August 1 may be remembered for two significant events for the Diocese of Fond du Lac. In 1999 Matthew P. Payne started with the diocese as Diocesan Youth Coordinator and Communications Officer. 25 years later, August 1, 2024, he will retire after serving as Lay Canon for Administration, Business Administrator and Human Resources Manager. “Over two years ago, Matthew shared a desire to retire from the diocese,” Bishop Matt Gunter shared with the Board of Trustees recently. “We started planning for a transition, then reunion discussion began.” With possible reunion of three dioceses, “Matthew decided to continue until there was some resolution.” Following the initial reunion vote last October, “Matthew let me know the time had come.”

Payne was hired by Bishop Russ Jacobus in two combined part-time positions. Changes in the diocesan office in the early 2000’s saw him in a full-time position overseeing management of all things diocesan including operations, finances, and property. Bishop Gunter had Payne continue with the diocese after becoming bishop in 2014, though with a little different focus. Anticipating coming retirement, Payne’s position became ¾ time in 2023. Events management and communication duties shifted to a full-time Office Administrator position held by Lisa Baltes.

“Because of my family blessings, good planning, and a mentor who ‘forced’ me to start saving for retirement when I was 22, my wife Maggie and I have been thinking about our next chapter in life,” Payne shared recently. “We are ready to turn the page and thankful to be able to make the change.”

According to Bishop Gunter, “Matthew has been a much-appreciated fixture in the life and ministry of the Diocese of Fond du Lac for the last 25 years. And he has been an invaluable colleague and trusted counselor to me in my time as bishop.”

Payne continues until August 1, 2024, and will be in the diocesan office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. He will also work remotely. In the remainder of that year, he will consultant with the transition in whatever form it takes. “I appreciate Matthew’s willingness to continue, allowing us to tap into his extensive institutional memory, which will be essential to any change,” Gunter commented, “whether as a reunited Diocese of Wisconsin or continuing as the Diocese of Fond du Lac.”

Payne plans to continue in his part-time role as Director of Operations for the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church which he began in 2014. He serves as Secretary to the Board of the DeKoven Center in Racine and looks forward to committing more time to its work. He recently began collecting glass insulators, plans to expand his collection, and attend insulator shows around the country. Matthew and Maggie have purchased a house in Mineral Point, Wisconsin to be closer to their grandchildren and he will be bi-locational until August.

​“It has been a delight to serve the Church through the Diocese of Fond du Lac,” Payne shared, “especially the camping program and leadership in congregations. Retirement at my age is not the norm but working for the same employer for 25 years isn’t either!” Noting the mission and ministry of the diocese will continue without his presence, Payne plans to “pray it will continue to strengthen in sharing the Gospel with the world.”

The Rev. Diane Murray has announced retirement from active ministry as a priest as of December 31, 2022. She has been rector of St. James, Manitowoc since 2009. As a member of St. Peter's, Sheboygan Falls, she discerned a call to ordination and was ordained deacon in 1998. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Marian College and a Master of Leadership and Organizational Development (concentration in Christian leadership) from Lakeland College, Sheboygan.

As a deacon she was active in the local community and diocese, especially with youth. She was diocesan youth ministries coordinator 2006-2012, worked with the Hands of Christ Deaf Ministry and was active in Cursillo. She has served in numerous diocesan elected positions and just ended a term as President of the Standing Committee.
 
Ordained a priest in 2009, Murray accepted a call to serve as rector of St. James, Manitowoc on a part-time basis. As a bi-vocational cleric, Murray continued her secular work in management roles at Bemis Manufacturing Company and currently with Sargento Foods. She will continue to work with Sargento. Amma Diane plans to do supply work around the diocese and participate in diocesan events and activities.

The Rev. Dcn. Patrick Rudolph will retire from active ordained ministry September 12, 2022, which is the 26th anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate. He was ordained by Bishop Russell Jacobus in 1996 and assigned to serve at St. Paul's, Marinette where he had been a member.

A recipient of the Bishop's Cross in 1996, Dcn. Pat served as a member of the diocesan Finance Committee, Trustee, Executive Council, and Investment Committee. He had been treasurer at St. Paul's for 14 years and received the parish's Order of St. Paul in 2000. In addition to serving in a diaconal role at the altar of St. Paul's, Dcn. Pat was involved in a variety of community activities and boards. He was chaplain at local hospitals and in Florida as well serving in civic roles such as the Police and Fire Commission in Marinette.

"I am blessed in so many ways," Rudolph shared in a letter to Bishop Gunter, "and I know God will bless my retirement." While not actively serving as a deacon, he will continue to attend St. Paul's and serve as a hospital chaplain on a limited basis.

The Rev. Dcn. Michael Burg retired from active ordained ministry December 31, 2021. Received into the Episcopal Church in 1982, he previously was Lutheran and Roman Catholic. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop William Stevens in 1990 and had assigned to serve at Grace, Sheboygan since ordination until retirement.

In addition to serving in a diaconal role at the altar of Grace, Dcn. Mike was deeply involved in Hmong ministry. Working with Episcopal Migration Ministries, he helped resettle over 400 people from over 100 families. He was part of bringing Cursillo to the Diocese of Fond du Lac and served on many teams as a lay person and as a deacon.

When Grace's regular healing ministry started in 1992, Dcn. Mike was one of the ministry's leaders and continued to be involved over three decades. Most recently, he is a member of the Companion Diocese Task Force and had the honor of hosting Friar Fungayi for several days during their visit in 2018.

Dcn. Mike will continue to be involved at Grace, Sheboygan and in the diocese, but on a more informal basis.

The Rev. Nigel Bousfield has retired from active ministry as a Priest of the church. He served as Rector of St. Mark's, Waupaca from 2008 until his retirement the end of 2020.

Bousfield was born in the United Kingdom and received his M.Div. from Nashotah House. He was ordained in the Diocese of Quincy in 2003. He served congregations in New York State and on diocesan committees such as Stewardship, Commission on Ministry and the Committee for Canon Law prior to coming to the Diocese of Fond du Lac.

Fr. Nigel is what is sometimes called a "second-career" priest, having worked for many years in marketing in Arizona, California and Illinois. During his time at St. Mark's, he worked with congregational leaders to demolish a neighboring house owned by the church and install an outside worship space, the Garden of Blessings. He served the diocese in a number of ways including on the Trustees and Executive Council.

Fr. Bousfield has moved to Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, planning to take some time for refreshment.

The Rev. Dcn. Dale Hutjens has announced, and Bishop Matt Gunter has accepted, his resignation from active ministry as a Deacon of the church. Resigning is the canonical term, but is similar to retiring. He continues to be a Deacon, but will not be assigned to a particular congregation or ministry by the bishop.  He was assigned to St. Anne's, De Pere since 2003. He also worked for a time with the people of St. Paul's, Suamico while their Vicar was ill.

Hutjens was received into the Episcopal Church at St. Anne's, De Pere in 1993. He became an active lay leader. He served as a lay reader, lay eucharistic visitor, a number of outreach programs and served on the Vestry. He was active in maintaining the building and grounds. After completing the diocesan School for Christian Studies, he was ordained a deacon on August 30, 2003.

As a Deacon Dale continued to serve at St. Anne's and was active in diocesan ministry. He was on the Deacons Council, Companion Diocese Task Force and worked on Happening for High School Youth. After retiring from his secular job in 2014, he pedaled his bike 4,253 miles across America on the TransAmericaTrail to raise awareness of Episcopal Relief and Development. He recently biked from De Pere to the Diocesan Office in Appleton for a visit.

He and his wife, Winnie, continue to live in De Pere and will continue to be a part of the life of St. Anne's. They have two adult children.

The Rev. Dr. Karl Schaffenburg, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Sheboygan, has announced plans to retire effective May 1, 2019. He has served Grace since 2011. As a seminarian, he served for a time at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac.

A graduate of Nashotah House, Schaffenburg was ordained to the priesthood in 2006 by Bishop Russell Jacobus. He served a call in Mississippi prior to Sheboygan. He has been active in diocesan ministries serving as a Trustee, on the Executive Council, as Dean of the Lake Winnebago Deanery and in other capacities.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, will move to Laurel, Mississippi to be near family.  In a letter to the congregation, he noted he is "not so much retiring from my current calling as to a calling which will focus more on longer term projects."

 Read his letter to the congregation here. 

Bishop Matt Gunter is both disheartened and delighted and to announce Vicky Stauber-Pufall's retirement with her last day being May 31, 2018. Vicky has served the diocese as Diocesan Office Secretary for over 11 years, contributing her gifts of hospitality and servanthood. Vicky said she approached the position "as a called ministry of Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior, and not simply a job." She plans to spend more time with her family both in Wisconsin and the Duluth, MN area.

"We will keep Vicky in our prayers." Bishop Gunter shared, "and wish her health and happiness as she enters this next chapter in her life." Those who have appreciated Vicky's service are invited to contribute to a retirement purse, facilitated through the Diocesan Office. A check may be sent with "Retirement" in the memo or your gift may be made electronically.