Pastor Addison Pope

Biography

Pastor Addison Pope grew up in the suburbs and small towns around Toledo, Ohio. He was born in July 1994 and baptized a few months later. Addison was baptized and catechized in a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Perrysburg, a suburb of Toledo.

After graduating high school, Addison attended the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, where he earned a BA in history. While he was in college, he began taking Christianity seriously and started to study theology. Through much study and contemplation, the Holy Spirit led him to confessional Lutheranism and he began attending the local LCMS church; Concordia Lutheran in Findlay, Ohio.

While studying at the University of Findlay, Addison met his wife, Madelaine. They were both part of a reading group that read the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis aloud. Addison and Madelaine were married soon after they graduated in June of 2017. The Popes then moved to Bowling Green, Ohio so that Madelaine could pursue a master's degree in literature at Bowling Green State University.

While living in Bowling Green, Addison worked as a security officer at a Chrysler factory in Perrysburg. This job gave him a lot of time to think, and he began talking to his pastor about going to seminary. After Madelaine earned her Master's degree in 2019 the two moved to Winchester, Kentucky. Addison worked as a security officer for the University of Kentucky hospital system while Madelaine taught at the University of Kentucky.

While in Kentucky, Addison and Madelaine welcomed William Lewis Pope into the world in June of 2020. That fall, the family moved to Fort Wayne so that Addison could attend seminary. Madelaine left her position as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Kentucky when the family moved to Fort Wayne for Addison to begin seminary. Madelaine began teaching writing classes at Indiana Tech while Addison attended seminary.

From 2022 until August 2023, Addison served as the 33rd Vicar at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Highland, Indiana. Addison and Madelaine welcomed a second son, Philip Victor Pope, into the world in 2023. Currently, Madelaine is an Adjunct Professor for Indiana Tech and for the University of Findlay teaching writing courses in an online setting.

Addison enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening and taking family nature walks with his American bulldog, Ophelia. Madelaine enjoys reading Victorian fiction and hiking.

On February 9, 2025 Addison was ordained and installed as Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cabot, Arkansas. We look forward to the growth and blessings the Lord has in store here at Our Savior Lutheran!