SouthernJune 18-20Baton Rouge, La. Elected: Rev. Kurtis Schultz, Slidell, La., president, third term (first ballot). Rev. Theodore (Ted) Richter, Parker, Fla., first vice president, Rev. David Lewis, Hernando, Miss., second vice president. Rev. John Karle, Natchitoches, La., third vice president.…

Proclaiming June 26 as “National LCMS Director of Christian Education Day,” LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick recognized a 50th anniversary of the office of director of Christian education “with the prayer of God’s richest blessings on the DCE ministries of…

By Paula Schlueter Ross During one of four mission trips to the same region of Kenya, East Africa, over two years, Kevin Pieper heard about a community hard-hit by drought.  Pieper, director of global mission and local outreach at Salem…

Florida-GeorgiaJune 12-14Lake Mary, Fla. Elected: Rev. Gregory Walton, 47, Marietta, Ga., president, first term, third ballot. Rev. C. Scott Gress, Delray Beach, Fla., first vice president. Rev. David C. Brighton, Warner Robins, Ga., second vice president. Meeting under the theme “The…

South WisconsinJune 7-9Mequon, Wis. Elected: Dr. John C. Wille, West Bend, Wis., president, second term, by acclamation. Rev. Randolph H. Raasch, Cedarburg, Wis., first vice president, Northeast Region. Rev. Daniel Torkelson, Clyman, Wis., second vice president, Southeast Region. Rev. David…

Lutherans For Life (LFL) is offering two catalogs with resources that promote pro-life ministry: The Life Resource Catalog lists a wide variety of LFL’s “Word-based resources” on abortion, adoption, bioethics, chastity, Creation, end-of-life issues, family living, fetal development, “Life Sunday,”…

Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response (LSSDR), based in Austin, Texas, has received a $24.3 million grant to provide case management services to the 13,000 survivors in 16 Texas counties devastated last September by Hurricane Ike. LSSDR also received a $331,000…

Minnesota SouthJune 11-13St. Paul, Minn. Elected: Dr. Lane R. Seitz, Savage, Minn., president, seventh term, first ballot. Rev. Gerhard Bode, Hutchinson, Minn., first vice president. Rev. Larry Griffin, Janesville, Minn., second vice president. Rev. Mark Tewes, Chaska, Minn., third vice…

Mid-SouthJune 12-14Memphis, Tenn. Elected: Rev. Ken Lampe, Memphis, president, third term, first ballot. Rev. James Walter, Little Rock, Ark., first vice president. Rev. Roger Paavola, Cookeville, Tenn., second vice president and secretary. Rev. David Tews, Horseshoe Bend, Ark., third vice…

Eastern June 12-13Williamsville, N.Y. Elected: Dr. Chris C. Wicher, Cheektowaga, N.Y., president, first term, first ballot. Wicher, 52, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Cheektowaga, had been the district’s first vice president since 2006.  Installed along with other district officers…

By Paula Schlueter Ross The Apple of His Eye, a St. Louis-based LCMS mission society, is free to distribute religious literature at public events in the city of St. Louis, according to a U.S. District Court judge. On June 11,…

NebraskaJune 4-6Seward, Neb. Elected: Rev. Russell Sommerfeld, Seward, Neb., third term, first ballot. Rev. Richard Snow, Battle Creek, first vice president, representing Region C. Rev. Mark Middendorf, Scotia, second vice president, representing Region A. Rev. Arnold Jurchen, Goehner, third vice…

New JerseyJune 4-6Swedesboro, N.J. Elected: Rev. William R. Klettke, Wrightstown, N.J., president, fourth term, first ballot. Rev. Paul Kritsch, Scotch Plains, N.J., first vice president. Rev. Stephen Gewecke, Lambertville, N.J., second vice president. Rev. Dennis Rockett, Mahwah, N.J., third vice…

KansasJune 4-6Topeka, Kan. Elected: Rev. Keith E. Kohlmeier, Topeka, president, third term, first ballot. Rev. Edward Trost, Overland Park, Kan., first vice president, Region 1. Rev. David Meier, Humboldt, Kan., second vice president, Region 3. Rev. Randall Jahnke, Dodge City,…

AtlanticJune 5-6Bronxville, N.Y. Elected: Dr. David H. Benke, Queens, N.Y., seventh term, by acclamation.  Benke was unopposed. Rev. Charles W. Froehlich, Dix Hills, N.Y., first vice president (non-geographic). Rev. Deric A. Taylor, Tuckahoe, N.Y., second vice president, Region 2 –…

In honor of the 479th anniversary of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession and the 429th anniversary of the publication of the entire Book of Concord — both on June 25 — Concordia Publishing House is offering editions of Concordia: The…