Our Leadership

The Rev. Trenton Ormsbee-Hale was ordained and installed as the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in 2025. He is a graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and holds additional degrees in information science and philosophy. 

Pastor Trent believes that in a culture of distraction and spiritual quick-fixes, the Church’s oldest practices (gathering as small communities, worshipping through liturgy and sacraments, practicing radical hospitality and humble service, and devoting time to silence and study) create the kind of depth people are so hungry for. His ministry centers on helping people encounter this kind of depth at Messiah and in their own lives. 

Pastor Trent came to the Evangelical Lutheran movement later in life. He has served and worshipped alongside many different denominational and religious traditions. So, no matter where you come from, you’ll find in him a pastor who values your questions, honors your story, and delights in helping you explore your faith journey at your own pace. 

Beyond parish life, Trent enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, practicing yoga, reading, and watching reality shows and documentaries. Trent and his husband Anthony were married in 2018 and they are obsessive “dog dads” to their two beagles, Beauregard and Hildegard.

Whether you’re a longtime church go-er, returning after time away, or simply wondering where faith fits in your life, Pastor Trent would be glad to talk. Drop him an email or give him a call!

Email: trent@messiahmission.org
Phone: 817-613-1334

The Rev. Franz Schemmel is the founding pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church. While serving as pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Springtown during the 1990s, he helped establish a preaching point in Weatherford that would eventually become Messiah. He was called as the mission developer in 1999 and became the congregation’s first called pastor in 2003.

A graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary, Pastor Franz retired in 2025 after 45 impressive years of ordained ministry. Throughout his career, he has been a passionate advocate for justice and inclusion in both church and society. He played a key role in the Northern Texas–Northern Louisiana Synod’s Public Witness Team, supported the synod’s prison ministry efforts, and served in various leadership roles (including Board President) with Texas Impact, an interfaith advocacy organization. 

Pastor Franz served as Pastor Trent’s mentor throughout seminary. This has allowed Messiah to carry out its unique vision without skipping a beat. Pastor Franz is known for his warm-hearted openness to all, his infectious sense of humor, his clear-eyed sense of justice and the teachings of Jesus, and his preaching that always cuts right down to the heart of life’s most important questions. 

In retirement, Pastor Franz has been bestowed the honorific of being Messiah’s Pastor Emeritus. Franz and his wife, Ann Hafften, remain beloved and active members of our Messiah family.