Calls and Vacancies
Updated May 27, 2025
Changes and additions from the past week highlighted in bold.
PASTORAL CALLS
- Rev. Albert Bader, St. John’s, Ogallala, NE to Trinity, Hanover – pending
- Rev. Richard Bridgman, Faith, Appleton, WI to Messiah, Emporia – declined
- Rev. Jesse Burns, Redeemer, Ventura, IA to Holy Cross, Dodge City – pending
- Rev. Aaron Fenker, Bethlehem & Immanuel, Bremen to Our Father’s, Greenfield, WI – pending
- Rev. Marcel Kohlmeyer, Immanuel, Sterling & St. John, Tecumseh, NE to Messiah, Hays – declined
- Rev. Aaron Wagner, Christ the King, Salina to St. John, Pembroke, Ontario – pending
PENDING ORDINATIONS AND/OR INSTALLATIONS
- Rev. James Bender, Candidate to Our Saviour, Kansas City – accepted, installation Sunday, June 22, 2025, 3 p.m.
- Candidate Robert Choate, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to Bethany, Overland Park (associate) – ordination & installation Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025
- Rev. Shawn Fenske, St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth, MI to Holy Cross, Wichita (senior) – accepted, installation Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, 3 p.m.
- Rev. Matthew Vatthauer, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to St. Paul, Clay Center (associate) – installation Sunday, July 27, 2025
- Rev. John Werner, Zion, Hillsboro & Our Savior, Marion to St. John, Palmer – accepted, installation pending
VICARAGE AND INTERN ASSIGNMENTS 2025-2026
- Vicar Ryan Milbrath (CSL) – Zion, Linn
- Vicar Jonah Wilson (CSL) – Beautiful Savior, Olathe
CONGREGATIONS CALLING OR PREPARING TO CALL A FULL-TIME PASTOR
- Chanute, Zion (sole)
- Dodge City, Holy Cross (sole)
- Emporia, Messiah (sole)
- Hanover, Trinity (sole)
- Hays, Messiah (sole)
- Medicine Lodge, Trinity & Nashville, St. John’s (sole)
- Phillipsburg, First (sole)
- Shawnee, Trinity (associate)
- Topeka, Christ (sole)
- Wichita, St. Andrews (sole)
CONGREGATIONS CALLING A COMMISSIONED MINISTER
- Cheney, St. Paul’s (Teacher)
- Leavenworth, St. Paul (Principal) (Teacher)
- Linn, Linn Lutheran (Teacher – 7th and 8th grades)
- Overland Park, Christ (DCE)
- Shawnee, Hope (Teacher – MS Math / Science)
- Topeka, St. John’s Classical (Teacher)
- Wichita, Holy Cross (Teacher – 2nd grade)
COMMISSIONED MINISTER CALLS – from the field
- Teacher Corrie Clatt, Calvary, Kansas City to Redeemer, Olathe – accepted, installation pending
- Deaconess Candidate Alyssa Choate, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to Bethany, Overland Park – commissioning & installation Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025
- DCE Korey Danley, Candidate to Holy Cross Lutheran Academy, Sanford, FL – pending
- Teacher Christina Heiss, Holy Cross, Cary, IL to Hope, Shawnee – accepted, installation Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025
- Deaconess Candidate Lara McComack, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to Calvary, Topeka – commissioning and installation Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025
Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Two CSL pastoral candidates, two deaconess candidates, and two vicars were assigned to the Kansas District.
Candidate calls from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL): Robert Choate (CSL) associate pastor-elect to Bethany Lutheran Church and School, Overland Park; Matthew Vatthauer (CSL) associate pastor-elect to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Clay Center; Deaconess candidate Alyssa Choate (CSL) to Bethany Lutheran Church and School, Overland Park, and Deaconess candidate Lara McComack (CSL) to Calvary Lutheran Church, Topeka.
Vicarage and intern assignments from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL): Vicar Ryan Milbrath (CSL) to Zion Lutheran Church, Linn, and Vicar Jonah Wilson (CSL) to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Olathe.
Photos were taken during April 2025 Call Day, courtesy of CSL.