May 2025
Every three years, the LCMS Northern Illinois District meets in convention, bringing together pastoral and lay delegates for
two days to work together, learn together, and be Stronger Together. This year’s gathering, held on the campus of Concordia University Chicago March 7-8, 2025, was the 61st convention for our District. A portion of that time together served to attend to the “official business” of the District, including elections to District positions and the discussion about and passing of several resolutions.
During this year’s convention proceedings, the delegates re-elected Rev. Dr. Allan R. Buss as the LCMS Northern Illinois District President. In addition, the Presidium was elected to serve for this next three-year term: 1st Vice President, Rev. Cory Estby from Zion Lutheran Church in Grant Park, Illinois (South Region); 2nd Vice President, Rev. Caleb Schauer from St. John Lutheran Church in Union, Illinois (West Region); 3rd Vice President, Rev. Steven Anderson from Gloria Dei in Chicago, Illinois (East Region); and 4th Vice President, Rev. Michael Brown from St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Barrington, Illinois (North Region). Rev. David Totsky from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Joliet, Illinois was elected as District Secretary.
The new Board of Directors for this upcoming triennium was also elected as part of the convention proceedings. Serving on behalf of the North Region will be: Rev. Micah Greiner, Matthew Gutzler, Dori Chianakas, and Paul Pasche. Serving on behalf of the South Region will be: Rev. Benjamin Hayter, Michael Butterfield, David DeYoung, and Erich Keller. Serving on behalf of the East Region will be: Rev. Joel Hess, Sonja Przybylski, Scott Gerken, and Emily Pacyga. Serving on behalf of the West Region will be: Rev. Paul Mumme, Carol Brown, Lori Solyom, and Craig Peterson.
(The newly elected and re-elected District officials will be installed at special services to be held on May 18, 2025 at
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St., East Dundee, IL 60118 at 2:00 p.m. and at Bethany Lutheran Church 1550 Modaff Rd., Naperville, IL 60565 at 5:00 p.m. on that same day. We encourage your attendance at either or both of these services!)
Of course, while there is critical importance to organizing the governance of the District, the time in convention was not only about those sorts of business matters. There was also significant focus during the two days on worship, study, fellowship, and learning.
The opportunity to listen to a ministry conversation between seasoned church workers and new workers (ordained and commissioned) provided an honest and inspiring glimpse into the importance of mentorship and mutual support in our work together. Bishop Torkild Masvie of The Lutheran Church in Norway & Iceland reminded us of the global fellowship we share in Christ. The worship service, enriched by the talents of Walther Christian Academy instrumentalists and the Stirred to Love choir, lifted hearts in praise.
Our ongoing theme, Stronger Together: Co-Workers for the Kingdom of God, celebrates partnership in mission and ministry. The convention, as a whole, reflected our shared commitment to Word, Wellness, and Witness – a focus we reaffirmed in resolution as central to our collective work continuing forward. Convention resolutions encouraged congregations to pursue wellness for their workers and to recognize and support their families. We commended and encouraged parents in their role of raising children in the faith and celebrated our Lutheran schools, urging continued collaboration across congregations,
schools, and ministries. We also honored 150 years of Black ministry, giving thanks to God for His enduring faithfulness. To see more about the resolutions passed at convention, please visit our website.
Time in convention is important, not only to conduct the “business” of the Church, but also to build relationships between pastors and laity, from both large and small congregations, and whether in urban or rural settings. No matter the ministry setting or the particulars of the geography where an NID congregation is located, our mission is the same: to spread the love of Jesus, share the life-giving message of salvation, and serve the community – both locally and abroad. Together, we move forward—Stronger Together—equipped by the Word, strengthened in Wellness, and bold in our Witness.
