Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Pastor, teacher, and staff minister call report
7/2/2024 – 7/8/2024
The call report details when pastors, teachers, and staff ministers change positions within WELS. The Conference of Presidents oversees and coordinates the calling process.
CALLS ISSUED
| Pastors | Current call | New call | Date issued |
| Rev Kendall Cook | Trinity LC Crete IL |
CrossWalk Lutheran Ministries – Midtown Phoenix AZ Associate Pastor |
5/28/2024 |
| Rev Michael Quandt | Redemption LC Saint George UT |
New Mission Easley SC |
5/30/2024 |
| Rev Benjamin Schone | Abiding Word LC Houston TX |
Calvary LC Dallas TX Pastor for Outreach |
6/2/2024 |
| Rev Steven Waldschmidt | Christ Alone LC Dardenne Prairie MO |
Christ LC Pewaukee WI Associate Pastor; Assimilation |
6/2/2024 |
| Rev Matthew Minzlaff | Immanuel LC South Lyon MI |
Grace LC Waupun WI |
6/5/2024 |
| Rev Andrew Schroer | Redeemer LC Edna TX |
Asia One Team Friendly Counselor to Indonesia |
6/6/2024 |
| Rev Kevin Wattles | Grace LC Falls Church VA |
Asia One Team Team Leader |
6/6/2024 |
| Rev Michael Killinger | Bethel LC Bay City MI |
Crown of Life LC West Saint Paul MN |
6/9/2024 |
| Rev Bryant Laude | Zion LC Mobridge SD |
Good Shepherd LC Omaha NE |
6/9/2024 |
| Rev Mark Schutz | Hope LC Spearfish SD |
Christ Redeemer LC Trumbull CT |
6/9/2024 |
| Rev Robert Williams | English LC Viroqua WI |
First LC Green Bay WI |
6/9/2024 |
| Rev Scott Wolfram | Divine Word LC Plover WI The Word LC Stevens Point WI |
St John LC Wrightstown WI |
6/9/2024 |
| Pastor Matthew Nowak | Trinity LC Jenera OH |
St Paul LC Prescott WI |
6/11/2024 |
| Rev David Barkow | Christ the Lord LC Cottage Grove MN |
Risen Savior LC Mc Farland WI |
6/12/2024 |
| Rev Peter Kesting | Zion LC Fremont WI |
St John’s LC Jefferson WI Associate Pastor |
6/12/2024 |
| Rev Paul Cole | Christ LC Menominee MI |
St Peter (Hamburg) LC & St Peter LC Chaseburg WI |
6/13/2024 |
| Rev Ross Else | Emmaus LC Phoenix AZ |
Memorial LC Williamston MI |
6/13/2024 |
| Rev Benjy Pederson | Cross of Christ LC Coon Rapids MN |
St John LC Waterloo WI Associate Pastor |
6/13/2024 |
| Rev Geoffrey Rue | St Paul LC East Troy WI |
Christ LC Grand Island NE |
6/13/2024 |
| Rev Joseph Berg | Nain LC West Allis WI |
Christ LC Oakley MI |
6/16/2024 |
| Rev Joel Gawrisch | New Life LC Shoreview MN |
St Paul’s LC Stevensville MI |
6/16/2024 |
| Rev Jeremy Husby | Peace LC Hartford WI |
Grace LC Waukesha WI |
6/16/2024 |
| Rev Mark Jacobson | Grace LC Glendale AZ |
Lord of Lords LC Casper WY |
6/16/2024 |
| Rev Tony McKenzie | Trinity LC Neenah WI |
Faith LC Sussex WI Associate Pastor |
6/16/2024 |
| Rev Matthew Rauh | St Paul’s LC Arlington MN |
St Stephen LC Fall River WI |
6/16/2024 |
| Rev Larry Schwanke | St John LC Milton WI |
St Paul LC Crandon WI Christ LC Hiles WI St John LC Pelican Lake WI |
6/16/2024 |
| Rev Theodore Bodjanac | Shepherd of the Hills LC Fredericksburg TX |
St Paul’s LC Broken Bow NE |
6/17/2024 |
| Rev Matthew Kiecker | St John LC Lomira WI |
Christ the King LC Palm Coast FL |
6/17/2024 |
| Rev David Koelpin | Foundation LC Folsom CA |
Amazing Love LC Frankfort IL Associate Pastor |
6/19/2024 |
| Rev Matthew Natsis | Good Shepherd LC Livermore CA |
Peace LC Livonia MI |
6/19/2024 |
| Rev John Stelljes | Mt Olive LC Shakopee MN |
St Paul LC Muskego WI Associate Pastor |
6/19/2024 |
| Rev Paul Welke | Beautiful Savior LC Austin MN |
Trinity LC Mount Carroll IL St Peter LC Savanna IL |
6/19/2024 |
| Rev Daniel Habben | Mt Calvary LC Flagstaff AZ |
Lamb of God LC Williston ND |
6/20/2024 |
| Rev John Berg | Divinity LC Saint Paul MN |
St John LC Two Rivers WI Associate Pastor |
6/23/2024 |
| Rev Joshua Bodden | CRM | Abiding Word LC Houston TX Part-time one-year call |
6/23/2024 |
| Rev Andrew Ewings | Resurrection LC Monroe WI & Verona WI |
Lamb of God LC West Lafayette IN |
6/23/2024 |
| Rev Jason Liebenow | St Mark’s LC Iron River MI St John’s LC Florence WI St Paul LC Tipler WI |
Risen Savior LC Milwaukee WI |
6/23/2024 |
| Rev Brian Semrow | Beautiful Savior LC Fort Wayne IN |
St Paul LC Saginaw MI Associate Pastor |
6/23/2024 |
| Rev David Wietzke | Crown of Life LC Pueblo West CO |
Shepherd of the Lakes LC Fairmont MN |
6/23/2024 |
| Rev Kurt Hagen | St John LC & Zion LC Kingston WI |
St Paul LC Hopkins MI |
6/24/2024 |
| Rev Stephen Meyer | Life Lutheran Campus & Resurrection LC Rochester MN |
Risen Savior LC Pooler GA |
6/24/2024 |
| Rev Neil Birkholz | Joint Mission Council Waukesha WI |
St John LC Wauwatosa WI Associate Pastor |
6/25/2024 |
| Rev Kenneth Bittorf | St Andrew LC Medford WI St Peter LC Rib Lake WI |
Grace LC New London WI |
6/25/2024 |
| Rev Michael Zarling | Water of Life LC – Caledonia Campus & Water of Life LC – Racine Campus Racine WI |
St Paul LC Wisconsin Rapids WI Associate Pastor |
6/25/2024 |
| Rev Nicholas Guillaume | Grace LC Casa Grande AZ |
Mt Olive LC Suamico WI |
6/28/2024 |
| Rev Daniel Schmidt | St Matthew’s LC Oconomowoc WI |
Wisconsin Lutheran Institutional Ministries Inc Oconomowoc WI Chaplain |
6/28/2024 |
| Rev Christian Christenson | St John LC Cornell WI Our Redeemer LC Ladysmith WI |
Redeemer LC Tomahawk WI |
6/30/2024 |
| Rev Christian Christenson | St John LC Cornell WI Our Redeemer LC Ladysmith WI |
Peace of Our Savior LC New Carlisle OH |
6/30/2024 |
| Rev Brett Ehlke | St Paul LC Onalaska WI |
Christ LC Big Bend WI |
6/30/2024 |
| Rev Todd Engel | St John LC Red Wing MN |
Christ LC Baileys Harbor WI Zion LC Egg Harbor WI |
6/30/2024 |
| Rev Christian Marquardt | St James LC Milwaukee WI |
Pilgrim LC Minneapolis MN |
6/30/2024 |
| Rev Eric Melso | Living Hope LC Chattanooga TN |
Lord of Life LC Thornton CO |
6/30/2024 |
| Rev Benjamin Steenbock | Zion LC Hartland WI |
Good Shepherd LC Burnsville MN Associate Pastor |
6/30/2024 |
| Prof Aaron Christie | Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Mequon WI |
Open Bible LC Oxford FL |
7/1/2024 |
| Rev Paul Koester | Bethlehem LC Menomonee Falls WI |
Cross of Christ LC Boise ID Associate Pastor |
7/1/2024 |
| Rev Thomas Rockhoff | Prince of Peace LC Yankton SD |
Petra LC Sauk Rapids MN |
7/1/2024 |
| Rev Christopher Royce | Messiah LC Olympia WA |
Living Water LC Oshkosh WI Associate Pastor |
7/1/2024 |
| Rev Paul Koester | Bethlehem LC Menomonee Falls WI |
Mt Olive LC Delano MN |
7/2/2024 |
| Rev Luke Myslik | Zion LC Peshtigo WI |
St Paul LC Sodus MI |
7/2/2024 |
| Teachers | Current call | New call | Date issued |
| Mrs Emily Platzer | Amazing Grace Virtual Academy New Ulm MN Technology Director |
6/10/2024 | |
| Mrs Hannah Markgraf | St Paul LS Norfolk NE Grades 7-8 |
6/16/2024 | |
| Mr Aaron Trimmer | St John LS Milwaukee WI Grade 7 |
6/22/2024 | |
| Mrs Wendy Roberts | Gethsemane LS & Good Shepherd LS Omaha NE |
Good Shepherd LS Omaha NE Principal Release Time Teacher |
6/23/2024 |
| Mr John Lange | Retired | Crown of Life Christian Academy Fort Atkinson WI Grade 8, Upper Grades Science |
6/25/2024 |
| Mrs Valerie Pardo | Crown of Life Christian Academy Fort Myers FL Kindergarten |
6/25/2024 | |
| Mr Ronald Briney Jr | Retired | Michigan Lutheran High School Saint Joseph MI Economics, Personal Finance |
6/26/2024 |
| Mrs Brenda Koester | St Paul’s LS Fort Atkinson WI |
St Mark’s LS Watertown WI Grade 5 |
7/1/2024 |
| Ms Elizabeth Eckert | St Paul Lutheran Child Center Winneconne WI |
Good Shepherd LS West Bend WI Grade 1 |
7/7/2024 |
| Ms Sarah Gullixson | St John LS Redwood Falls MN Grade 2 |
7/7/2024 |
CALLS ACCEPTED
| Pastors | Current call | New call | Date accepted |
| Rev Curtis Golm | Messiah LC Milwaukee WI |
Peace LC Wilmot WI |
7/7/2024 |
| Teachers | Current call | New call | Date accepted |
| Mrs Kendra Dassey | Loving Arms Christian Child Development Center Maribel WI ECM Director |
4/30/2024 | |
| Mr Elijah Dorn | Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School New Ulm MN Science, Engineering |
5/7/2024 | |
| Mrs Elizabeth Forrester | St Paul LS Stevensville MI ECM Teacher |
6/7/2024 | |
| Mrs Karen Hall | St Paul LS Stevensville MI Grades 5-6 |
6/10/2024 | |
| Mrs Kim Pappenfuss | Cross of Glory LS
Peoria AZ |
St Paul LS Stevensville MI Grades 7-8 |
6/14/2024 |
| Mr Paul Pappenfuss | St Paul LS Stevensville MI Principal |
6/14/2024 | |
| Miss Jennifer Merritt | St Marcus LS – Burleigh Street – K4 – Gr Milwaukee WI Kindergarten |
6/18/2024 | |
| Mrs Molly Taylor | Christ-St Peter LS-East Campus Milwaukee WI ECM Teacher |
6/28/2024 | |
| Mrs Kristi Bredendick | St Paul LS Menomonie WI Grade 1 |
7/2/2024 | |
| Mrs Sierra Schlomer | Redeemer Lutheran Preschool Yakima WA ECM Teacher |
7/4/2024 | |
| Mrs Elizabeth Wolter | St John’s Little Lambs Learning Center
Montello WI |
Christ Alone Lutheran Academy – Grades K-2 Montello WI Kindergarten |
7/4/2024 |
| Mrs Naomi Boerner | Cross of Christ LS Coon Rapids MN Grades 5-6 |
7/5/2024 | |
| Mr Justin Peter | St Paul LS Wonewoc WI Grades 5-6 |
7/6/2024 | |
| Mrs Abigail Baehman | Good Shepherd LS Omaha NE Kindergarten, Music |
7/7/2024 | |
| Mr Frederick Luehring | Holy Trinity LS (ELS) Oconomowoc WI |
St Peter LS Helenville WI Grades 1-2 |
7/7/2024 |
| Mrs Karen Mattek | Emmanuel LS Tempe AZ Lower Grades, Virtual |
7/7/2024 | |
| Miss Sydney Peterson | Emmanuel LS Tempe AZ Grades 5-6, Virtual |
7/7/2024 | |
| Mrs Hannah Schleef | St Matthew LS Iron Ridge WI ECM Teacher; 4K, 5K |
7/7/2024 | |
| Mrs Tammy Kuehl | St Paul LS Lake Mills WI Grade 2 |
7/8/2024 |
CALLS RETURNED
| Pastors | Current call | New call | Date returned |
| Rev Andrew Buschkopf | Mountain of the Lord LC Wausau WI |
Risen Savior LC Orlando FL Associate Pastor |
7/1/2024 |
| Rev Russell Wilke III | St Paul LC Mauston WI |
Immanuel LC Sault Sainte Marie MI |
7/1/2024 |
| Rev Dr Timothy Bourman | Sure Foundation LC Queens NY |
Northdale LC Tampa FL |
7/3/2024 |
| Rev Joshua Becker | Christ LC Saginaw MI |
Our Savior’s LC Wausau WI |
7/6/2024 |
| Rev James Borgwardt | Redeemer LC Fond du Lac WI |
Grace LC Saint Joseph MI Associate Pastor |
7/6/2024 |
| Rev M John Derme | Shepherd of the Mountains LC Reno NV |
First LC La Crescent MN |
7/6/2024 |
| Rev Daniel Frey | Gethsemane LC Lees Summit MO |
Spirit of Life LC Caledonia MI |
7/6/2024 |
| Rev Peter Korthals | Beautiful Savior LC South Portland ME St Paul LC Amherst NH |
Crown of Life LC Hubertus WI Associate Pastor |
7/6/2024 |
| Rev Joel Naumann | St Mark LC Eau Claire WI |
Christ LC Zumbrota MN |
7/6/2024 |
| Rev Joel Pankow | Trinity LC Bay City MI |
Rock of Ages LC Kansas City MO |
7/6/2024 |
| Rev Mathew Pfeifer | Lincoln Heights LC Des Moines IA |
Christus LC Delavan WI |
7/6/2024 |
| Rev Joel Free | St Paul LC Ixonia WI |
Hope LC Andover MN |
7/7/2024 |
| Rev Steven Lange | Hope LC Louisville KY |
Peace LC Marshfield MO Zion LC Springfield MO |
7/7/2024 |
| Teachers | Current call | New call | Date returned |
| Mrs Erin Becker | St John LS Hemlock MI |
Our Savior LS Wausau WI Upper Grades |
6/10/2024 |
| Mrs Cathryn Free | St Paul LS Ixonia WI |
West Lutheran High School Plymouth MN English |
7/5/2024 |
| Mrs Tally Clobes | St John LS Redwood Falls MN Grade 2 |
7/6/2024 | |
| Miss Jennifer Petersen | Carlsbad Christian Academy Carlsbad CA Grade 3 |
7/8/2024 |
POSITION ELIMINATED
| Teachers | Current call | Date effective |
| Mrs Nancy Aaberg | Immanuel LS Hadar NE |
6/30/2024 |
| Mrs Tessa Koeppe | Immanuel LS Hadar NE |
6/30/2024 |
RESIGNED
| Teachers | Current call | Date resigned |
| Miss Allison Bovee | Good Shepherd LS West Bend WI |
6/30/2024 |
RETIRED
| Pastors | Current call | Date retired |
| Rev Youn Park | Holy Trinity Korean LC Des Moines WA |
6/30/2024 |
| Rev W Gunn | Amazing Love LC Frankfort IL |
7/31/2024 |
| Rev Jonathan Schultz | Mountain View LC Calgary AB Canada |
7/31/2024 |
| Teachers | Current call | Date retired |
| Dr David Brightsman | Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee WI |
6/30/2025 |
CALLED TO ETERNAL GLORY
| Pastors | Current congregation | Date deceased |
| Rev Paul Eckert | St Jacobi LC Greenfield WI |
6/30/2024 |
| Rev Paul Schmiege | King of Kings LC Willoughby OH |
7/2/2024 |
| Rev Robert Sawall | Our Savior LC Arlington TX |
7/6/2024 |
| Teachers | Current congregation | Date deceased |
| Mr Paul Fritze | St John’s LC New Ulm MN |
7/2/2024 |
VIEW CALL REPORT PDF
View a downloadable pdf version of the call report.
SUBSCRIBE TO TOGETHER
Get the latest WELS news delivered to your inbox twice every month.
