Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Pastor, teacher, and staff minister call report

5/30/2023 – 6/5/2023

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 John Steinbrenner	Cross of Christ LC Boise ID	Peace LC Trinity FL Pastor	4/23/2023
Rev Newlin Schafer	Good Shepherd LC Jacksonville FL	Bethany LC Manitowoc WI Associate Pastor	5/1/2023
Rev Newlin Schafer	Good Shepherd LC Jacksonville FL	Faith LC West Newton PA Pastor	5/1/2023
Rev Aaron Voss	Living Water LC Wind Lake WI	Resurrection LC Chesapeake VA Pastor	5/7/2023
Rev Austin Ziche	Immanuel LC Hadar NE	Redeemer LC Maple Grove MN Pastor	5/7/2023
Rev Samuel Pappenfuss	St Paul LC Crandon WI	Our Savior’s LC Wausau WI Pastor	5/9/2023
Rev Joel Spaude	St Peter LC Fort Collins CO	Grace LC Kenai AK Pastor	5/14/2023
Rev Philip Casmer	Christ the Lord LC Brookfield WI	Cross of Glory LC Peoria AZ Pastor	5/18/2023
Rev William Monday	St Peter LC – North Campus Appleton WI	Christ LC Pewaukee WI Associate Pastor	5/21/2023
Rev Jonathan Klein	Light of the Valley LC Layton UT	King of Kings LC Frankenmuth MI Mt Sinai LC Montrose MI Pastor	5/21/2023
Rev Steven Neuman	St John’s LC Pigeon MI	St John LC Two Rivers WI Associate Pastor	5/22/2023
Rev Jeffrey Samelson	Christian Life Resources Hartford WI	Peace LC Wilmot WI Pastor	5/23/2023
Rev Mark Jacobson	Grace LC Glendale AZ	St Paul’s LC North Mankato MN Associate Pastor	5/23/2023
Rev Troy Jacobs	Abiding Word LC Maineville OH	Cross of Christ LC Kingman AZ Pastor	5/23/2023
Rev Timothy Wilkens	Southridge LC Kennewick WA	St Paul LC Prescott WI Pastor	5/24/2023
Rev Aaron Schumann	Faith LC Pittsburg KS	New Mission Start Idaho Falls ID Pastor	5/25/2023
Rev Joseph Lindloff	Hope LC Irmo SC	New Mission Start Marquette MI Pastor	5/25/2023
Rev John Borgwardt	Living Word LC Waukesha WI	New Mission Start Bentonville AR Pastor	5/30/2023
Rev Andrew Stuebs	Living Word LC Gray TN	Our Redeemer LC Yorktown VA Pastor	5/30/2023
Rev N Halldorson	Grace LC Scroggins TX	Christ the King LC Port Charlotte FL Pastor	5/30/2023
Rev Benjamin Workentine	St Mark LC De Pere WI	Hope LC Chino Valley AZ & Prescott AZ Pastor	5/30/2023
Rev Charles Westra	Christ Our Savior LC Columbia TN	Board for Home Missions Administrator	5/31/2023
Rev Kirk Lahmann	St John LC Burlington WI	St Paul’s LC Stevensville MI Pastor	6/1/2023
Rev Jeffery Halldorson	Shepherd of the Hills LC Greeley CO	Risen Savior LC Mansfield OH Pastor	6/2/2023
Rev Randy Bader	Willow Lake LC Willow Lake SD Peace LC Clark SD Bethlehem LC Raymond SD	Willow Lake LC Willow Lake SD Peace LC Clark SD Bethlehem LC Raymond SD St Paul’s LC Henry SD Pastor	6/3/2023
Teachers	Current call	New call	Date issued
Mrs Abby Zuberbier	Emanuel LS New London WI	Emanuel LS New London WI Administrator; Guided Studies Administrator	4/17/2023
Mrs Madeline Rasmussen	Mt Olive LS Delano MN	Mt Olive LS Delano MN Teacher; Kindergarten, Provisional Call	4/30/2023
Mrs Mira Stepleton		Peace LS Green Lake WI ECM Teacher; and Kindergarten, Provisional Call	5/7/2023
Mrs Lisa Gray		Christ-St John’s LS West Salem WI Teacher; Grades 3-4	5/18/2023
Mrs Heidi Paulsen		St Croix Lutheran Academy West Saint Paul MN Teacher; High School Math, Provisional Call	5/18/2023
Mrs Jenna Otto		St Luke’s LS Oakfield WI Teacher; Grades 5-6, Provisional Call	5/21/2023
Mrs Abigail Flitter		St John-St James LS Reedsville WI Teacher; Grades 4-5, One-Year Call	5/21/2023
Mrs Leah Unke	Peace LS Hartford WI	First LS La Crosse WI Teacher; Grade 2	5/21/2023
Mrs Leah Unke	Peace LS Hartford WI	Mt Calvary-Grace LS La Crosse WI ECM Teacher; and Kindergarten	5/21/2023
Mr John Festerling		Samuel LS Marshall MN Principal; Less than Half-Time, Retirement Call	5/21/2023
Mrs Stephanie Wetzel		Messiah’s Children Preschool Nampa ID ECM Teacher; 4-Year-Old, One-Year, Less-Than-Half-Time Call	5/21/2023
Mr Hans Brauer		Arizona Lutheran Academy Phoenix AZ Teacher; Upper-Level Math, Provisional Call	5/22/2023
Mrs Amanda Van Kampen		St Paul LS Tomah WI Teacher; Grade 1, Upper Grades Choir/Music	5/23/2023
Mrs Kim Brace		Trinity LS Minocqua WI Teacher; Kindergarten – Grade 1, One-Year Call	5/24/2023
Mrs Elaine Zelenka		Salem LS Owosso MI Teacher; Kindergarten – Grade 2	5/24/2023
Miss Emily Dobberstein	St John LS Baraboo WI	Zion LS K-8th Grade Hartland WI Teacher; Grades 2-4	5/28/2023
Mrs Carol Green		Holy Trinity Lutheran Academy – Child Care New Hope MN ECM Teacher; 3K & 4K	5/28/2023
Mrs Julie Miller		Mt Calvary-Grace LS La Crosse WI Teacher; Grades 1-2	5/28/2023
Mrs Janise Janikowski	St Paul LS Cudahy WI	St John LS Maribel WI Teacher; Grades K-2, Provisional Call	5/28/2023
Miss Emily Dobberstein	St John LS Baraboo WI	St Paul LS Franklin WI Teacher; Grade 1	5/30/2023
Mrs Molly Taylor		Christ the Lord LS Brookfield WI ECM Teacher; 3K, One-Year, Half-Time Call	5/31/2023
Mrs Samantha Loescher		Zion LS Chesaning MI Teacher; Grades K-1, Less-Than-Half Time, One-Year Call	6/1/2023
Mrs Sheryl Birsching	Holy Trinity LS Des Moines WA	Trinity LS Bay City MI ECM Teacher; 4-Year-Old	6/4/2023
Mrs Heather Luepke	Precious Pebbles Lutheran Preschool Rochester MN	Resurrection LS Rochester MN Teacher; Grade 3, One-Year Call	6/4/2023
Mr Ben Kopczynski		East Fork LS Whiteriver AZ Teacher; Grade 6	6/4/2023
Mrs Rebecca Prell	Petra LS Sauk Rapids MN	Zion LS Columbus WI Teacher	6/4/2023
Mr Ben Kopczynski		St John LS Milwaukee WI Teacher	6/5/2023
Staff Ministers	Current call	New call	Date issued
Mr Daniel Kleist	St Peter LC Fort Collins CO	Divine Savior LC-Delray Beach FL Delray Beach FL Congregation Staff Minister	5/21/2023
Mr Daniel Kleist	St Peter LC Fort Collins CO	Mt Calvary LC Redding CA Congregation Staff Minister	5/21/2023
Mr Philip Krueger	Christ-St Peter LS – Centennial Campus Milwaukee WI	Centennial LC Milwaukee WI Congregation Staff Minister; Half-Time Call	5/21/2023
Mr Daniel Kleist	St Peter LC Fort Collins CO	Eternal Rock LC Castle Rock CO Congregation Staff Minister	5/28/2023
Mr Nathan Graumann	Apostles LC San Jose CA	St Paul’s LC Fort Atkinson WI Congregation Staff Minister	6/4/2023

CALLS ACCEPTED

Teachers	Current call	New call	Date accepted
Mrs Rebekah Birkholz		Reformation LS San Diego CA Teacher; Grades 7-8, One-Year Call	5/15/2023
Mr Timothy Schuh	St Martin’s LS Watertown SD	St Martin’s LS Watertown SD Principal; One-Year Call	5/16/2023
Mrs Barbara Halvorson		Mt Olive LS Mankato MN Teacher; One-Year Call	5/19/2023
Mr Anthony Navarro	Mt Olive LS Mankato MN	Mt Olive LS Mankato MN Teacher; One-Year Call	5/19/2023
Miss Rebeca Barclay	Little Lambs Early Childhood Center Sault Ste. Marie MI	Little Lambs Early Childhood Center Sault Ste. Marie MI ECM Teacher; Provisional Call	5/26/2023
Mr Frederick Lohmiller	Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School Commerce City CO	Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School Waco NE Administrator; One-Year Call	5/27/2023
Mrs Stephanie Lahmann		Salem LS Owosso MI Teacher; Grades 7-8, Provisional Call	5/27/2023
Mr Kevin Hahm		St Mark LS Lincoln NE Teacher; Grades 5-6	5/28/2023
Mrs Erin Moldenhauer	Redeemer LS Tucson AZ	Redeemer LS Tucson AZ ECM Teacher; One-Year, Three-Quarter Time, Provisional Call	5/28/2023
Mrs Kathryn Bintz		Morning Star LS Jackson WI ECM Teacher; K3, Half-Time Call	5/30/2023
Mrs Michaela Hagenow		Morrison Zion LS Greenleaf WI Teacher; Grades 3-4	5/30/2023
Miss Lisa McKenney	Faith of a Child Daycare Oshkosh WI	St Paul LS Lake Mills WI ECM Director; & 3K Teacher, One-Year Call	5/30/2023
Mr Ezekiel Kroll		Garden Homes LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 6 Homeroom, Grades 5-8 Social Studies	5/30/2023
Mr Jonathan Sydow		St John’s LS Sparta WI Teacher; Grades 7-8, One-Year Provisional Call	5/30/2023
Mr Tyler Dorn	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI Teacher & Communications Assistant	5/31/2023
Mr Adam Westra		Divine Savior Academy Doral FL Teacher; Theology Instructor, Provisional Call	5/31/2023
Mrs Brittany Pfaffenbach		St Matthew LS Janesville WI Teacher; Grades 7-8, Athletic Director, One-Year Call	5/31/2023
Mr Samuel Evans	Petra LS Sauk Rapids MN	Trinity LS Jenera OH Teacher; Grades 7-8	5/31/2023
Mrs Sally McCaughna		Zion LS Chesaning MI Teacher; Grades 5-8, One-Year Call	6/1/2023
Mr Jakin Anderson		Risen Savior LS Mankato MN Teacher; Grades 7-8, Athletic Director, Provisional Call	6/1/2023
Mr Courtney Meyer		St Peter’s LS Fond du Lac WI Teacher; Grade 5, One-Year Provisional Call	6/2/2023
Ms Colleen Haag	St John LS Red Wing MN	St Mark LS Bemidji MN Teacher; Grades 3-8	6/2/2023
Mrs Hannah Laitinen	Hannah’s World Austin TX	Divine Savior Academy – Sienna Missouri City TX Teacher; Grade 8 HR, Middle Grades English Language Arts	6/4/2023
Mrs Kaylee Swanson	Michigan Lutheran Seminary Saginaw MI	Immanuel LS Salem OR Teacher; Grades 4-5, Duties TBD	6/4/2023
Mrs Lauren Woodhouse		Trinity LS Waukesha WI Teacher; Grade 6	6/4/2023
Staff Ministers	Current call	New call	Date accepted
Mr Derek Gulrud		Amazing Grace LC Amarillo TX Congregation Staff Minister; One-Year Call	5/31/2023

ASSIGNMENT

Teachers		Assignment	Date assigned
Miss Emma Wilson		King of Kings LS Maitland FL Teacher	5/13/2023
Miss Rebecca Orth		Divine Savior Academy – Santa Rita Ranch Liberty Hill TX Teacher	5/13/2023
Miss Josie O’Brien		St Peter’s LS Fond du Lac WI Teacher; Grade 4	5/13/2023
Mrs Courtney Mitchell		Zion LS Egg Harbor WI Teacher; Kindergarten, Limited Duration Assignment	5/24/2023
Mrs Michaela Zabell		Our Savior LS Brookings SD Teacher; Grades K-4, Limited Duration Assignment	5/24/2023

CALLS DECLINED

Pastors	Current call	New call	Date declined
Rev Benjamin Schone	Abiding Word LC Houston TX	Green Valley LC Henderson NV Pastor	6/1/2023
Rev Douglas Van Sice	Huntersville LC Cornelius NC	St John LC Hancock MN Pastor	6/1/2023
Rev Scott Miller	Light of Life LC Greenwood IN	Grace LC Ringle WI Pastor	6/3/2023
Teachers	Current call	New call	Date declined
Mr Caleb Solofra		Divine Savior Academy Doral FL Teacher; Grade 5, Provisional Call	5/27/2023
Mr Samuel Evans	Petra LS Sauk Rapids MN	Samuel LS Marshall MN Teacher; Grades 6-8	5/28/2023
Mrs Megan Berg		St Paul LS Bangor WI Teacher; Grades 3-4, One-Year Call	5/29/2023
Mrs Brooke Butkovich		St Paul LS Appleton WI Teacher; Grade 7 Homeroom, Dept Health, PE, Athletics, One-Year Call	5/31/2023

RESIGNED

Pastors	Current call	Date resigned
Rev David Koehler	Michigan Lutheran Seminary Saginaw MI	6/9/2023
Teachers	Current call	Date resigned
Mr Philip Kurbis	Divine Savior Ministries Doral FL	6/30/2023
Mrs Dana Raasch	Christ Alone LS Thiensville WI	6/30/2023

RETIREMENT

Pastors	Current call	Date retired
Rev Philip Schupmann	Resurrection LC & LS Aurora IL	7/25/2023
Teachers	Current call	Date retired
Mrs Carolyn VonDeylen	Neenah LS (PreK) Neenah WI	6/30/2023
Mrs Lorri McQuade	Beautiful Savior Little Lambs Preschool Spooner WI	6/30/2023