St. John Lutheran Church in Port Clinton has welcomed the Rev. Jarrod Schaaf as its new pastor. Schaaf took over pastoral duties on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Rev. Schaaf has been an ordained minister with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for 13 years. For the past eight years, he has served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in North Robinson, Ohio.

“I am so excited to be here,” Schaaf said. “I believe that God is calling me to serve not only the members of St John Lutheran, but also the community of Port Clinton.”

Locals will see Schaaf and his family around town, and the Schaafs have already made multiple trips to Ida Rupp Public Library, area parks and ice cream shops. He would love for locals to introduce themselves and get to know him.

“I want to know your story and how we can continue to make Port Clinton a place where God’s grace abides,” he said.

During his years in the ministry, Schaaf has led Bible studies inside and outside of the church, taught confirmation, helped with vacation Bible School and served as an instructor in the Northwestern Ohio Synod’s Diakonia Lay Education program. He also has been a member of the Congregational Resource Team, Synod Council and a synod representative on the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio summer camp.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Rev. Schaaf helped St. Paul Lutheran adapt so that the congregation could continue to meet in safe ways, including having services online and from a hay wagon in the church parking lot.

Schaaf has degrees from Capital University in religion and sociology and his master of divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Cal.

He and his family are thrilled to settle in Port Clinton. His wife, the Rev. Sarah Schaaf, is the synod’s director of community engagement. They have two children, Isaac, 11, and Zoe, 8.

“The Congregation of St. John Lutheran Church is looking forward to having Pastor Schaaf bring his experience and abilities to lead our congregation into this next chapter of our church,” said Jim Sass, church council president. “We welcome his family to the St. John and Port Clinton communities.”

St. John Lutheran Church is located at 207 Adams St. in Port Clinton. It is part of the ELCA and offers worship services at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. on Sundays.

Services are also live-streamed on its website at and its Facebook page. The Sunday service is broadcast on 97.9 WGGN at 8 a.m. each week. For information, call 419-734-5548 or visit stjohnlutheranpc.com.