English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
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Living Our Baptized Life in Christ
Galatians 2:20
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2025 District President and
District Vice-President Candidates
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The 2025 nomination process for District President and District Vice-Presidents concluded on February 26, the bylaw-mandated deadline for congregations to submit nominating ballots. Following that deadline, individuals who received nominating votes were contacted to obtain their consent to stand for election.
The candidates for District President and District Vice-Presidents are listed below by the number of nominating votes received:
English District President
Jeffrey Miskus 44
David Petersen 26
Christopher Thoma 1
Eastern Region Vice-President
Robert Kieselowsky 13
Lake Erie Region Vice-President
Zachary Marklevitz 13
James Leistico 1
Midwestern Region Vice-President
Anthony Oliphant 6
Western Region Vice-President
Michael Morehouse 13
Steven Resner 3
Kevin Belter 1
James Huenink 1
Nomination reports including the names and tallies of all ordained ministers who have received nominating votes will be published in the 2025 Convention Workbook. Biographical information profiles for all candidates will also be distributed to convention delegates.
Thank you to all congregations that participated in the nominating process and to all individuals who considered their willingness to stand for election.
Rev. Luke Zimmerman
LCMS English District Secretary
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Call Received
The Rev. Anthony J. Oliphant has received a Divine Call to serve as Associate Pastor of Immanuel, Grand Forks, ND (North Dakota District).
Call Received and Accepted
The Rev. Steven J. Okpisz has received and accepted a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Peace, Shell Knob, MO (Missouri District).
Call Accepted
The Rev. Joel A. C. Dietrich has accepted the Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Zion, Mascoutah, IL (Southern Illinois District).
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By the mystery of Your holy incarnation … Help us, good Lord
(The Litany, LSB p. 288)
The March 25 Feast of the Annunciation reminds us that Christ’s work of salvation began at His incarnation. The Second Person of the Trinity had to take on human flesh in order to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. Even at the earliest stage of His human development, namely that of the one-cell zygote, our Lord was fully God and fully man. And even at that very same stage of our own development, we are fully human sinners for whom He died. Like every day in the Church Year, the Feast of the Annunciation powerfully proclaims the sanctity of human life from fertilization into eternity.
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Members of congregations in the Arizona North and South Circuits joined with their counterparts from Pacific Southwest District congregations at the Arizona March for Life. Pastor Brian Crane of Eternal Life Lutheran Church in Mesa, AZ offered remarks and a prayer to open the pre-march rally. Participants also staffed an LCMS information table at the pro-life ministry fair which garnered a great deal of interest.
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Bioethical dilemmas present complex challenges for pastors and other church leaders, requiring a response grounded in Scripture. To help equip them to navigate these critical issues, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL) and Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon (CUW) are offering a six-week virtual continuing education course, “Life and Death: A Confessional Framework for Pastoral Bioethics.” This course will cover essential bioethical topics, such as gender dysphoria, abortion, physician-assisted suicide and more, all viewed through a biblical lens.
The course will be taught via Zoom from 4-5:15 p.m. (CT) Tuesdays, April 29 through June 3, 2025. Click here for more information. Click here to register.
| | Save the Date: Ontario March for Life, Saturday, May 10, in Toronto. Bishop Miskus will lead a pre-march service along with Rev. Dr. Dusan Tillinger, at 9 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 619 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, ON. (Please note the change of location.) Following the service, carpooling will be arranged to the rally and march at the Ontario Legislative Building in Queen’s Park. Parking, bus, and subway information will be available soon. There will be a lite breakfast at 8:30 a.m. lunch and workshops will follow the rally. Participants are encouraged to register here. For more information, email English District Lifeline Team member Glenn Kahle. | | |
Lifeline is the English District’s outreach that promotes the dignity and sanctity of life from fertilization to forever.
Click here for Lifeline's 2025 Coming Events, a list of upcoming sanctity of life learning opportunities. Click here for more information on Lifeline.
| | English District Missions | | | |
Our desire in the English District is to see churches planted “from the bottom up, not from the top down.” This month's Mission Action Team article "De-centralized Church Planting in the LCMS (and the English District)" explains more. Click here to read the full article.
| | 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions | | | |
Some exciting news about The Pittsburgh Lutheran Deaf Ministry provided by Debra Terhune, Director.
"The Pittsburgh Lutheran Deaf Ministry thanks you for your prayers and participation in 1-1-1 during 2025. Our mission is outreach to the deaf community in the greater Pittsburgh area.
Every Sunday we have a signed Bible study followed by an interpreted Divine Service. After church, we gather for a free lunch and fellowship. On the 3rd Sunday of each month, we have a deaf social in the early afternoon with free lunch, crafts, and games.
A significant and joyful event in 2024 at the Pittsburgh Lutheran Deaf Ministry was the baptism and confirmation of five of our newest members at First Trinity Lutheran Church. Rev. Eric Andrae baptized and confirmed in the faith three deaf women and confirmed in the faith two additional deaf women. The sponsors for the baptisms were deaf members of First Trinity Lutheran Church.
In 2025, we are excited about more baptisms, as well as confirmation and marriage counseling for a deaf couple that will be married in our congregation during 2026. This will be our first deaf wedding!
The Pittsburgh Lutheran Deaf Ministry is also planning to host a table at the Pittsburgh Sign-A-Thon in March. This is where the majority of the deaf in the Pittsburgh area go to meet old friends and see new technologies and resources available for the deaf. We are preparing to distribute Catechisms, Bible stories for children, give them a cross to wear, and provide much more information about our ministry.
The Pittsburgh Lutheran Deaf Ministry continually thanks God for His continued gifts and blessings upon His people for His mercy never ceases! We pray His blessing upon each of you and encourage you to reach out to us if you would like to begin a deaf ministry in your church."
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West Portal, San Francisco, CA
West Portal Lutheran Church (WPLC) recently celebrated longtime church member Dorothy Bridgeman's 104th birthday. She was born on St. Patrick's Day. We join in wishing her a very happy birthday and a blessed year. Watch the video of her birthday celebration at WPLC here.
| | After Martin Luther’s death, a group of Lutherans rallied around the Word of God and wrote the confessions now contained in the Book of Concord — confessions that members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod continue to adhere to today. We are joined together as a Synod because of our common faith and doctrine, and we continue to promote our doctrinal clarity and unity in various ways. | | |
District daily prayers for April 2025 are located on our website.
We pray for the family of Rev. Dr. Paul L. Maier who recently passed away.
We pray for the family of Rev. Dr. Robert T. Kuhn who recently passed away.
Your prayer concerns are important to the English District. If you have a prayer request you would like shared in this newsletter, email the district office.
| | Alliance Defending Freedom | | | |
Alliance Defending Freedom has developed a new resource, "Parents in Control: A Guide to Your Rights in Education and Healthcare."
Parents, not the government, know and love their children best and should be the ones to direct their children’s upbringing, education, and health care. Alliance Defending Freedom has created this resource to help parents understand their fundamental, God-given rights.
In this new resource, you’ll get the answers to questions like:
- What is at the root of what my kids are being taught in school about gender, sexuality, and race?
- What are “gender support plans,” and can my child’s school really “socially transition” a student without a parent’s consent or knowledge?
- What can I do to protect my rights as a parent?
Download your free copy here. To learn how ADF can provide legal support for LCMS congregations click here or email Gena McFarland.
| | Roger D. Pittelko Ille Dilexit Ecclesiam Award | | | |
Nominations are requested for the fifth annual Roger D. Pittelko Ille Dilexit Ecclesiam* Award (*He loved the Church).
The English District has created this award to recognize and celebrate pastors who have served God’s people well in the English District.
Recipients of this award must meet the following criteria:
- He is an ordained pastor who served in the English District.
- He has retired from full-time active parish ministry.
- Must not have received the award nor similar recognition from the District previously.
- He exhibited a lifetime of faithfulness to our God and service to God’s people through congregations and the wider field of the English District.
Download the nomination form from the English District website.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Thursday, May 1, 2025. The award will be presented at the 2025 English District Convention.
| | Contact John Hoover, LCEF Vice President, by email or phone 314-276-3370 for more information. | | Lutheran Federal Credit Union | | | For more information, please contact our Operations Department at 314-394-2790 | | |
Prince of Peace, Mesquite, NV
Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman gave the saints of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church a presentation on the Torah scroll he had purchased in Israel. He explained its history, the materials used to produce it, its required care, and the proper way to read and handle the scroll.
| | One of the ways the saints of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church demonstrate community outreach is by supporting the Sun City Mesquite New Resident Orientation. The congregation recently put together thirty welcome packages that included snacks, water, and a Prince of Peace Lutheran Church pen. | | |
Peace, Palm Desert, CA
At their most recent meeting, the LWML women of Peace Lutheran Church of the Desert were encouraged by Nila's devotion titled "Remember the Saints" about St. Patrick who was a real man and servant of our Savior. The message of the devotion was inspirational and reminded participants to never give up on spreading the Gospel or praying. Arlene had a Bible trivia contest, focusing on the "fruits of the spirit." Those with winning answers took a prize of their choosing. Tami made "Happy Meals", which the ladies enjoyed. They also celebrated Pastor James' birthday by singing to him and, of course, eating cake.
God is faithful and working at Peace Lutheran Church. To God be the glory!✝️
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Tree of Life, Inverness, FL
Members of Tree of Life Lutheran Church welcomed Evan into the Body of Christ through the waters of baptism. We pray for continued blessings upon Evan, his family, and all who support his faith walk.
| | Today wraps up National Lutheran Schools Week. We are excited to learn about how your school celebrated. Submit photos and brief descriptions to be considered for Servant to Servant here. Your stories inspire others 🙂! | | Facebook Live Video Storage Policy Change | | | |
On February 19, 2025 Facebook changed its policy regarding live video storage. Live broadcasts on Facebook can be replayed, downloaded, or shared for 30 days before automatic removal. If you only store your worship services, sermons, devotions, etc. on Facebook, you may want to consider a YouTube channel. Before your archival live videos are deleted, you will receive a 90-day notice via email and in-app alerts. Meta is developing new tools to simplify downloading past live videos. For more information, click here.
(Thank you to the Michigan District Communications Team for sharing this valuable information.)
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Please share the unique ministries of your school or congregation with the rest of the English District. Send pictures and stories for consideration to llinthicum@englishdistrict.org by Wednesday at 12:00 noon ET.
We want to see how YOUR congregation or school is showing the love of God to those in your community and around the world.
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