Changes to Missouri District Praesidium

There are some recent changes to the Missouri District’s Vice Presidents. Rev. Craig Otto of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit has been appointed by the Missouri District Board of Directors to serve as fourth vice president. This change has come about due to Second Vice President Rev. Kris Morris accepting a call to serve at Concordia University, Nebraska. We are so grateful to Pastor Morris for his time at the District, and wish God’s blessings to him and his family during this time of transition!

Rev. William Marler remains first vice president, Rev. Brian Thieme now serves as second vice president, Rev. Randy Asburry now serves as third vice president, and at the first of the month, the Missouri Board of Directors appointed Rev. Craig Otto to serve as fourth vice president.

Pastor Otto has served as senior pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit for the past 20 years. Prior to that, he served as pastor for nine years at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville, Missouri. Pastor Otto also has been Circuit Visitor in the Altenburg and Kansas City South circuits, and currently assists congregations as a Missouri District reconciler. He has a Journalism degree from the University of Missouri—Columbia, and a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He and his wife, Becky, have two children. We are excited and blessed to have Pastor Otto serving in this role at the Missouri District.

“Pastor Craig Otto is a faithful and respected pastor who has spent his entire ministry in the Missouri District,” says Missouri District president Rev. Dr. Lee Hagan. “He served in Perryville before being called to Lee’s Summit. He is a trained reconciler and brings a wealth of experience to the praesidium. He will be a blessing in this role.”