Pastor William Sappenfield grew up in Sherman, Texas. He graduated from Austin College in 1977 with a Bachelor's Degree in Religion. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio in 1982 and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation in South Bend, Indiana in 1988. Pastor Sappenfield served congregations in Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Kansas before returning to Texas as the pastor of Peace Lutheran in 2005. He has been active in the ecumenical ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since its inception. His wife, the former Linda Dodson of Bonham, Texas is a reference librarian. They have a grown daughter, Emily.