s Chaplain’s School. After retiring at Ft McPherson (Atlanta) he served as Interim Pastor and did pulpit supply at several Lutheran churches in Georgia. One Christmas Eve, he traveled from Atlanta to Dothan, AL so that church would not be without a pastor on that special night. Pr Dan was called to First Lutheran Church in Nashville, TN where he served seven years before final retirement.

Dan and his wife, Lynn, who also served in the Army as an RN, have three sons; Daniel, Trent and Jason. They have five grandsons; Hayden, Carson, Tyler, Zachary and Logan and one granddaughter, Madelyn. Dan and Lynn live in Hoover, AL with their loving dog, a Weimaraner, Buddy. They are both involved with community and neighborhood activities. Dan is also the Chaplain for MOAA GBC, (Military Officers Association of America Greater Birmingham Chapter). He is an ordained pastor of the LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in

Mission for Christ). They are glad they have joined First Lutheran Church.

Rev. Kurtis Schultz, Southern District LCMS, President Emeritus

President Kurtis D. Schultz was born November 2 in Melrose Park, Illinois. He attended grammar school at St. Paul Lutheran School and high school at Walther Lutheran High, both in Melrose Park; and, college at Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University Chicago) in River Forest, Illinois. His seminary training was at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He was ordained June 3, 1979.

Pastor Schultz has served his entire ministry in ministry in the Southern District LCMS. He served as Pastor of Christ the King – Enterprise, AL; Prince of Peace – Ozark, AL; and, First and Emmanuel – Birmingham, AL. He was elected Southern District President in June of 2003. He served on the Placement Committee of the Council of Presidents; the Board of Regents for both Concordia Theological Seminary – Ft. Wayne, IN; and, Concordia College Alabama – Selma, AL. Since his retirement and being conferred Emeritus status, he has served many congregations as a supply pastor.

Becky, Pastor Schultz’s wife, graduated from Concordia Teacher College with a degree in Parish Music. She has served as parish organist and choir director. She is studying Cello and teaches piano and organ. She served on the Board of Lutheran Sumer Music Academy; an organization which provides an opportunity for youth to experience worship through the traditional liturgies and hymnody of the church.

Recreational interests of the couple include birding, music and gardening.

REV. JACK VANORMAN-Retired

Reverend John “Jack” VanOrman has served Ministries in both the public and private sectors for nearly forty (40) years. He was first Licensed and Ordained in 1982. During his Ministry Career, he served Churches in Delray Beach, Winter Park and Boca Raton, Florida. As a Licensed Therapist, he served Substance Abuse populations in both maximum and moderate security prisons. Additionally, he served the United Way in Orlando, Florida as an Intervention Therapist with Incested Families. Additionally, Jack has served Hospice in Palm Beach, Florida and Birmingham, Alabama as Director of Pastoral Care and Bereavement Coordinator.
Reverend VanOrman is Ordained in the Wesleyan Holiness Tradition of the Original United Methodist Church. Jack grew up in a Christian home in Huntsville, Alabama, where his father was an Aerospace Engineer and his mother, a Teacher of English and Speech. He gratefully acknowledges and credits his Life Commitment, devotion, and allegiance to Jesus through the life examples of his Parents, Ward and Virginia VanOrman, his Maternal Grandmother, Mabel Sheffer Heeter and the kind mentoring of the Reverend Randy VanLandingham of Lakewood United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Alabama back in the late 1960’s. Later, Jack’s College and Seminary professors provided inestimable gifts toward his Spiritual Formation as a called Minister of the Gospel.
Jack and LiAnne “Leigh” were and are grateful to have found this “Remnant Church” First Lutheran and have appreciated the gracious welcome, the Holiness of the members and the Reverential Worship Services. “Truly, the Lord is in this place.” “Soli Deo Gloria”

Thomas R. Noon

Born: St. Louis, Missouri October 20.

Attended Wellston, Missouri public schools, Valparaiso University and Concordia Theological Seminary Springfield IL, and Received a MA degree in history from University of Alabama Birmingham

During his college years he spent his summers serving in the Prince of Peace Volunteers at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Birmingham, and as summer parish worker at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City

His seminary vicarage was at Our Savior Lutheran, Norwood (Cincinnati)

He has served his entire career in Southern District. His pastoral ministry included Augustana Lutheran, Alexandria LA St. Paul Lutheran in Mansura, LA and St. Paul Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama. During 20 years in retirement, he has served as interim pastor at 6 churches. Other service to the church at large included serving on the District Adjudication Committee (one term), Constitutions Committee (10 years), and as Circuit Counselor/Visitor (8 terms)

Married to Laura Peter (RN), three children, 7 grandchildren.

Hobbies are- writing and submitting articles on African American Lutheran History, Lutheran History in Alabama, bowling, reading, watching football/basketball games, and old movies.

Rev. Dr. McNair Ramsey

Rev. Dr. McNair Ramsey, also known by most of his closest friends as Tony, was born in 1944, Camden, AL and soon after, his parents moved to New York. Tony attended Elementary school at Camden Academy, and later in Second grade began his education at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School.

After completing the seventh grade he attended Alabama Lutheran Academy and College, graduated and transferred to Concordia College/University Seward, Nebraska.

Tony taught school in Detroit for a total of seven years, and was Assistant Principal at St. Phillip and Principal at Our Savior. He also served as Principal of St. Pauly’s Lutheran Church and School in San Francisco, CA..

Tony later was called as Vice President of Student Services at Concordia College Alabama, he also served as Director of Enrollment Manager, Vice President of Development, and Interim President.

He earned his Master’s from the University of San Francisco, his Doctorate from Atlanta University. He attended Concordia Theological and Seminary during the Summer Months and at the center operated on the campus of Concordia Selma. He was ordained in 2001 during the Black Minister Family Convocation in New Orleans LA.

He served for 32 years as Lay Deacon/Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Vredenburgh, AL

Tony and his wife JoAnn were married in 1968 and have been married for 55 years. JoAnn was a teacher in the Selma Public School System and retired from the same as a Kindergarten Educator

Tony and JoAnn are the parents of three daughters and five grandchildren.

Tony currently serves as First Vice President of the Southern District, LCMS and in retirement from Pastoral Ministry, he served Pulpit filler for several congregations as needed. All praise and thanks be to God for His blessings on McNair, Tony Ramsey for the gifts to him for the service to the church and God’s people.