Pastor C. Handlee Vige

The Rev. C. Handlee Vige returns to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church as our Interim Pastor after initially being called here in 1973. He is known affectionately as “Pastor V” as an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, the son of Hans and Wilhelmina Vige. After graduation from high school, Pastor V graduated in 1969 from Newberry College in South Carolina. He was ordained 1 June 1973 after graduating from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. During his 50 years of ministry, Pastor V served three parishes in Florida: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (almost 6 years), St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Melbourne (almost 21 years), and Apostles Lutheran Church in Brandon (14 years). Because of the full communion partnership between the Protestant Episcopal Church USA and the ELCA, Pastor V was appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast to serve as interim Priest-in-Charge of two Episcopal parishes in Northwest Florida, Epiphany in Crestview (2 years) and St. Jude’s in Niceville (2 years). Pastor V and his wife Lynne were married in 1979 at Holy Trinity. They have two grown children, Beth and Tim. Beth and her husband, Philippe Chambas, have three sons, Wylie (10), Miles (7) and Elliott (3). Tim and his wife, Christina, are hopeful to have children at some point in the future but for now have two dogs that keep them busy. Both Beth, Tim and their families live in the Columbia area of South Carolina.

 Associate Pastor Jerry Houge

Pastor Jerry Houge was called to be the Associate Pastor at Holy Trinity in January 2012.  Jerry attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa where he met his wife, Rebecca.  He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, a Masters of Divinity from Luther Northwestern Theological seminary in St Paul, MN and also a Masters in Family and Marriage Counseling from the University of San Francisco.  His areas of interest are preaching, pastoral care and visitation.  After ordination in 1977, Jerry served St John Lutheran Church in Riverton, Wyoming, and then he served almost 28 years as a pastor in the United States Air Force before retiring as a Colonel.  After retirement, Jerry was called to be the interim Pastor at St John Lutheran church in Riverton, Wyoming, where Jerry and Rebecca began their ministry.  Jerry continues to be very involved in the military community as part of his ministry here at Holy Trinity.  Pastor Jerry also enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, traveling with Rebecca, golfing, and cheering for all Minnesota sports teams!  Pastor Jerry and Rebecca have 3 grown children and 8 grandchildren.  You may contact him through the church office at (850) 243-0788 or via email at jerryhouge@yahoo.com.