Candidate Application Detail Listing

Layperson

willing to be placed on the ballot for the Office/Board(s) for which I have been recommended

St. Paul's-Brookfield, IL: 2015–Present: Kantor with duties as organist, choir director, departmental teacher, technology coordinator, coordinator of school spelling bee and chess club, service videographer, operetta co-director, scoreboard operator for home games. Served one term on Board of Christian Education as both member-at-large and secretary; and multiple terms on congregation's nominating committee.
2014–2015: Associate organist in CID-LCMS parishes, including University Lutheran-Champaign, Peace-Thomasboro, and Immanuel-Loda.
2010–2015: Associate organist in CID-LCMS Altamont Circuit: 1st & 3rd S. @ Immanuel-Augsburg (Shobonier), 2nd & 5th S. @ St. Peter-St. Peter; 4th S. @ St. Paul-Blue Point (Altamont); substitute organist for Immanuel-, Bethlehem-, and Zion-Altamont.
2006–2010: Director of Music at Immanuel-Osman (Fisher, IL) with duties as organist, choir director, and adult Bible class teacher.
1999–2006: Organist of Immanuel-Osman (Fisher, IL).

2018–2020: Graduate Assistant for the Center for the Advancement of Lutheran Liberal Arts (CALLA) at Concordia University Chicago, with duties preparing public relations materials, development of research surveys, academic conference preparation, and management of mailing lists.
2015–present: Kantor of St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, Brookfield.
2015–present: substitute organist at St. John-Chicago (Mayfair, Montrose Ave.); Concordia-Berwyn; St. John-Wheaton.

2014–2018: Music Director of Lutheran Public Radio, Collinsville, IL
2013–2024: Conference photographer, Issues, Etc./Lutheran Public Radio
Participant in LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, & Church Music in 2008, 2014, 2017, 2024.
Presenter at Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education conferences in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Outside of normal activities as a congregant, faculty member, and parent at St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church & School:
2024: Member of Six Meter Club of Chicago (k9ona.com)
2005–2012: Music Technology instructor for Illinois Summer Youth Music
2008–2014: Public school band & choir director
2013: Fine Arts, County of Effingham (FACE) Orchestra: Principal Horn
2011: Effingham, IL Summer Band: horn & guest conductor

The need for a Lutheran synod assumes that congregations would be mutually bound by the Scriptures and a 'quia' subscription to the 1580 Book of Concord. Lutheran synods exist to bring fraternal encouragement, accountability, and capacity to shoulder the burdens that no congregation should bear alone. Congregations need assistance in forming and securing qualified and faithful pastors and teachers, producing written materials, and administering the resources God has provided. The LCMS as a whole works to form pastors and teachers through seminaries and colleges, and operates a publishing house. The NID provides local pastoral and congregational accountability to the LCMS congregations of the region, ensuring that each shoulders the others' burdens faithfully so that the Word may be rightly divided and the Sacraments may be rightly administered among us.

The NID has a populous region of influence and a wide variety of congregations walking together with some staying the course, others straying from it, some fainting on the way, some moving with an apparent tailwind, some with a fierce headwind, and others sheltering from a storm. The District President, like a Lutheran school teacher, strives to keep the line orderly, admonishing the straying, bandaging the wounded, and encouraging the faithful. The Board of Directors can serve as Aaron and Hur holding up Moses' hands when the battle is long and fierce, taking care of the needs of the district so that the district's bishop can serve the pastors and congregations under his charge.