Daenzer installed as Synod worship director

The Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of Worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), leads prayers during chapel at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis following his installation on Feb. 5. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Megan K. Mertz

On Feb. 5, during chapel at The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) International Center (IC) in St. Louis, the Rev. Sean Daenzer was installed as the Synod’s director of Worship and IC chaplain.

In this role, Daenzer is responsible for proposing and creating programs that carry out the purposes and aims of the Synod in matters of worship. As IC chaplain, he works with the LCMS Office of the President in planning and supervising all chapel services at the IC as well as offering chaplaincy and informal counseling services to employees as requested.

“Pastor Daenzer, you have a unique call,” said Synod Secretary Rev. Dr. John W. Sias during the sermon. “As director of Worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, you, like St. Paul, will now minister indirectly to many you don’t know face to face. … You are charged to help the Word of Christ dwell among them ever more richly — to urge along and strengthen their building up together in the Divine Service by the Gospel in love, the bond of perfection.

“Look at us. That is quite a job,” Sias quipped, before assuring Daenzer that God had given him “excellent gifts, His Gospel and His Spirit” as he embarks on this new endeavor.

Daenzer brings to the position experience as an organist, choir director and pastor. Most recently, he served as pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Barney, N.D., and Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, N.D., where he led an accomplished four-voice youth choir. He also was circuit visitor to the North Dakota District’s Southeast Circuit.

In addition, Daenzer holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ from Hope College, Holland, Mich., and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

“Everything that we do in worship is to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly, to raise us in the faith, from cradle to grave, from generation to generation,” Daenzer said. “So, as director of Worship, I’ll do whatever I can to help the Synod at-large — every church, every pastor, every Christian — to do that.”

Daenzer began serving at the IC on Jan. 31. He succeeds the Rev. William Weedon, who retired in August 2019.

Learn more about LCMS Worship.

Posted March 4, 2020