Pastor Spomer gained early childhood education in Lutheran elementary schools, followed by high school and junior college at Concordia Academy in St. Paul, graduating in 1958. After completing undergraduate work at Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, he entered Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1960.
The 1962-63 academic year was spent as vicar at Grace Lutheran Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. In 1964 he received a Master of Divinity degree. On June 14, 1964, Peace Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois, and his father, Rev. John Spomer, had the privilege of ordaining his son into the Holy Ministry. He earned a Master of Arts in Education in 1971 from the University of Michigan. In 1990, he received an earned Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California.
In 1965, Pastor Spomer planted a mission congregation, Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and served as its first pastor. He also served in various positions within the Michigan District and Ann Arbor civic community. In January, 1982, after nearly seventeen fruit-bearing years at his first congregation, he arrived in Broken Arrow to shepherd Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Preaching, teaching and reaching out with the Gospel is his “main thing” and he consistently reminds his congregation to also, “Keep the main thing, the main thing!” Feeding and leading the flock at Immanuel with spiritual food includes experiencing his many culinary talents. Leadership positions within the Broken Arrow community include: Past President of Broken Arrow Rotary Club, Beautification Committee Chairman for four years from which he received a Community Distinguished Service Award from the state of Oklahoma, President of the BA Ministerial Alliance for four years, United Way Chairman, Ambassador of the Chamber of Commerce, Broken Arrow Rotary Foundation member, and a number of years ago columnist for “The Cracker Barrel” in the Broken Arrow Ledger. In 2000, Pastor Spomer also served the community as Chairman of the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce.
He married the former Constance Rawerts of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, August, 1962. She taught the first-grade teacher in Broken Arrow schools and at Immanuel's Christian Academy. She earned a Master’s Degree in Education at NSU. Eldest daughter, Amy, is married to Dr. Layne Subera and resides in Skiatook, OK with their daughter Hayleigh and son Luke. Second daughter, Rachel is married to Michael Wallace and resides in Dallas, Texas. They have a son, Matthew.
During his tenure, Immanuel has undertaken building projects, starting with a major expansion on the Hill in 1985. In 2001, with Spomer’s leadership and vision, a $7 million building project at a new location, 400 North Aspen, in Broken Arrow was completed. Opened in the Fall of 2002, the church started Immanuel Christian Academy which currently has an enrollment of over 140 students. In December of 2002, a new 800 seat sanctuary was dedicated just in time for Immanuel's 90th Anniversary.
Pastor Spomer celebrated his retirement from full-time ministry on January 8, 2006. He is continuing on in a part-time capacity at Immanuel. He and Connie really enjoy the flexibility his new schedule allows them and hope to serve on a mission trip in the near future.