Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Pastor, teacher, and staff minister call report

7/18/2023 – 7/24/2023

The call report details when pastors, teachers, and staff ministers change positions within WELS. The Conference of Presidents oversees and coordinates the calling process.

NO DECISION REPORTED

Pastors	Current call	New call	Date issued
Rev Michael Quandt	Redemption LC Saint George UT	Immanuel LC Sault Sainte Marie MI Pastor	6/15/2023
Rev Jeffrey Schmidt	Emanuel LC Flint MI	Grace LC Geneva NE Trinity LC Grafton NE Pastor	6/21/2023
Rev Scott Schultz	Cross of Christ LC Portage WI	Grace LC Manitowoc WI Pastor	6/22/2023
Rev Thomas Mielke	Christian Giving Counselor	Zion LC Greenleaf WI Associate Pastor	6/25/2023
Rev Adam Zimpelmann	Good Shepherd LC Fond du Lac WI	Christ Alone LC Thiensville WI Associate Pastor	6/26/2023
Rev Robert Wassermann	Mt Calvary LC La Crosse WI	St John LC Kendall WI St Matthew LC Ontario WI Pastor	6/27/2023
Rev James Seiltz	Salem LC Colorado Springs CO	Grace LC Ringle WI Pastor	6/27/2023
Rev Paul Spaude	St Matthew’s LC Niles IL	Living Savior LC Kalispell MT Pastor	7/1/2023
Rev Benjamin Berger	Ascension LC Harrisburg PA	New Mission Start Panama City Beach FL Pastor	7/1/2023
Rev Benjamin Berger	Ascension LC Harrisburg PA	Risen Savior LC Mc Farland WI Pastor	7/2/2023
Rev Nathan Laska	Trinity LC & St John LC Carson ND Immanuel LC Elgin ND	St Peter LC Chilton WI Pastor	7/2/2023
Rev Caleb Bassett	Redeemer LC Fallbrook CA	Our Redeemer LC Madison WI Associate Pastor	7/2/2023
Rev Michael Bartsch	Retired	St John LC Centuria WI Redeemer LC Saint Croix Falls WI Pastor	7/2/2023
Rev Craig Wilke	Sure Foundation LC Brandon SD	Christ LC Pewaukee WI Associate Pastor	7/2/2023
Rev Michael Cherney	Trinity LC El Paso TX	New Mission Start Idaho Falls, ID Pastor	7/2/2023
Rev Erik Janke	May River LC Bluffton SC	Our Shepherd LC Lancaster CA Pastor	7/2/2023
Rev Daniel Lewig	Trinity LC Lime Ridge WI St John LC Hillpoint WI	Risen Savior LC Mansfield OH Pastor	7/6/2023
Rev Paul Prange	Ministerial Education	Manitowoc Lutheran High School Manitowoc WI President	7/8/2023
Rev Steven Lange	Hope LC Louisville KY	Manitowoc Lutheran High School Manitowoc WI Pastor; Theology Department	7/8/2023
Rev Clark Schultz	Shepherd of the Hills LC West Bend WI	Bethany LC Fort Atkinson WI Associate Pastor; Lead Campus Pastor	7/9/2023
Rev Timothy Spiegelberg	Carbon Valley LC Firestone CO	Crossroads Church Chicago IL Pastor	7/9/2023
Rev Tristan Paustian	Bethlehem LC Hortonville WI	Shepherd of the Lakes LC Fairmont MN Pastor	7/9/2023
Rev Tristan Paustian	Bethlehem LC Hortonville WI	Our Redeemer LC Yorktown VA Pastor	7/9/2023
Rev Nathan Zastrow	Grace LC Yakima WA	Morning Star LC Jackson WI Associate Pastor	7/9/2023
Rev Joshua Jensen	Grace LC Oshkosh WI	Christ Our Rock LC Rochester MN Pastor	7/9/2023
Rev Aaron Boehm	Shepherd of the Hills LC La Mesa CA	Christ LC Oakley MI Pastor	7/9/2023
Rev Michael Hollmann	St Mark LC Eau Claire WI	Hope LC Chino Valley AZ & Prescott AZ Pastor	7/10/2023
Rev Jared Natsis	Rock of Ages LC Madison TN	St John LC Lewiston MN Pastor	7/12/2023
Rev Daniel Rodewald	Paradise Valley LC Phoenix AZ	Christ LC North St Paul & Hugo MN Associate Pastor	7/12/2023
Rev David Schneider	Cross of Christ LC Universal City TX	Christus LC Delavan WI Pastor	7/12/2023
Prof Joel Thomford	Martin Luther College New Ulm MN	Zion LC Valentine NE Pastor	7/12/2023
Rev Matthew Proeber	Peace LC Eagle River AK	Cross of Christ LC Kingman AZ Pastor	7/12/2023
Rev Jeffrey Samelson	Christian Life Resources Hartford WI	Faith LC Radcliff KY Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Samuel Crass	Zion LC Bonesteel SD St Paul LC Naper NE	Divinity-Divine Charity LC Whitefish Bay WI Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Nathaniel Timmermann	Peace LC Otsego MI	St Paul’s LC North Mankato MN Associate Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Joel Free	St Paul LC Ixonia WI	Mt Olive LC Delano MN Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Andrew Nemmers	Hope LC Houston TX	Trinity LC Watertown WI Associate Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Aaron Platzer	Peace LC Loves Park IL	St John’s LC Jefferson WI Associate Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Adam Mueller	Redeemer LC Tucson AZ	St Paul’s LC Stevensville MI Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Joel Pankow	Trinity LC Bay City MI	Christ the King LC Port Charlotte FL Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Roger Riedel	Grace LC Oronoco MN	Peace LC Granger IN Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Aaron Nitz	Good Shepherd LC Cheyenne WY	St Paul’s LC Rapid City SD Associate Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev Paul Marggraf	Retired	Mt Olive LC Delano MN Pastor; Retirement Call	7/16/2023
Rev Benjamin Birner	Cross of Christ LC Liverpool NY	One Africa Team (OAT) Missionary	7/17/2023
Rev Patrick Freese	Trinity LC Abita Springs LA	St John LC Wauwatosa WI Associate Pastor	7/18/2023
Rev Frank Italiano Jr	Trinity LC Crete IL	Good Shepherd LC Midland MI Pastor	7/18/2023
Rev Timothy Johnson	Zion LC Mercer WI St Paul LC Hurley WI Bethany LC Bruce Crossing MI	St Stephen LC Fall River WI Pastor	7/19/2023
Rev Philip Hunter	Citrus Grove LC Wesley Chapel FL	Divine Savior Academy Doral FL Pastor; High School Theology	7/19/2023
Rev Dustin Bergene	Zion LC Bristol WI	St Paul LC Prescott WI Pastor	7/20/2023
Rev Carl Schroeder	St Peter’s LC Sturgeon Bay WI	St John LC Burlington WI Associate Pastor	7/20/2023
Rev Benjamin Zahn	Amazing Grace LC Myrtle Beach SC	Green Valley LC Henderson NV Pastor	7/20/2023
Rev Jacob Reich	St John LC Bay City MI	St Mark LC Salina KS Pastor	7/20/2023
Rev Jordan Bence	The Vine LC Joplin MO	Emmanuel LC Hudson WI Pastor	7/20/2023
Teachers	Current call	New call	Date issued
Mrs Marlene Bruss	St John LS Maribel WI	St John LS Maribel WI Teacher; Grades K-2, One-Year Call	7/11/2023
Mrs Lisa Vieth		Christ-St John’s LS West Salem WI Teacher; Grades 3-4, One-Year Call	7/11/2023
Mrs Amanda Irwin	Good Shepherd LS Wisconsin Rapids WI	Good Shepherd LS Wisconsin Rapids WI ECM Director and Teacher; Half-Time Provisional Call	7/16/2023
Ms Monica Swenson		Illinois Lutheran Elementary School Crete IL Teacher; Grade 3	7/17/2023

CALLS ACCEPTED

Pastors	Current call	New call	Date accepted
Rev James Naumann	Retired	Our Savior LC Phillips WI Pastor; Retirement Call	7/17/2023
Rev Paul Horn	Lamb of God LC West Lafayette IN	Conference of Presidents National civilian chaplain	7/22/2023
Rev Ryan Kolander	Palabra de Vida Detroit MI	Riverview LC Appleton WI Associate Pastor	7/22/2023
Rev Isaiah Horn	Zion LC Olivia MN	Trinity LC Kiel WI Associate Pastor	7/22/2023
Teachers	Current call	New call	Date accepted
Mrs Sarah Lambrecht		St Paul LS Onalaska WI Teacher; Music, Less-Than-Half Time, Provisional Call	6/16/2023
Mr James Wade Jr		East Fork LS Whiteriver AZ Teacher; Upper Grades Dept.	7/8/2023
Mr Nathan Curtis		St Paul LS Columbus OH Teacher; Grades 7-8, Provisional Call	7/16/2023
Miss Rachel Gresock		Prince of Peace LS Taylorsville UT Teacher; Administrative Release Teacher, Half-Time	7/18/2023
Mrs Amy Niehausen		Little Lamb Academy of Medford Medford WI ECM Teacher; Provisional Call	7/20/2023
Mrs Rebecca Horn		Reformation LS San Diego CA Teacher; Grades 3-4	7/22/2023
Mr Nicholas Raith	Trinity LS West Bend WI	St John LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 4, One-Year Call	7/24/2023
Staff Ministers	Current call	New call	Date accepted
Mr Nathan Graumann		St Paul’s LC Fort Atkinson WI Congregation Staff Minister	7/23/2023

CALLS DECLINED

Pastors	Current call	New call	Date declined
Rev Ryan Kolander	Palabra de Vida Detroit MI	Abiding Shepherd LC Cottage Grove WI Pastor	7/8/2023
Rev John Gierach	St John LC Ann Arbor MI	St Peter LC Savanna IL Trinity LC Mount Carroll IL Pastor	7/16/2023
Rev John Bortulin	St John LC Mukwonago WI	Michigan Lutheran Seminary Saginaw MI Pastor; Dean of Students	7/19/2023
Rev John Borgwardt	Living Word LC Waukesha WI	New Mission Start Bentonville AR San Antonio TX Pastor	7/20/2023
Rev Jeremy Glowicki	St Paul LC Jordan MN	St John LC Riga MI Pastor	7/22/2023
Rev Brady Coleman	Siloah LC Milwaukee WI	Peace LC Livonia MI Pastor	7/22/2023
Rev Benjamin Kratz	Our Savior LC Birmingham AL	St Peter’s LC Fond du Lac WI Associate Pastor	7/22/2023
Rev Samuel Jeske	Our Shepherd LC Crown Point IN	St Mark LC De Pere WI Associate Pastor	7/22/2023
Rev Luke Tembreull	Beautiful Savior LC Corvallis OR	Peace LC Wilmot WI Pastor	7/23/2023
Rev Philip Gurgel	Trinity LC Waukesha WI	St John LC Two Rivers WI Associate Pastor	7/23/2023

RESIGNED

Teachers	Current call	Date resigned
Mrs Bethel Boeder	Martin Luther College New Ulm MN	6/30/2023
Mrs Sarah Sell	Bay Pines LS Seminole FL	6/30/2023

CALLED TO ETERNAL GLORY

Teachers	Home church	Death date
Mrs Marilyn Nell	St Paul LC Algoma WI	7/16/2023
Staff Ministers	Home church	Death date
Mr Thomas DeWitz	Open Bible LC Oxford FL	7/19/2023

RETIREMENT

Pastors	Current call	Date retired
Rev Michael Barlow	Cross LC Rockford MN	5/26/2024
Teachers	Current call	Date retired
Mr Scott Sievert	Illinois Lutheran Elementary School Crete IL	6/30/2023
Mr Brad Schaper	Luther High School Onalaska WI	6/30/2023