Candidate Application Detail Listing

Ordained Minister

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

I served my fieldwork at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Missouri under the supervision of the (+)Rev. James Hoppes (+) and my vicarage year (1997-1998) at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Torrington, Wyoming under the supervision of the Rev. Marvin Temme (retired).
I received the Divine Call to Messiah Lutheran Church, 62nd and Monitor Avenues, Chicago (closed) in April 1999. I was ordained on July 11, 1999 and was installed as pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church of Chicago, IL on July 18, 1999. I served at Messiah Lutheran Church from until October 31, 2003. I was installed as pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Chicago where I still serve as Sole Pastor. I was also Superintendent of Gloria Dei Lutheran School from 2003 until its closure in 2019, and served as Interim Principal in 2015-2016. In 2022, I was installed as Sole Pastor at Hope Lutheran Church, Countryside, IL, when the two congregations decided to form a Dual Parish.

Northern Illinois District LCMS Vice-President, Hillside, IL (August 2016- present)
- Served under former NID President Dan Gilbert and current NID President Allan Buss to carry out the District’s Mission and Ministry Objectives, especially in the East Region (City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs).
- Work with congregations in the Call Process, as needed.
- Assist with pastors or congregations in conflict as directed by the District President.
- Take part in NID Ordinations/Installations within my region as requested.
- Attend Regional Circuit Conferences and Regional Fall Conference.
- Advise the District President as needed.

Northern Illinois District LCMS, Board of Directors, Hillside, IL (2003-2015)
- Served on the NID BoD as a voting member, representing the East Region.

Northern Illinois District LCMS, Circuit Visitor (2015-2016)
- Visited Pastors and Congregations
- Set up monthly Circuit Meetings.
- Set up Circuit Forum.
- Advised Circuit Pastors as needed.

1. Voting Clergy Delegate from (former) Circuit 20 of the Northern Illinois District at the 2001 Synodical Convention in St. Louis, Missouri.
2. Voting Clergy Delegate from (former) Circuit 19 of the Northern Illinois District at the 2007 Synodical Convention in Houston, Texas.
3. Voting Clergy Delegate from (current) Circuit 13 of the Northern Illinois District at the 2023 Synodical Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I have attended meetings of the (former) Midway Clergy Association (1999-2003).
I have attended meetings of the Faith-Based CAPS Meetings with the Chicago Police (2003?-2019).
Dedicated the Garfield Branch of the Chicago Public Library (2005).
Participated (with our former school) in community events, parades, etc. (sporadically).

The mission of the LCMS is for her congregations,, pastors, church workers, and congregation members to live their lives fully and solely from the Font, the Altar, and the Pulpit in the full and free forgiveness of sins that is delivered to them there from the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. No plans, programs, leadership training, bureaucratic realignments, amusements, or entertainments change people's hearts or forgive their sins. Only the delivered Gifts of Christ in Word and Sacrament have that dynamos (power). The Northern Illinois District, from the inner city to the most rural farmland, must not take the Word and Sacraments for granted, but rather live from them and back to them in the joyful confidence that is there -- at the delivery point of Jesus' Gifts -- that true life is to be found, and nowhere else.

The Christian Church is challenged by the fact that its long held favored status is ending, or has ended. What the consequences of this are, have yet to be fully revealed. When the Church had such favored status in our communities, it was easier to do the work of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. However, it was also detrimental in that the Church became much more prone to being comfortable, and losing sight of the fact that we are pilgrims and strangers here, and that we are not of this world..
In the urban context in which I have spent my entire time in the Ministry, the challenges are: constantly changing demographics, and an unstable, and largely unchurched (or dechurched) population. This is also an opportunity to reach those with the Truth and Life that is found in Jesus alone, as He is revealed in His preached Word, reverent and joyful handling of His holy Sacraments, and in loving service to our neighbors. My goal would be to keep our congregations as outposts of the Gospel.