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.

Martin Luther College

As authorized by the WELS Constitution and Bylaws, the Governing Board of Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn., invites WELS pastors; male professors, teachers, and staff ministers; and voting members of WELS congregations to nominate a qualified . . .

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.

SUBMIT A NOMINATION

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

There are no nomination lists at this time.

Jonathan Bauer, Mount Horeb, Wis.

John Bortulin, Mukwonago, Wis.*

Bart Brauer, Des Moines, Wash.

Thomas Kock, Brown Deer, Wis.

Stephen Melso, Manitowoc, Wis.

Tyler Peil, Taylorsville, Utah

Nathan Kieselhorst, Watertown, Wis.

Thomas Plitzuweit, Oconomowoc, Wis.*

Benjamin Priebe, Phoenix, Ariz.

Jonathan Schroeder, Sharpsburg, Ga.*

Joshua Sternhagen, Commerce City, Colo.

Paul Workentine, Troutville, Va.

Matthew Doering, Lake Mills, Wis.*

Andrew Retzlaff, Missouri, Texas

Timothy Schubkegel, Burlington, Wis.

Matthew Brown, Houston, Texas*

Andrew Schroer, Edna, Texas

Nathan Sutton, San Antonio, Texas

Nathan Buege, Katy, Texas

Harmon Lewis, Alpharetta, Ga.

Aaron Voss, Muskego, Wis.*

John Dorn, Lake Mills, Wis.

Mark Heckendorf, Wellsville, Kan.

James Henrickson, Dallas, Texas*

David Bergemann, Hudson, Wis.

Mike Scharrer, Wixom, Mich.

Adam Zastrow, Mayville, Wis.*

Ryan Kolander, Appleton, Wis.

Steven Lange, Louisville, Ky.

John Vieths, Norman, Okla.

Steven Hillmer, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Douglas Tomhave, Lake Mills, Wis.*

Michael Weigand, Fond du Lac, Wis.

Christopher Joch, Burlington, Wis.

Nathan Reich, Tucson, Ariz.

Kevin Westra, Hortonville, Wis.

Kenneth Brokmeier, Brookings, S.D.

Joel Petermann, Harbor City, Calif.

Paul Zell, Henderson, N.C.

Seth Bode, Noblesville, Ind.

Steven Lange, Louisville, Ky.

Scott Miller, Egg Harbor, Wis.

Peter Snyder, Altura, Minn.

Daniel Solofra, Laveen, Ariz.

Paul Zell, Henderson, N.C.*

Justin Danell, Appleton, Wis.

Dennis Leckwee, Watertown, Wis.

Dane Mattes, Tampa, Fla.

Peter Micheel, Eau Claire, Wis.

Jesse Nofftz, Thornton, Colo.

Benjamin Priebe, Phoenix, Ariz.

Steven Rosenbaum, Wildomar, Calif.*

Timothy Schubkegel, Burlington, Wis.

Mark Werre, Viola, Wis.*

David Bradley, New Market, Ma.

Greg Galler, Lake Elmo, Minn.*

William Schaefer, Lannon, Wis.

Darrell Zastrow, Sun Prairie, Wis.

Jeffrey Zondag, Grayslake, Ill.

Learn more about the positions and the candidates.

NOMINATION ALERT ARCHIVE