NOMINATION ALERTS

According to the WELS Constitution and Bylaws, ministerial education schools, boards and committees, and subsidiaries may ask WELS pastors; male professors, teachers, or staff ministers; and voting members of WELS congregations to nominate qualified individuals for called positions and/or board positions. Current nomination alerts are listed below.

There are no nomination alerts at this time.

Michigan Lutheran Seminary

As authorized by the WELS Constitution and Bylaws, the Governing Board of Michigan Lutheran Seminary (MLS), Saginaw, Mich., invites WELS pastors; male professors, teachers, and staff ministers; and voting members of WELS congregations to nominate a qualified . . .

  • pastor or male or female teacher for the position of professor of music. Serving in the Fine Arts Department, this candidate will direct the MLS band and the chapel choir, teach general music, and direct the Children’s Theater production. The candidate should have a deep appreciation for ministerial education and a strong ability in instrumental conducting.

All nominations must be received by Oct. 1, 2025.

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Pastor- or male staff minister-trained candidate to serve as a professor of staff ministry and theology. This individual will direct the staff ministry program, teach core courses in that program, and teach other courses as needed. Nominees must be apt to teach and fully support the mission mindset of MLC as it trains men and women for public ministry in WELS. They must possess a high level of theological knowledge, an evangelical approach shaped by parish ministry experience, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues. For pastorally-trained nominees, experience in a staff ministry setting is preferred. A master’s degree in theology is preferred, but a willingness to pursue such a degree if not currently held is a requirement. This nomination request results from the impending retirement of Dr. Lawrence Olson, whose ministry service at MLC will conclude June 30, 2026.

Teacher-trained candidate to serve as a professor of special education. This individual will be responsible for teaching content and pedagogy courses in special education to students in that specific major/minor as well as to all education majors in their required content course. Nominees must have a high level of content knowledge as well as experience teaching in a special education setting. Nominees must be apt to teach and fully support the mission mindset of MLC as it trains candidates for ministry service in WELS. A master’s degree in special education is preferred, but a willingness to pursue such a degree if not currently held is a requirement. This nomination request results from the resignation of Dr. Kelli Green, who was granted a peaceful release effective June 30, 2025.

Pastor- or teacher-trained candidate to serve as a professor of English. This individual will be responsible for teaching literature and writing to students who are training to serve as teachers, pastors, and staff ministers. Nominees must be apt to teach and fully support the mission mindset of MLC as it trains candidates for ministry service in WELS. A master’s degree in English Literature is preferred, but a willingness to pursue such a degree if not currently held is a requirement. This nomination request results from the impending retirement of Prof. Brian Dose, whose ministry service at MLC will conclude June 30, 2026.

The MLC Governing Board will decide whether to extend these calls at an upcoming meeting in October 2025. All nominations must be received by Sept. 7, 2025.

NOMINATION LISTS

Martin Luther College

The following people have been nominated for the following positions at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.

Mr. James Boggs, Lannon, Wis.

Dr. Timothy Bourman, Middle Village, N.Y.

Mr. Jeffrey Falck, Lima, Ohio

Rev. Robert Guenther, New Ulm, Minn.

Mr. Seth Herrmann, Spring, Texas

Rev. Thomas Kock, Brown Deer, Wis.

Rev. Benjamin Kuerth, Doral, Fla.

Mr. Kristoffer Kuschel, New Ulm, Minn.

Dr. Erik Landwehr, Peridot, Ariz.

Mr. Levi Nagel, Milwaukee, Wis.

Rev. Souksamay Phetsanghane, Watertown, Wis.

Rev. Jonathan Quinn, Summerville, S.C.

Rev. Karl Schultz, Rhinelander, Wis.

Dr. Brandon Steenbock, Green Bay, Wis.

Dr. Paul Steinberg, Milwaukee, Wis.

Mr. Kevin Walker, Hartford, Wis.

Mr. Chad White, Round Rock, Texas

Mrs. Kortney Bilitz, Cascade, Wis.

Mrs. Emily Cantwell, Watertown, S.D.

Mrs. Holly Dannecker, Appleton, Wis.

Mrs. Courtney Darnell, Fort Morgan, Colo.

Ms. Katie Donaldson, West Bend, Wis.

Ms. Hannah Ellingboe, Appleton, Wis.

Mrs. Jodi Evers, North Mankato, Minn.

Mrs. Erica Gorsegner, Garden City, Mich.

Mrs. Sara Makinen, Racine, Wis.

Ms. Jessica Neumann, Eagle, Wis.

Mrs. Sarah Radtke, Watertown, S.D.

Mrs. Angela Randall, Maple Grove, Minn.

Mrs. Kristi Ringen, Mankato, Minn.

Mrs. Alyssa Wascher, Appleton, Wis.

Rev. Phil Arnold, Germantown, Wis.

Rev. Daniel Baumler, El Paso, Texas

Rev. Joshua Becker, Saginaw, Mich.

Rev. Benjamin Berger, Harrisburg, Pa.

Rev. Nathaniel Biebert, Winner, S.D.

Rev. James Borgwardt, Fond du Lac, Wis.

Ms. Elizabeth Bornschlegl, Rochester, Minn.

Rev. Ethan Cherney, Menasha, Wis.

Rev. Justin Cloute, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Rev. Christopher Doerr, Milwaukee, Wis.

Mrs. Amanda Gronholz, Jefferson, Wis.

Dr. Jacob Haag, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Dr. Philip Huebner, Milwaukee, Wis.

Rev. Nathanael Jensen, Las Cruces, N.M.

Rev. Samuel Jeske, Crown Point, Ind.

Mr. Ryan Kirchoff, Appleton, Wis.

Rev. Michael Koepke, Chandler, Ariz.

Rev. Benjamin Kuerth, Doral, Fla.

Rev. Steven Lange, Louisville, Ky.

Rev. Joshua Mayer, Rogers, Minn.

Mr. James Otto, Two Rivers, Wis.

Prof. Martin Pagel, Watertown, Wis.

Rev. Mark Parsons, Nampa, Idaho

Mrs. Liesel Phetsanghane, Watertown, Wis.

Prof. Souksamay Phetsanghane, Watertown, Wis.

Prof. Matthew Prost, Saginaw, Mich.

Rev. Benjamin Radtke, Watertown, S.D.

Mr. Ryan Rosenthal, Watertown, S.D.

Rev. Peter Schlicht, West Bend, Wis.

Rev. Joel Seifert, Kennesaw, Ga.

Rev. Benjamin Tomczak, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Mrs. Haley Wels, New Ulm, Minn.

Rev. Joshua Zarling, Waukesha, Wis.

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NOMINATION ALERT ARCHIVE