Church Worker Updates
The LCMS Northern Illinois District has over 1,000 ordained and commissioned church workers that are rostered by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. They serve as pastors, teachers, principals, deaconesses, directors of Christian education, youth workers, directors of family life, parish nurses, ministers of music and the like in our congregations, schools and charitable/human care ministries. Here we share those workers’ milestone events. Update Your District Worker Information Online.
July Ministry Theme: Meet the Staff – Joe Willmann
Meet Joe Willmann - District Vice President for Lutheran Church Extension Fund
July Ministry Theme: Meet the Staff – Tina Nepomuceno
Meet Meet Meet Tina Nepomuceno – Accounting Associate for the LCMS Northern Illinois District! for the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
July Ministry Theme: Meet the Staff – LeeAnn Acosta
Meet LeeAnn Acosta, Business Manager/Treasurer for the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Josiah Sandcork Installed as Pastor at St. Matthew, Lemont
We welcome Rev. Sandcork and his wife, Amanda, to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
June 2026 Ministry Theme: Answering the Call – “Whom Shall I Send?”
We rejoice at the news of three new pastoral candidates coming to the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. James May Installed as Associate Pastor at St. Paul, Brookfield
We welcome Rev. James May and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Zachary Huffman Installed as Associate Pastor at St. Peter, Schaumburg
We welcome Rev. Huffman and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Call Days 2026
We celebrate with these candidates and the calling congregations and look forward to hearing about upcoming ordinations/installations!
Call to Glory – Ernest “Ted” Theodore Lams II
Ernest "Ted" Theodore Lams II passed away on April 13, 2026.
Rev. Michael Kampenga Installed as SMP Pastor at Faith, Oak Lawn
We welcome Rev. Michael Kampenga and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. John Shumate Installed as Assistant Pastor at Faith, Lake Forest
We welcome Reverend John Shumate and his wife to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Called to Glory – Revered Gregory Edward Hoffmann
Rev. Gregory Edward Hoffmann passed away February 22, 2026.
Called To Glory – Rev. Oliver Hugo Wetzel
Rev. Oliver Hugo Wetzel passed away peacefully November 9, 2025.
Rev. Luis Gonzalez and Rev. Cruz Guerrero Ordained and Installed at Iglesia Evangelica Luterana San Pablo
We welcome Rev. Gonzalez and Rev. Guerrero and their families to their new calls in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Michael Gudgel Installed as Pastor at St. Paul, Rochelle
We welcome Rev. Gudgel and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Robert Pudell Installed as SMP Assistant Pastor at Trinity, Roselle
We welcome Rev. Robert Pudell and his wife to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. David Strable Installed as Pastor at St. Peter, Morrison
We welcome Rev. Strable and his wife to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Thomas Gibbons Installed as SMP Assistant Pastor at Trinity, Roselle
We welcome Rev. Gibbons and his wife to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Called to Glory: Rev. Jeffery P. Howell, Sr.
Rev. Jeffery Paul Howell, Sr. passed away December 11, 2025.
Called to Glory – Rev. Bruce W. Meissner
Reverend Bruce W. Meissner passed away on Saturday, November 15, 2025.
Rev. Keith Speaks Installed as Senior Pastor at Trinity, Roselle
We welcome Rev. Speaks and his wife to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Daniel Greg Installed as Pastor at Zion, Bensenville
We welcome Reverend Daniel Greg and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Dr. Eric Moeller Installed As Pastor At Trinity, West Chicago
We welcome Rev. Dr. Moeller and his family to his call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. David Szeto Installed as Pastor at Bethel, Westmont
We welcome Rev. Szeto and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Gary Schultz Installed as Pastor at St. Paul, Aurora
We welcome Rev. Gary Schultz and his wife to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. John Sharp Installed as Pastor at Good Shepherd, Rock Falls
We welcome Rev. Sharp and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Michael Tanney Installed as Pastor at St. John, Island Lake
We welcome Rev. Tanney and his wife, Catherine, to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Ethan Boester Installed as Associate Pastor at St. James, Chicago
We welcome Rev. Boester and his wife, Krista, to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Ethan Luft Installed as Associate Pastor at St. Andrews, Park Ridge
We welcome Rev. Luft and his wife to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Jackson Scofield Installed as Pastor at Friends in Christ, Morris and River of Life, Channahon
We welcome Rev. Scofield to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Christian Dollar Installed as Associate Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Burr Ridge
We welcome Rev. Dollar and his wife, Svenja, to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Thaddeus (Todd) Weilgos, Jr. Installed as SMP Assistant Pastor at Fellowship of Faith, McHenry
We welcome Rev. Weilgos and his wife, Jennifer, to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Micah Brown Installed as Associate Pastor at Immanuel, Batavia
We welcome Rev. Brown and his wife, Jennifer, to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Steven Benson Installed as Pastor at Mt. Olive, Rockford/Concordia, Machesney Park
We welcome Rev. Benson and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
June 2025 Ministry Theme: Answering the Call – “I Will Make You Fishers of Men”
Learn more about the pastoral candidates coming to the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. David Ficken Installed as Associate Pastor at St. Peter, Arlington Heights
We welcome Rev. Ficken and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Call Days 2025
We give thanks for all the candidates and students in their new calls and these assignments to the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Joseph Glombicki Installed as Pastor at Bethlehem, West Dundee
We welcome Rev. Glombicki and his wife to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Gary Schultz installed at St. Paul, Aurora
We welcome Pastor Schultz and his wife to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. David Nieman installed at Zion, Hinsdale
We welcome Rev. Nieman and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Matthew Kusch installed at King of Glory, Elgin
We welcome Reverend Kusch and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Called to Glory – Rev. Dr. Paul C. Bruns
Rev. Dr. Paul C. Bruns passed away February 18, 2025.
Called to Glory – Rev. William (Bill) A. Kucenski
Reverend William (Bill) A. Kucenski passed away on January 4, 2025.
Called to Glory – Nathaniel Grunst
Nathaniel Grunst passed away peacefully on August 31, 2024.
Called to Glory – Dr. William Kammrath
William (Bill) Kammrath passed away on December 23, 2024.
Called to Glory – Verner (Vern) H. Klotz
Verner (Vern) H. Klotz passed away on December 26, 2024.
Rev. Derek Paetow Installed as Pastor at Trinity, Genoa
We welcome Rev. Paetow to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Called to Glory – Reverend Christopher Davis
Reverend Christopher Davis passed away on October 22, 2024.
NID Pastors’ Wives and Widows Gather at The Katie Event for 2024
NID pastors' wives and widows enjoyed a time of fellowship and learning!
October Ministry Theme: Church Worker Families/Pastors’ Wives
In October, we are especially thankful for our District's ministry families and pastors' wives!
Milestone Celebration Held for Rev. Martin Balzer’s 50 Years in the Ministry
Rev. Martin Balzer celebrates 50 years of ministry!
Rev. Aaron Levenhagen Installed at St. John, Elgin
We welcome Rev. Levenhagen and his family to his call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Jonathon Petzold Installed at Beautiful Savior, Antioch
We welcome Rev. Petzold and his family to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Called to Glory – Reverend John R. Hopkins
Reverend John R. Hopkins passed away August 10, 2024.
Called to Glory – Reverend Dennis Schlecht
Reverend Dennis Schlecht passed away on July 18, 2024.
Rev. Kenneth Estes Installed as Pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Carol Stream
We welcome Rev. Kenneth Estes and his wife to his call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Called to Glory – Reverend Dr. William H. Griffin, Jr.
Reverend Dr. William H. Griffin, Jr. passed away on July 21, 2024.
Rev. Adam Tanney Installed as Associate Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Dundee
We welcome Rev. Adam Tanney and his family to his call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Lawrence Ruger Installed as Associate Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Matteson
We welcome Rev. Ruger and his family to his call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Ted Fischer Installed as Associate Pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights
We welcome Rev. Ted Fischer and his family to his call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Tyler Coyne Installed as Pastor at Crosspoint Lutheran Church, Lakewood
We welcome Rev. Tyler Coyne and his family to his call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Called to Glory – Rosemary Andermann
Rosemary Andermann passed away on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Rev. Aaron Mol Installed at St. Luke, Montgomery
We welcome Rev. Mol and his family to the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Eamonn Ferguson Installed as Associate Pastor at St. John, Wheaton
We welcome Rev. Ferguson and his family to the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Ryan Reese Installed at Trinity, Lansing
We welcome Rev. Ryan Reese to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Call Days 2024
We give thanks for all the candidates and students in their new calls and these assignments to the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Rev. Dr. Vernon Wendt Installed at St. Paul’s Lutheran, Chicago Heights and Immanuel Lutheran, Steger
We welcome Rev. Dr. Vernon Wendt to his new call in the Northern Illinois District!
Called to Glory – Reverend James Ilten
Reverend James Ilten passed away on January 30, 2024.
Called to Glory – Reverend William Beckmann, Jr.
Reverend William Beckmann, Jr., passed away on January 14, 2024, after a brief illness.
Called to Glory – Reverend Donald Kretzschmar
Reverend Donald Carl Kretzschmar passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
Rev. Matthew Dubensky Installed at St. Peter Lutheran, Schaumburg
We welcome Rev. Matthew Dubensky to his new call in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Called to Glory – Reverend Robert Kass
Reverend Robert Kass passed away peacefully on November 29, 2023.
Called to Glory – Reverend Julio Orozco
Reverend Julio Orozco passed away on November 25, 2023
Called to Glory – Reverend George J. Mrochen
Reverend George J. Mrochen passed away on November 13, 2023
Pastor Kegley is Installed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Batavia
We welcome Pastor Kegley and his family to the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Concordia University Chicago welcomes Rev. Simeon Raddatz as its new University Pastor
We welcome Rev. Raddatz and his family to the LCMS Northern Illinois District and to his call at Concordia University Chicago!
Sabbatical Support: Nurturing Well-being and Community Among Congregations
The LCMS Northern Illinois District actively encourages our pastors’ wives to participate in the Katie Event.
Leon Charles Bierlein Called to Glory
Leon Charles Bierlein passed away on October 27, 2023.
So good to celebrate our faithful workers who have served well!
We gave thanks for the retired workers in the LCMS Northern Illinois District.
Rev. Jason Shaw Installed at St. John’s Lutheran
We welcome Rev. Shaw to the LCMS Northern Illinois District!
Regional Pastoral Conferences Provide Spiritual Enrichment and Foster a Sense of Community
Regional pastoral conferences serve as essential platforms for worship, education, and updates on district matters.
Celebration of Calls at St. John Lutheran Church, Wheaton
Blessings to Rev. Dr. Scott Bruzek and Rev. Marcus Nelson on their new calls at St. John Lutheran Church
Educators’ Conference Is Filled With Joy and Appreciation
There was uplifting worship, inspiring learning, and great fellowship filled with joy!
LCMS Northern Illinois District’s Educator Conference 2023: Honoring Excellence, Celebrating Impactful Contributions
To God be the glory for Lutheran education and educators.
A day dedicated to faith, education, and the mission to strengthen young minds to hold onto God’s Word
Blessings to both Lori and Heather as they continue their roles as educators in the LCMS Northern Illinois District!