Rev. Roger Lindler, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, holds a custom made mask he wore during radiation therapy as part of his battle against brain cancer. Lindler endured daily doses of the treatment for seven weeks, helped along by friends, family and "Miracle the Duck" — a gift from parishioners. In a letter addressed to church members and released Monday, Rev. Roger Lindler announced his resignation from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church due to continued health problems from his battle with brain cancer.

“As you know, I have about 46 weeks of chemotherapy left,” Rev. Lindler wrote. “During this time there will likely be times when my blood counts are low and my energy and stamina low as well. This happened to me last week. And there will be another seven weeks until I can drive again. At best I would likely be able to only serve St. Paul’s on a part-time basis during this next year. It has become all too apparent to (my wife) Melba and me, and I am sure to others, that St. Paul’s needs more than a part-time pastor. So that you might begin your search I am submitting my resignation effective the end of July. I will be more than glad to continue to be your interim pastor.”

Lindler recounted his harrowing experience of suddenly finding out he had brain cancer to this newspaper earlier this year.

“It was Feb. 25 when I first noticed something,” Lindler explained. “I was going to bed and I tried to swing my left leg over to get into the bed and it would not move. It didn’t feel heavy or anything, it just wouldn’t go anywhere. My left arm started having problems too. Then a few days later I fell three times.”

Lindler knew something was wrong.

“I went to the emergency room at Upstate Carolina. I remember Dr. Bob Kaemmerlen was there and Dr. Jane Wasson and they told me I had a brain tumor. It was unbelievable. I was sent to Spartanburg Regional later and they did an MRI. I asked them how long I had, and they said four months.”

Lindler was taken aback.

“I went to Duke Medical Center,” he said.

Diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain tumor, Lindler’s growth was almost exactly in the center of his brain.

“On March 6, Dr. Alan Friedman removed the tumor,” Lindler said.

His letter continued, “The Rev. Lenae Rasmussen, Executive Chair of the Augsburg Lutheran District of LCMC has contacted me and assures me a good pastor can be found for St. Paul’s. Since I have been here so long (27 years) I urge you to go ahead, appoint a pulpit committee. Gather resumes, then take time to review those resumes, and interview prospective pastors. Melba and I plan to remain active members of the congregation and not interfere with any new pastor as they develop their own ministry.”