Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Holds Convention

Triennial Convention Re-Elects District President, Kearney, NE, June 20-21, 2025

Nebraska District President Rev. Richard Snow was elected to his fourth term as president of the Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod by the delegates attending the 21st convention of that body in Kearney, Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon. Rev. Snow has served as District President since 2015, and this is the last three-year term he is eligible to serve.

District vice-presidents elected at this Convention are: First Vice-President, Rev. Michael Awe of Hope, South Sioux City, elected to his second term as vice-president; Second Vice-President, Rev. James Moshier of Trinity, Arapahoe, elected to his second term as vice-president; Third Vice-President, Rev. Scott Bruick of St. John, Seward, elected to his second term as vice-president; and Fourth Vice-President, Rev. Cory Burma of Peace, Columbus, elected to his first term as vice-president. Each will serve a term of three years. They are all eligible for re-election at the next District Convention in 2028.

Other officers elected include:

• Secretary: Rev.Caleb Kruse, pastor of Lord of Life, Elkhorn.
• Board of Directors members elected: Mick Onnen of Stanton, Todd Reed of Lincoln, Linda Reiser of Grand Island (re-elected), Bruce Wall (re-elected), and Kevin Warneke of Omaha (re-elected).
• Nominations Committee: Harlan Anson of Staplehurst (re-elected); Rev. Kenton Birtell of Holdrege (re-elected); Rev. Jeff Bloom of Lincoln (re-elected); Kurth Brashear of Seward; Rev. Robert Kuefner, Jr. of Lexington (re-elected); Crystal Miller of LaVista; and Glenn Van Velson of North Platte (re-elected).
• Constitution Committee: Ryan Foor of Seward; Rev. Andrew Gerike of Omaha (re-elected); Rev. John Gierke of West Point (re-elected); and Andrew Rathe of Grand Island.
• Board of Regents, Concordia University Nebraska, Seward: Rev. Doug Gaunt of Kearney (re-elected); Dick Helms of Arapahoe (re-elected); Melanie Standiford of Curtis; and Preston Sunderman of Norfolk.
• Holding current terms on the Board of Directors are Linda Ahrens of Lincoln; Byron Hansen of Kearney; Ellen Lund of Fremont; Josh Moenning of Norfolk; and Paul Schudel of Lincoln. Completing the maximum terms on the Board of Directors is James Kovac of Utica.

The 280 voting delegates, composed of one pastor and one lay person from congregations in the Nebraska District, were joined by 49 advisory delegates— generally teachers and other pastors serving in the District—and 87 guests and staff members, for a total of 416 attending the triennial convention at the Younes Conference Center South in Kearney.

The delegates gathered under the convention theme of “God’s Family Together—Joined In His Mission,” which is the shortened version of the Nebraska District LCMS vision of “God’s forgiven family walking and working together in God’s mission of making and maturing disciples of Jesus Christ.”

The delegates’ time in Convention focused on Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” They devoted considerable time to worship, study of the Word, education, and prayer.

The convention was opened with a worship service including communion, and with the Rev. Nabil Nour, Fourth Vice-President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, delivering the sermon. The congregation of Trinity, Lexington hosted the worship service, with Rev. Robert Kuefner acting as liturgist.

All three convention keynote speakers were from Concordia University, Nebraska. Dr. Bernard Bull, president of Concordia University; Rev. Dr. Peter Jurchen, Assistant Professor of Lutheran Education and Faith Formation; and his wife, Deb, Director of University Institutes, led three keynote sessions. On Friday afternoon, the Jurchens unpacked some of the complexities of ministering to families; then on Saturday morning, Dr. Jurchen investigated how the Church family can cultivate a culture of maturing adult discipleship. On Saturday afternoon, Dr. Bull’s keynote explored how congregations and schools can support the family, becoming faithful and flourishing centers of Christ-centered learning and faith formation.

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, also spoke to the delegates during his time in Kearney, taking time to address questions presented to him by delegates in attendance.

The Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has its headquarters in Seward, with over 92,000 baptized members in 232 congregations, and with 56 preschools, 31 elementary schools, 6 high schools, and one university in the state of Nebraska.

For more information on the convention or on the Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, contact Kimberly Myers, District Communications Director, at kimberlym@ndlcms.org or 402-643-2961, ext. 1009.

END

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District President’s Report

As part of the proceedings of the 21st Convention of the Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, held June 20-21, 2025 in Kearney, Nebraska, District President Rev. Richard Snow presents his report on the mission and ministry of the district during the 2022-25 triennium and shares his focus for the next triennium.

State of the Synod Report and Q&A with Synod President Harrison

On day two of the Convention, Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison addressed the members of the Nebraska District LCMS, then followed with a time for question-and-answers.