Hoelter re-elected in North Wisconsin

North WisconsinJune 14-16Green Bay, Wis. Elected: Rev. Joel Hoelter, Wausau, Wis., president, second term, first ballot. Rev. Paul Weber, Marquette, Mich., first vice president. Rev. William Plautz, Chippewa Falls, Wis., second vice president. Dr. Timothy Wenger, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., third…

Proclamation marks 50 years of DCE ministry

Proclaiming June 26 as “National LCMS Director of Christian Education Day,” LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick recognized a 50th anniversary of the office of director of Christian education “with the prayer of God’s richest blessings on the DCE ministries of…

Northwest District elects Linnemann to first term

NorthwestJune 18-20Portland, Ore. Elected: Rev. Paul Linnemann, 50, of Tigard, Ore., first term, first ballot.  Linnemann succeeds Dr. Warren Schumacher, who retired after serving in the post for 15 years. Rev. Jonathan Dinger, Pocatello, Idaho, first vice president. Rev. Jonathan…

'Congregation Connect' links mission teams with fields

By Paula Schlueter Ross During one of four mission trips to the same region of Kenya, East Africa, over two years, Kevin Pieper heard about a community hard-hit by drought.  Pieper, director of global mission and local outreach at Salem…

LHM names Wurdeman as executive director

The International Lutheran Laymen’s League Board of Governors has chosen Bruce Wurdeman as executive director of Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM). Wurdeman, 60, currently is LHM’s director of United States Ministries.  He will begin work in his new position Aug. 1. …

Southern returns Schultz to top post

SouthernJune 18-20Baton Rouge, La. Elected: Rev. Kurtis Schultz, Slidell, La., president, third term (first ballot). Rev. Theodore (Ted) Richter, Parker, Fla., first vice president, Rev. David Lewis, Hernando, Miss., second vice president. Rev. John Karle, Natchitoches, La., third vice president.…

Stechholz re-elected in English District

EnglishJune 18-20Hales Corners, Wis. Elected: Dr. David Stechholz, Livonia, Mich., second term, first ballot (Stechholz was unopposed). Dr. Roger Ellis, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, first vice president. Rev. Wayne Morton, Pinetop, Ariz., second vice president. Dr. Martin Bangert, Muskego, Wis., third…

Golter re-elected to third term in Rocky Mountain

Rocky MountainJune 18-20Denver Elected: Rev. Randall Golter, Highlands Ranch, Colo., president, third term, by acclamation. Rev. Allen Anderson, Boulder, Colo., first vice president, representing the Eastern Region. Rev. Douglas Escue, Santa Fe, N.M., second vice president (Southern Region). Rev. Roger…

Ohio re-elects Cripe as president

OhioJune 18-20Columbus, Ohio Elected: Rev. Terry Cripe, Olmsted Falls, Ohio, president, second term, by acclamation. Dr. John C. Davidson, Lancaster, Ohio, first vice president, representing the Southeast Region. Dr. David Zachrich, Tallmadge, Ohio, second vice president, North Central Region. Rev.…

Florida-Georgia elects Walton as new president

Florida-GeorgiaJune 12-14Lake Mary, Fla. Elected: Rev. Gregory Walton, 47, Marietta, Ga., president, first term, third ballot. Rev. C. Scott Gress, Delray Beach, Fla., first vice president. Rev. David C. Brighton, Warner Robins, Ga., second vice president. Meeting under the theme “The…

South Wisconsin re-elects Wille

South WisconsinJune 7-9Mequon, Wis. Elected: Dr. John C. Wille, West Bend, Wis., president, second term, by acclamation. Rev. Randolph H. Raasch, Cedarburg, Wis., first vice president, Northeast Region. Rev. Daniel Torkelson, Clyman, Wis., second vice president, Southeast Region. Rev. David…

LFL offers resource catalogs

Lutherans For Life (LFL) is offering two catalogs with resources that promote pro-life ministry: The Life Resource Catalog lists a wide variety of LFL’s “Word-based resources” on abortion, adoption, bioethics, chastity, Creation, end-of-life issues, family living, fetal development, “Life Sunday,”…

Texas agency gets $24.3 million to help hurricane survivors

Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response (LSSDR), based in Austin, Texas, has received a $24.3 million grant to provide case management services to the 13,000 survivors in 16 Texas counties devastated last September by Hurricane Ike. LSSDR also received a $331,000…

Apple of His Eye wins lawsuit on distributing religious literature

By Paula Schlueter Ross The Apple of His Eye, a St. Louis-based LCMS mission society, is free to distribute religious literature at public events in the city of St. Louis, according to a U.S. District Court judge. On June 11,…

Eastern District elects Wicher as new president

Eastern June 12-13Williamsville, N.Y. Elected: Dr. Chris C. Wicher, Cheektowaga, N.Y., president, first term, first ballot. Wicher, 52, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Cheektowaga, had been the district’s first vice president since 2006.  Installed along with other district officers…

Mid-South returns Lampe to top post

Mid-SouthJune 12-14Memphis, Tenn. Elected: Rev. Ken Lampe, Memphis, president, third term, first ballot. Rev. James Walter, Little Rock, Ark., first vice president. Rev. Roger Paavola, Cookeville, Tenn., second vice president and secretary. Rev. David Tews, Horseshoe Bend, Ark., third vice…