From The President's Desk

To support or protect a poor, pious pastor is an act that makes no show and looks like a small thing. But to build a marble church that makes a show that glitters! That is a virtue worthy of a king or prince! Well, let it make its show! Let it glitter! Meanwhile my pastor, who does not glitter, is practicing the virtue that increases God’s kingdom, fills heaven with saints, plunders hell, robs the devil, wards off death, represses sin, instructs and comforts every (person) in the world according to his (or her) station in life, preserves peace and unity, raises fine young folk, and plants all kinds of virtue in the people. In a word, (the pastor) is making a new world.

Quote from Martin Luther’s exposition of Psalm 82:2

I am often asked what a pastor does. Many have little or no knowledge of what a pastor does beyond conducting worship services of all kinds, teaching Bible class, conducting confirmation classes and attending various meetings. A long time ago I learned of a simple yet profound description of what a pastor does. A pastor is a “physician of souls.”

As a surgeon must properly study, train and retrain to minister to your body, so a pastor must properly prepare to minister to your soul. It is therefore necessary for a pastor to spend hours in study before delivering his weekly sermon. He must make sure that he clearly understands the meaning of every word of the Biblical text upon which his message is based.

Likewise, much study and preparation time is required to teach Bible class. Through the Word of God proclaimed from the pulpit or taught in the classroom, the Holy Spirit works faith that clings to Christ alone for forgiveness of sins and the hope of everlasting life.

So, now, we are back to the phrase “physician of souls.” Your pastor ministers to your soul as well as to the souls of all the members of your congregation. He must diagnose whether a person is in need of God’s law because that person has not recognized that they are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness or the Gospel that assures the person then that sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake.

This sounds easy, but as a famous Lutheran once said, “When a pastor knows how to properly use the law and the Gospel he has earned his Ph.D.” When you observe your pastor properly apply the law or Gospel, whether in a sermon, Bible class or counseling session, rejoice that he has the ability to do this. This is essential for the health of your soul and that of all your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

It is essential that the Board of Elders of your congregation, your Church Council and every member be diligent in guarding the work and expectations of the congregation of your pastor so that he has time and energy to carry out his primary work. So often, the expectations placed upon the pastor are such that he has precious little time to carry out his primary work of Word and Sacrament ministry.

I encourage you to be an advocate for your pastor to be a physician of souls in your congregation. Note well what the Bible states, “What good is it if a man gains the whole world, but loses his soul.”

• Thanks and praise to God for all His gifts, but especially for His grace and mercy.
  
  
• Pray that our Heavenly Father will provide protection for the men and women of the armed forces wherever they serve.
  
  
• Pray that our Heavenly Father will give comfort and support to the families of the men and women serving in the armed forces.
  
  
• Thank God for the blessings He bestows upon the United States and upon us who live in this country.
  
  
• Thank God for the freedoms we have, especially that we are free to worship and live our Christian lives.
  
  
• Pray for God’s blessings upon the many congregations in the Missouri District that are engaged in intentional Gospel outreach to the unbelievers in the communities they serve.
  
  
• Pray that God will bless all the new pastors who will begin serving Missouri District congregations.
  
  
• Pray that God will bless all the Commissioned Ministers of Religion who will begin serving Missouri District congregations.
  
  
• Pray for God’s blessings and protection over the children and young adults of our congregations who are now on summer break.
  
  
• Pray that God will bless the vacation Bible schools of our congregations that many children might attend to learn about their Savior Jesus.
  
  
• Pray that God will bless the congregations currently calling pastors, principals, teachers and other church workers.

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Important notices from the President’s office

The Role of the District President

Salary Guidelines for fiscal year 2008-09 or calendar year 2009

2009 Salary Guidelines for Professional Church Workers

This document combines the guidelines for all church and school employees:  ordained, commissioned and other staff.

Calling Congregations

For sole pastors

Bethany, Hope

Bourbon, Concordia

Cole Camp, Holy Cross/St. John

Crystal City, Immanuel–called Rev. Jarold Rux of St. Louis, MO (accepted)

Freistatt, Trinity–called Rev. Michael Damery of Forsyth, IL (declined)

Frohna, Concordia–called Rev. Rod Benkendorf of St. Louis, MO (accepted)        

Kimberling City, Shepherd of the Hills–Richard Futrell (SL) assigned     

Ladue, Village

Lexington, Grace–Perry Copus (FW) assigned

New Haven, Bethlehem–Mark Goucher (SL) assigned (convertible vicarage)

Princeton, Immanuel

St. Clair, Holy Trinity–called Rev. Roger Altenberger of Wildwood, MO (accepted) 

St. Louis, Christ in the City–John Rathje (SL) assigned

St. Louis, St. Matthew

Sedalia, Our Savior–called Rev. Christopher Kellogg of Pueblo, CO (accepted)

For senior pastors

Jefferson City, Trinity

Independence, Messiah–called Rev. Douglas Breite of Cape Girardeau, MO (declined)

For Associate or Assistant Pastors

Blue Springs, Timothy–Richard Steensma (SL) assigned              

Concordia, St. Paul–Patrick Niles (SL) assigned

Kirkwood, Concordia–Jerry Hays (SL) assigned (convertible vicarage)      

Oakville, Faith–called Rev. Nate Guelzow of Toledo, OH (declined)

Olivette, Immanuel–Rory Karg (SL) assigned

Platte Woods, Christ–Brandon Froiland (FW) assigned

St. Louis County, Abiding Savior–David McBurney (SL) assigned

Sappington, Resurrection–Chad Trunkhill (SL) assigned

Springfield, Redeemer–Adam Parvey (SL) assigned

Webster Groves, Webster Gardens–Candidate Eric Gledhill assigned

Vacant (On hold—but being served.)

(on hold–but being served)

Bismarck, St. John

Conway, Immanuel

Elk Prairie (Rolla), Peace

Ernestville (Concordia), St. Matthew

Isabella, Faith

Knob Noster, Faith

Memphis, St. Paul

Milan, Peace

Pagedale, Grace

Potosi, Redeemer

Rockville, Zion

St. Louis, Emmaus

St. Louis, Holy Sacrament

St. Louis, St. Paul

Sarcoxie, Trinity

Shelbyville, Mount Hope

Stockton, St. Andrew

Sweet Springs, Christ

Calls Received

Hannemann, Mark (St. John, Ellisville/Windgate) to be senior pastor, Divine Shepherd, Omaha, NE

Reimnitz, David (Bethlehem, Raymore) to Living Faith, Clive, IA

Calls Accepted

Heine, William (Immanuel, Sheridan, WY) to Dean of Chapel and Religion Instructor at Saint Paul Lutheran High School, Concordia, MO (accepted)

Johnson, David A. (CPH)–to Ex. Dir. Commission on Worship LCMS, St. Louis, MO (accepted)

Weise, Keith (Immanuel, Altenburg) to Lutheran Senior Services, St. Louis, MO (accepted)

Declined Calls

Marks, Matthew (Immanuel, Perryville) to Peace, Thomasboro, IL (declined)

Personnel Changes - ordained

Changes within district:

Palmer, Wayne (non-candidate to candidate) 3/5/2008

Tormoehlen, Alger (emeritus) installed as Director, The 72 Partners on the Road (part time), LCMS World Mission, St. Louis, MO, 2/28/2008 by R. Roegner

Ordination/installation

Mueller, Paul (SL08) ordained Concordia, Sikeston, MO 3/16/2008 by R. Mirly; installed 4/20/2008 as Chaplain LSS Heisinger Bluffs, Jefferson City, MO, by G. Clayton

Transferred to our district

Runk, Patrick (candidate) NE 3/1/2008

Transferred to other districts

Hempelmann, L. Dean (emeritus) to RM 3/10/2008

Sullivan, Joshua (candidate status) to Kansas District 4/25/2008

Candidate status

Retired

Deceased

Congregation disbands

New congregation in district

Reinstated to clergy roster by the COP

Resigned / Removed from LCMS clergy roster

Shaw, James (Grace, Lexington) 4/6/2008

Sliger, Dwain (Immanuel, Wentzville) 4/4/2008

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Personnel changes-commissioned minister of religion

Transferred to other districts

Anderson, Summer (non-candidate) to RM 3/18/08

Dolan, Gretchen (non-candidate) to MNS 3/18/08

Hanke, Melinda (candidate) to PSW 3/20/08

Koenig, Herman (emeritus) to EN 4/17/08

Loomans, Lowell (emeritus) to MI 4/17/08

Schmidt, Lester (emeritus) to KS 3/18/08

Transferred from other districts

Cunningham, Karen (CI) to candidate 4/1/08

Olson, Peter (SW) to candidate 3/11/08

Ryherd, Brian (CI) to Lutheran High School South, St. Louis 4/13/08 by R. Mirly

Wills, Herman (IN) to emeritus 3/25/08

Wurdeman, Bruce (TX) to Lutheran Hour Ministries, St. Louis 4/3/08 by C. Spomer

Graduates installed

Changes within district

Coleman, Michelle (candidate) to Our Savior, Fenton 4/13/08 by L. Eatherton

McDonnell, Ruth (Salem, Affton) to Missouri District, St. Louis 5/1/08 by R. Mirly

Stec, Daniel (Lutheran High School of St. Charles County, St. Peters) to Immanuel, Wentzville 1/20/08 by J. Auringer

Candidate status

Non-Candidate status

Anderson, Summer (Grace Chapel, Bellefontaine Neighbors) 3/1/08

Retired

Deceased

Resigned/Removed from Roster

Bernhardt, Amy (non-candidate) 3/24/08

Crowder, Jason (candidate) 3/24/08

Fabry, Kristin (non-candidate) 3/24/08

Ficken, Marsha (candidate) 3/24/08

Flanders, Janelle (non-candidate) 3/24/08

Kiessling, Elizabeth (St. John’s, Ellisville) 3/24/08

Liescheidt, Betty (non-candidate) 3/28/08

Merrill, Randolph (St. Luke’s, St. Louis) 3/24/08

Miller, Leslie (non-candidate) 3/31/08

Palmer, Sherri (Immanuel, Perryville) 4/23/08 for tax purposes

Reinhart, Julie (candidate) 3/24/08

Reinstated

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The Missouri District Board of Directors

First Vice President

Rev. Terry Weinhold