Sun, Sept. 24, 1995

The pastor of San Francisco's oldest Evangelical Lutheran church has resigned because of a scandal over alleged - but unspecified - sexual misconduct, according to a letter from the synod officials.

Rev. Richard Schaper resigned as pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church last week when he was notified that he would face disciplinary charges filed by Bishop Robert Mattheis of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Schaper had served as pastor at St. Mark's for seven years and has been active in many interfaith organizations in San Francisco.

"Pastor Schaper was named in a complaint of sexual misconduct which was filed in accordance with the synod's guidelines," Mattheis wrote in a Sept. 21 letter to the St. Mark's congregation.

In an interview with The Examiner, Mattheis declined to discuss the alleged misconduct but said that it did not involve minors and was "not a police matter."

"It's a deeply unfortunate situation. It's tragic," Mattheis said. "We acted upon receipt and investigation of a complaint. . . . We're committed to the church being a safe place, where people can come and not feel vulnerable."

St. Mark's, located at 1111 O'Farrell St., has about 500 members and is the oldest Evangelical Lutheran church on the West Coast. It is one of 13 Evangelical Lutheran churches in San Francisco.

In a letter mailed to parishioners on Saturday, Schaper wrote that he resigned after Mattheis received the complaint against him.

"The policy of this church is and should be one of zero-tolerance for the appearance of inappropriate behavior between a pastor and parishioner. Therefore, I have no choice but to resign."

He added, "My deepest suffering is in knowing the devastating consequences which my actions have had upon so many trusting people, not the least the two parishioners most directly affected and their families."

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