President's Page

Official Notices

IMPORTANT !!!

• During the week of Dec 7th the Synod President will be contacting all the congregations of Synod about a request that due to COVID and the inability for some Districts to hold their regularly scheduled Conventions there will be a vote taken of the congregations to allow a two-year window (2021-2022) for the Districts to hold their in-person conventions and that the Synod Convention will be moved to 2023.  This correspondence will include FAQ that will no doubt arise in the wake of this request.  This action is based on a unanimous decision of the Council of President on Nov. 16th to request this referendum to take place.  It will require 1/4 of the Synod's congregations (1525) to participate and the majority of those voting will have to agree.  As a result of preliminary discussion, the CID Board of Directors has passed the following resolution:

  "Moved - to urge the congregations of the Central Illinois District to vote on the request by the Synod President to delay the Synod convention by one year, permitting district conventions an additional year to meet. The Board recommends approval. The Board of Directors will move the District Convention to the summer of 2022, pending the outcome of the Synodical vote.  Carried without dissent."

Vacancies (23 total, 19 actively calling)

• Beardstown, St. John -The Rev. Michael Nemec of Hillsboro TX was called and he has declined.  More names are being gathered.
• Casey/Robinson, Trinity/Redeemer - Their congregation self-study has been completed and received in the district office.  The Rev. Steven Becker is assisting in the vacancy.  A call list has been sent to them.  They have extended a call to Rev. Toby Heller of Beulah ND.
• Danville, Immanuel - The Rev. Philip Callahan is serving the vacancy.  A call list has been sent to them for their consideration.  On July 11th, they extended a call to Rev. Nickolas Kooi of St. Paul, Minnesota and he has declined.  A call was extended to Rev. Joseph Barlau of Seymour IN and he declined.  They are asking for additional names.
• Decatur, St. Paul - Is proceeding with seeking a Senior Pastor following Rev. Eric Trickey's being called to glory.  The office has received a job description and is proceeding with recommending names of candidates. 
• East Peoria, St. Peter - Rev. Aaron Bueltmann of Bel Air, MD has been called and he has declined having accepted a call to Ohio.  They have received additional names.  They have called Rev. Brian Pape of Flagstaff AZ.
• Havana, St. Paul - Pastor Wendorf left at the end of December 2019.  Pastor Bruce Lakamp of East Peoria will take on vacancy responsibilities.  They have extended a call to Rev. Jason Rensner of Shumway, IL and he has declined.  They have received additional names.  They extended a call to Rev. Jonathan Boehne of El Paso IL and he has declined.
• Lexington, St. Paul -  They have submitted additional names and received a new call list.  They have called the Rev. Christopher Lieske of Monticello, MN and he has declined.  They have called Rev. Jacob Mueller of Emma MO and he is considering it.
• Lincoln, Faith - Rev. Mark Peters retired in September and has moved to NID.   Rev. Clarence Rogers will be serving the vacancy.  They have extended a call to Rev. Trevor Mankin of Seattle, WA and he has declined.  They have received additional names.
• Loda, Immanuel - has been vacant since their pastor, Rev. David Allen, was called to glory.  They are currently being served by Rev. Earl Kinnee.
• Macomb, Immanuel and Student Center - The Rev. Tom Baker of MO is serving during the vacancy.  The office has received their self-study, nominations, and a call list was sent to them.  The Rev. Jacob Hercamp of LaGrange MO has been called and he has declined.  Additional names have been requested.
• Mattoon, St. John - The Rev. Adam Jacobsen accepted a call to a dual parish in MNS.  A Pre-Call Mtg. was held on June 29th.  The district office has received nominations and paperwork.  They have called Rev. Joshua Conradt of Waterford WI.
• Milford, Our Savior - Pastor Gibbs accepted a call to MO.  A Pre-call mtg. was held on Sept. 19th.  Their self-study has been received and a call list has been forwarded to the call committee.  They extended a call to Rev. David Rolf of Kansas City, MO and he has declined.  Additional names to consider were sent to them.
• New Holland, Zion - Pastor Wayne Hoffman is serving the vacancy following Pastor Olander's retirement at the end of September.  A Pre-Call Meeting was held October 5.
• Newton, Good Shepherd - Rev. Michael Seidenstricker has retired as of 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.
• Peoria, Redeemer - They have submitted their self-study and nominations for the position of Associate Pastor.  A call list was sent to them.  They are investigating a call for a seminary graduate.
• Quincy, St. James - Pastor Fieberkorn accepted a call to St. Charles MO.  On July 19th they extended a call to Rev. Timothy Appel of Smithville, TX and he has declined.  A call was extended to Rev. Grayson Albers of Temple TX and he has declined.  Additional names will soon be sent to them.
• 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.
• Salem, Salem - A Pre-Call meeting was held on Nov. 5 as they prepare to call a Senior Pastor with Pastor Doug Meyer retiring this summer.  They extended a call to Rev. Jason Hoerth of Cincinnati OH and he has declined.
• Sherman, Good Shepherd - Pastor Schuermann accepted a call to Champaign and his services were completed at the end of December 2019.  They extended a call to Rev. Scott Adel of Collinsville, IL and he has declined.
• Strasburg, Grace/St. Paul – They extended a call to Rev. Kyle Wright of Collinsville IL and he declined.  A call has been extended to Rev. Christopher Lieske of Monticello, MN and he is deliberating.
• Sullivan, Faith -  They extended a call to Rev. David Stevens of Lake Mills, WI and the Lord saw fit to call him to glory before he could be installed.  They extended a call to Rev. Philip Hoppe of Pine City MN and he has declined.
• Thawville, St. Peter - They are presently receiving pulpit supply through Rev. Earl Kinnee.
• St. Paul, Woodworth - With Pastor Michael Stoerger receiving and accepting the call to Peace, Thomasboro, a Pre-call meeting was held on August 26th. Their self-study has been received and a call list has been sent to them. 

CID Vicars/Candidates Placed

• Candidate Tyler Arends [CTSFW], Friendship, Champaign, to Trinity, Guymon, OK
• Candidate Norlen Bartens [CTSFW], Good Shepherd, Newton, to Grace/Trinity, Neligh/Elgin NE  
• Candidate Scott Brown [CSL], of Bethel, Morton to Ebenezer/St. James, Alexandria/Parkers Prairie, MN.
• Vicar Emmett Bartens [CTSFW], Good Shepherd, Newton, to Our Redeemer, Cedar Falls, IA.
• Vicar William Fredstrom [CSL], Christ, Normal, to Immanuel, Seymour, IN.
• Vicar Ian Heinze, [CSL], St. James, Quincy, to Our Savior, Lansing, MI.
• Vicar Christopher Walters [CTSFW], Trinity, Peoria, to Lutheran Life Villages, Ft. Wayne, IN.  

CID Vicarage Assignments 2019-2020

• St. John's Beardstown hopes to call a bilingual pastor as Pastor Evenson prepares to retire this summer.  St. John, East Moline was assigned Michael Wilke[CSL] and will begin his duties this summer 2020, working with the Rev. Kent Umbarger.  At Holy Cross, Moline , working under the supervision of the Rev. Dr. Wilfred Karsten, Nathaniel Kunkel (Hannah)[CTSFW] will begin his vicarage the summer of 2020 as Holy Cross' 51st vicar.  Our Savior, Washington has received a vicar, Alexander Goodwin (Esther), [CSL] who will begin his service this summer 2020.  We will bid God's peace to Tyler McMiller and Paul Marks, as they return this summer to complete their final academic year at the seminary.  

Calls Pending

• Rev. Willie Grills, Pastor, St. Paul, Mattoon was considering a call to an English District congregation in West Virginia.
• Rev. Andrew Dierks, Pastor, Trinity, Arenzville, received a call to St. Peter, Joliet, IL and has declined.
• Rev. Keith Bueltmann, Pastor, Risen Savior, Buffalo, received a call to Ely and Babbitt, MN and has returned the call.
• Rev. Jonathan Boehne, Pastor, Trinity, El Paso, received a call to Emmanuel, Adell, WI and is considering.

Pastoral Changes

Prayers

• Rev. Glenn Niemann has renal cell carcinoma and was placed on Emeritus status.
• Kim, daughter of Rev. Doug and Marilyn Meyer, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer with a tumor in her brain.  She has progressed nicely and though continuing with her treatments seems to be improving.  She underwent brain surgery on July 9, 2020 which went well.  She continues to receive treatment.
• Howard Sharka, father of Gretchen Reimnitz, wife of Rev. Wesley Reimnitz, was called to glory on Nov 25th in Mt. Pulaski.  Graveside services are pending in Arlington, Vermont.

President's Calendar 

• Nov 2 65th Birthday
• Nov 3 Election Day
• Nov 5 6:30 pm St. John Buckley Leadership
• Nov 6 12 noon CID Endowment Fund ZOOM
• Nov 8 125th Anniversary of Immanuel Laurel NE preach
• Nov 10 7 pm Trinity, Taylorville Pre-Call mtg.
• Nov 11 Veterans Day CID OFFICE Closed
• Nov 12 10 am Finance and Management CID Budget mtg.
• Nov 15 - 19 COP St. Louis
• Nov 20 9:30 am LWML Mission Grant Review Mtg. CID Office
• Nov 22 9 am Our Redeemer, Jacksonville preach and Bible Class
• Nov 23 1:30 pm Teggatz Pre-Seminary Interview
• Nov 24 9 am CID BOD
• Nov 26 Thanksgiving Day CID OFFICE Closed
• Nov 27 CID OFFICE Closed
• Nov 28 6 pm St. John Chatham preach
• Nov 29 9 am St. John Chatham preach and Bible Class
• Nov 30 1:30 pm Brown Pre-Seminary Interview

• Dec 2 7 pm St. John Chatham Midweek Advent I preach
• Dec 4 1 pm COP ZOOM
• Dec 7 6:30 pm St. John Louisville Elders mtg.
• Dec 15-Jan 4  President's Vacation
• Dec 16 7 pm St. John Chatham Midweek Advent III preach
• Dec 24 Christmas Eve CID OFFICE CLOSED
• Dec 25 Christmas Day CID OFFICE CLOSED
• Dec 26 6 pm St. John Chatham preach
• Dec 27 8 am and 10 am St. John Chatham preach

NOTE: During this time of illness most face-to-face events are cancelled but someone will be available in the CID office to answer your questions and concerns.