Rev. Erv Hutter has been the pastor of PIlgrim since February 28, 2016.

The Rev. Erwin Michael Hutter is a native of Bay City, Michigan. A lifelong Lutheran, he was baptized, educated, and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church before earning degrees from Delta College and Saginaw Valley State College, where he studied history.

Scouting has been an important part of his life since childhood. An Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, Hutter served for five decades in numerous leadership positions and spent fifteen summers working at Scout camps throughout the Midwest, particularly Camp Rotary near Clare, Michigan.

In 1996, he married Dawn Holly Appold. Together they raised three children, Christian, Katie (husband-Brad), and Andreas. After serving a term as Monitor Township Clerk, Hutter entered Concordia Seminary in St. Louis to prepare for the pastoral ministry. He served his vicarage and the first ten years of his ministry at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Taylor, Michigan, and since 2016 has served as pastor of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Essexville.

A lifelong student of Bay County history and genealogy, Hutter has served on the Board of Directors of the Bay County Historical Society. He is also a past president of the Bay City Rotary Club, a volunteer at Pine Ridge Historic Cemetery, and a member of the Bay City History Buffs Roundtable. His life and vocation reflect enduring commitments to faith, family, history, and service to his community.