Bloomington, Our Redeemer - Rev. Peter Weeks has accepted a call to Carbondale. The congregation has received a new list from the district office and has called Rev. Andrew Smith of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh, NC. He has accepted and will be installed in early May.
Bloomington, Trinity - Rev. Billy Newell has accepted a call to South Dakota. The congregation has selected a call committee and had their pre-call meeting with the District President. They are completing their self-study and gathering nominations.
Bluffs, Trinity/Winchester, Christ - The Rev. Richard Harre is serving this dual parish in their vacancy.
Brimfield, St. Paul - Rev. Michael Liese has accepted a call to Kentucky. They have received a list from the district office and have called Rev. Michael Wagnitz (CID-Candidate). He is deliberating.
Broadlands, Immanuel - The congregation is looking to expand their staff to include an associate pastor. The District President has conducted their pre-call meeting. They have submitted a request for a candidate from the seminary during Spring placement.
Charleston, Immanuel - Rev. Ken Hoover has announced his upcoming retirement in mid-2024. As they make plans to celebrate pastor's retirement, they have also received a list from the district office and prepare to extend a call.
Chenoa, St. Paul - Pastor Jeremy Latzke accepted a call to St. John, Algonquin IL (NID). Pulpit supply is being rendered by Rev. Kyle Ronchetto of Lexington. After a few returned calls, the congregation is in discussion with Lexington about forming a dual parish, formalizing their sharing of Pastor Ronchetto with Lexington.
Effingham, St. John's - Calling an associate pastor. After attempting to call from the field, the congregation is requesting a seminary candidate during Spring placement.
Golden, Holy Cross - Pastor Michael Grieve has accepted a call to Zion Lutheran Church in Gwinner, ND. The self-study is complete and nominations have been submitted, and they have received their first list and are about to issue a call.
Hoopeston, Good Shepherd/Idaville, Immanuel - A call list has been sent to the congregation.
Jacksonville, Our Redeemer - Pastor John Laux has retired. A call committee has been formed, a pre-call meeting has been conducted, and the self-study has been submitted. They have received their list from the district and are working to narrow that list for their call meeting.
Jacksonville, Salem - Pastor William Orr took a call to Hope, St. Ann, MO. The congregation has called Rev. Ryan Meyer from St. Peter-St. Peter, IL and he has declined. Having exhausted their current list, the congregation is turning to the seminaries with a request for the placement of a candidate this Spring.
Kewanee, St. Paul - Pastor Burnell Eckardt has announced his upcoming retirement. A pre-call meeting has been conducted and they are completing their congregational self-study.
Lincoln, Faith - Pastor Clarence Rogers has retired. A pre-call meeting been conducted. The congregation has completed their self study, submitted nominations, and has received their first call list. They called Rev. Jonathan Crawford of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dubuque, IA, and he has declined. Having nearly exhausted their first list, the congregation is requesting a seminary candidate during Spring placement.
Loda, Immanuel - has been vacant since their pastor, Rev. David Allen, was called to glory. They are currently being served by Rev. Earl Kinnee.
Louisville, St. John - The Rev. Stephan Rutherford has accepted a call to Lincoln, MO. They have issued a call to Rev. Jonathan Varns, and he has declined. Having exhausted the names on their first list, the congregation has requested another.
Mason City, Christ/New Holland, Zion - Rev. John Johnson has retired. Calling from their second list, they issued a call to Rev. Ben Meyer of Hope-Sudbury, OH. He has declined the call. The congregation meets soon to determine their next steps.
Moline, Holy Cross - Pastor Karsten has announced his upcoming retirement for mid-2024. A pre-call meeting has been conducted, self-study sent to the district office, and the congregation awaits a list of candidates as they also make plans to celebrate the conclusion of Pastor Karsten's ministry among them.
Monticello, Faith - The Rev. Terry Strom has retired. The congregation has completed its self-study and received its first list from the district office. Having exhausted that list, they have requested a new list from the district office.
Mt. Zion, Mt. Zion - Rev. Robert Bruer has announced his plans to retire later in the year. A Pre-Call meeting will be scheduled soon.
Newton, Good Shepherd - Rev. Michael Seidenstricker retired at the end of 2016. A Pre-call meeting was held on April 3, 2018. The congregational self-study has been received. They are being served by Rev. Earl Brown of Effingham.
Pekin, Trinity - Pastor Simeon Raddatz has accepted a call to serve at Concordia University-Chicago. A Pre-Call Meeting has been conducted.The congregation has completed its self-study and submitted nominations. They have received their first list and are preparing to narrow that list in anticipation of their first call meeting.
Pittsfield, St. Paul -They is being served in vacancy by Prof. Abjar Bahkou and several students from Concordia Seminary - St. Louis.
Pleasant Plains, Zion - Rev. Don Pritchard has announced his upcoming retirement. A pre-call meeting has been conducted. The congregation prepares to celebrate God's gifts received through Pastor's years of service there. They have completed their self-study and have received their list from the district office.
Rochester, Good Shepherd - Rev. Janssen has retired and moved out of the area. A pre-call meeting with the congregation has been conducted. They are gathering nominations and completing their self-study. They are also considering possible partnerships with nearby congregations.
Rushville, St. John/Mt. Sterling, First - are vacant with the retirement of Rev. Joseph Eckman who has moved to Florida. Rev. Tom Baker is helping out with pulpit supply.
Sadorus, St. Paul - Rev. Matthew Montgomery accepted a call to Concordia Theological Seminary - Ft. Wayne. A pre-call meeting has been conducted. They have prepared their self study and submitted nominations. They have received their list from the district office.
Salem, Salem - Rev. Michael Feldmann, their previous associate pastor, has accepted the call to become Senior pastor following the retirement of Rev. Doug Meyer. They have received several lists of names and have exhausted their most recent list. The congregation is now seeking placement of a seminary candidate.
Shobonier, St. Paul - Rev. David Hoehler has announced his upcoming retirement. The congregation is discussing with their circuit visitor their options for moving forward.
Shumway, Faith - Pastor Rensner accepted a call to South Dakota. After several declinations from their current list, the congregation is requesting a seminary candidate during the Spring placement.
Springfield, Concordia - Pastor James Hennig has accepted a call to Trinity, Centralia (SID). They have submitted their nominations and their congregational self study and have received a list from the district office. They are contemplating their next steps.
Springfield, Holy Trinity - They are currently being served in their vacancy by Rev. Michael Koschmann.
Springfield, Immanuel - They are requesting a seminary candidate to serve as successor to Rev. Stuenkel.
Thawville, St. Peter - They are presently receiving pulpit supply through Rev. Earl Kinnee.
Urbana, Trinity - Pastor Shawn Boylan has announced his intention to retire at the end of May 2024. A Pre-Call Meeting has been conducted. They have completed their congregational self-study and await a call list from the district office. The congregation also prepares to celebrate and give thanks for the work of the Lord through Pastor during his time at the congregation.
Washington, Our Savior - With the departure of Rev. Thomas Heren, the congregation has been served by Rev. Michael Gallagher as intentional interim pastor. They called Rev. Paul Pinion of St. John Lutheran Church of Hampshire, IL, and he has declined.
Wenona, Zion/Varna, St. Paul - Rev. Peter Glock retired on December 31. A pre-call meeting has been conducted. They have agreed in principle to incorporate St. John-Wasburn as a three-point parish and they are working out the details of the multi-parish agreement.
CID 2023 Vicars/Candidates Placed
Vicar Micah Brown [CSL], Bethel-Morton to Brookfield Lutheran Church-Brookfield, WI
Candidate Gunner Campbell [CTSFW] Immanuel-Tuscola to Christ Lutheran Church-Jacob, IL
Candidate Oliver LaMie [CSL], St. Paul's-Woodworth to St. Peter's Lutheran Church-Prairietown, IL
Vicar Henry Scheltens [CTSFW], Christ-Normal to Messiah Lutheran Church, Danville, CA
Vicar Jacob Shepard[CTSFW], St. John's-Matton to Trinity Lutheran Church-Hampton, IA
Vicar Joshua Taggatz [CSL], St. Matthew-Milan to St. Lorenz Lutheran Church-Frankenmuth, MI
CID Vicarage and Deaconess Internship Assignments 2023-2024
Holy Cross - Moline was assigned Jacob Corrigan (Danielle) [CTSFW] and will begin his duties this summer, working under the supervision of the Rev. Dr. Wilfred Karsten. Jacob will be the 53rd Vicar at Holy Cross! Mt. Calvary - Decatur is receiving Ethan Hart [CSL] as its second vicar to work under the mentorship of Rev. Brett Hinrichs. The Lord be with you all as you serve and learn.
Rachel McCloskey [CSL] has received her assignment as a deaconess intern at Immanuel - Danville under the supervision of Rev. James Yonkers.
Thanks to vicars Kyle Moellenhoff [CSL], James Martin (Amanda)[CTSFW], and Nathan Nelson [CSL] for their service rendered to CID congregations during the 22-23 school year. We keep them, together with Vicar Brandon Sullivan (son of Our Redeemer-Eureka), in our prayers as over the next couple of months they prepare for their return to seminary and their last year of school.
Other Placements of Interest
Former Holy Cross-Moline Vicar Carl Petzold has been assigned to the dual parish of St. John Lutheran Church - West Branch, MI and Hope Lutheran Church - St. Helen, MI
Former St. John's-East Moline Vicar Jonathan Lackey has been assigned to Grace Lutheran Church - Vine Grove, KY.
Calls Pending
Rev. Ryan Meyer of St. Peter-St. Peter to Our Savior-Bad Axe, MI (MI). He has declined.
Rev. Andrew Dierks of Trinity-Arenzville to Trinity-Ironwood, MI (MI). He has declined.
President's Calendar
Mar 2 - Camp CILCA Pancake Breakfast
Mar 3 - Lutheran Care Center (Altamont) Fundraiser Event at St. John's - Effingham
Mar 3-5 - LCMS Ministerial Care Coalition Meeting in Orlando, FL