The Pastor

About the Book

Everyone loved Candy Vinter. Everyone, that is, except her husband and two children who knew her too well. Imagine the surprise of the whole community, her faith community especially, when they learn she is found hung by the neck in her own bedroom closet, victim of an apparent suicide. No one is more surprised than Pastor Brian Matterson of All Saints Lutheran Church in Martin Valley, Minnesota. Shocked by the news, Pastor Brian rushes to help the members of his flock, but is baffled by their unusual reactions to this tragedy. What is going on in the Vinter home, and what really happened to Candy Vinter? Following her death, layers of interesting information about Candy’s life and the Vinter family begin to emerge, making Pastor Brian believe there is much more to this story than meets the eye. Pastor Brian must navigate the swirling demands of daily parish ministry, of being a good husband and father, and of dealing with his own challenging emotions as a recovering alcoholic as he tries to minister to this family and make sense of what really happened to Candy Vinter.

About the Author

Ed Treat was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky, in 1959, an army brat and sixth of eight children. The family settled in Bellingham, Washington, where Ed grew up from the 4th grade. Following high school he lived in Hawaii, San Diego, and Phoenix before completing his Prodigal Son journey back to Bellingham. At age 27, Ed began his new life as a recovering alcoholic. This second life led him to a journalism degree at Western Washington University, to Holden Village in the Cascades where he discovered Lutheranism and his soulmate, then to Luther Seminary and an M.Div. Degree. He was married in 1990, ordained in 1995 and served his first parish at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minden, Nebraska. He established a new congregation as a mission developer in Anoka County, completed doctoral work at Luther Seminary, served as an associate pastor, and is currently Senior Pastor of Transfiguration Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Minnesota. His wife, Karen, is an ordained pastor as well; they have two grown daughters, both graduates of St. Olaf College, a son attending Luther College and another son in high school. Ed continues to support, serve and lead the Fellowship of Recovering Clergy.