July 2024 Update from the Board of Directors

Jul 9, 2024 | Board of Directors & Leadership, Life Together

The Nebraska District LCMS Board of Directors, during its recent quarterly meeting, extended a Divine Call to Dr. Vanessa Seifert to serve as Executive Assistant to the President for Lifelong Pastoral Formation. Dr. Seifert, who earned her doctoral degree in organization leadership, already provides pastoral formation assistance by leading the District’s Leadership Learning Communities program. Her work with District pastors will expand with this new role.

The Board split its meeting time between Wayne and Winnebago. At Wayne, Board members learned from the Rev. Michael Buchhorn, senior pastor at Grace Lutheran in Wayne, about ministry work at Cup of Grace, the District-supported campus ministry at Wayne State College. Pastor Buchhorn was joined for his presentation by Dan Hanson, who, with his wife, Bonnie, volunteers at Cup of Grace. At Winnebago, Board members learned of the District-supported ministry at Jesus Our Savior Lutheran Outreach by the Rev. Ricky Jacob, who serves as a missionary to the Winnebago Tribe.

In other business, the Board:

  • welcomed the Rev. Caleb Kruse to his first Board meeting as District secretary. The Board appointed Pastor Kruse, who serves at Lord of Life in Elkhorn, at its meeting in March to serve the remainder of the term previously held by the Rev. B.J. Fouts, who resigned after accepting a call outside the Nebraska District.
  • received and accepted an audit report with an unqualified opinion from the Internal Audit Department of the LCMS for the District’s years ended Jan. 31, 2024 and 2023.
  • approved a suggested 6% compensation rate increase for ordained and commissioned workers in the District for 2025.
  • approved the amended and restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws for the Lutheran Ministry Foundation (LMF).
  • approved the elections of Nanna Wieck of Grand Island, Brad Fegley of Omaha, and Doug Koopman of Hastings, to serve on the LMF Board of Directors with terms ending in 2027.
  • appointed Rev. John Gierke to serve on the District Constitution Committee. He serves as pastor at St. Paul Lutheran in West Point.

The District Board next meets September 6, with Camp Luther hosting.