Pastoral Calls

About the process of calling a pastor

Please note that the District needs to be notified:

• every time a call is issued by a congregation, school, RSO, etc.
• when a rostered worker receives a call
• and when a worker accepts or declines a call

Learn more about calling a pastor; compensation and benefits for pastors; and requesting and compensating supply (guest), intentional interim, and vacancy pastors at this link.

Call activity updated 7/8/25

Calls Accepted

Daryn Bahn, St. Paul, Beatrice, to Trinity (associate), Cedar Rapids, IA

Ron Benson, Bethlehem, Crete, to First (assistant), Papillion

Joseph Beran, Bethlehem, Santa Clarita, CA, to Christ (associate), Lincoln

Thomas Harmon, Good Shepherd (IIM), Gretna, to Redeemer (IIM), Pensacola, FL

Joseph Leech, St. John (associate), Battle Creek, to Beautiful Savior, Plover, WI

Timothy Steele II, Grace, Bakersfield, CA, to St. Paul, Ogallala

Installations

Joel Ripke, Peach, Columbus, June 22, 4:00

Jacob Garrison, Superior/Chester, Centennial/St. John, July 13, 3:00 (at Superior)

Seth Flick, King of Kings (associate), Omaha, July 13, 2025

Timothy Reicks, Burwell/Chambers, St. John/St. Paul, August 9, 2:00 (at Chambers)

Calls Declined

Albert Bader, St. John, Ogallala, to Trinity, Hanover, KS

Alexander Blanken, St. Paul/St. Paul, Winside/Carroll, to Trinity, Beloit, WI

Carlos Catalan, Faith (assistant), Carpentersville, IL, to Hope (associate), South Sioux City

Wes Gehrke, Zion, Palmyra, MO, to Beautiful Savior, North Platte

Thomas Harmon, Good Shepherd (IIM), Gretna, to Concordia, (IIM), Sarasota, FL

Marcel Kohlmeyer, St. John/Immanuel, Tecumseh/Sterling, to Messiah, Hays, KS

Nathan Kuhlman, Redeemer, Rolla, MO, to Word of Life, Lincoln

Paul Rempfer, St. John (associate), Columbus, to Immanuel, Cortland, MN

Richard von Steinman, First English, Sterling, CO, to Good Shepherd, Milford

Brian Tuma, St. John, Cordova, to Zion, Annandale, MN

Brian Wright, Christ, Cairo, to Concordia, Lakewood, CO

Tim Wells, Cross of Christ, Aurora, to Lord of Glory (senior), Elk River, MN

Pending Calls

Norlyn Bartens, Grace/Trinity, Neligh/Elgin, to St. Peter, Campbell, IL

Dale Andrew Becker, Shepherd of the Hills, Georgetown, IN, to St. John, Wilcox

Brian Francik, St. Peter/Faith, Deshler/Hebron, to Word of Life, Lincoln

James Irwin, Holy Savior, Lincoln, to Bethany, Parma, OH

Calvin Kapels, Christ (associate), Norfolk, to Good Shepherd (senior), Gretna

Mark Resner, St. Paul, Whittemore, IA, to First Trinity, Bloomfield

Greg Schaffer, St. Peter, Davenport, to St. John, Austin, MN

Status Changes

Charles Adams, emeritus, Kansas District, to emeritus, Nebraska District

Michael Buchhorn, Grace (senior), Wayne, to emeritus, Nebraska District, and to emeritus, Texas District

William Cornelius, St. Peter, Elk Creek, to emeritus, Nebraska District

James Dahlke, Holy Cross, Goehner, to emeritus, Nebraska District

William Engebretsen, candidate, Nebraska District, to emeritus, Nebraska District

David Feddern, Zion, Hampton, to candidate, Nebraska District

Mark Weber, St. Matthew, Cedar Bluffs, to emeritus, Nebraska District

Spring Seminary Placement Report

Placed in Nebraska  Spring graduates placed in Nebraska congregations include (if married, wife’s name is in parentheses):

Burwell/Chambers, St. John/St. Paul—Timothy M. Reicks (Gina), Hadar, NE (StL)

Columbus, Peace (SMP associate)—Joel D. Ripke (Nicole), Columbus, NE (StL)

Superior/Chester, Centennial/St. John—Jacob T. Garrison (Abigail), Malcolm, NE (FtW)

Vicars in Nebraska  Assigned as vicars in Nebraska for the coming year (if married, wife’s name is in parentheses):

Imperial, Zion—Peter D. Pohlod (Abigail Niemeier), Galena, OH (FtW)

Kearney, Holy Cross—Aaron D. Carlson (Clara), Omaha, NE (StL)

Lincoln, Good Shepherd—Caleb C. Garmen (Rachel), Vandalia, OH (FtW)

Pierce, Zion—Tyler R. Linneman, Carrollton, MO (StL)

Nebraskans Placed  Nebraskans completing seminary training this year were placed in April, including:

Aaron J. Ferguson, Hyannis, to Christ, Perry, OK (FtW)

Nebraskans Assigned as Vicars  The following Nebraskans have been assigned as a vicar for the coming year:

Riley K. Hlavac, Garrison, to St. John’s, Yuma, CO (FtW)

Adler I. Rickords, Lincoln, to St. John’s, Laurel, MT (StL)

Jonah M. Wilson, Omaha, to Beautiful Savior, Olathe, KS (StL)