President's Page

Official Notices

Vacancies (32 total, 22 actively calling/temporary hold)

• Altamont, Immanuel - Rev. Jim Wright has accepted a call to Michigan. The congregation has received their list and is preparing to hold a call meeting.
• 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 have completed their self-study and submitted nominations. They have received their list from the district office and are preparing to issue a call.
• Bluffs, Trinity/Winchester, Christ - The Rev. Richard Harre is serving this dual parish in their vacancy.
• Broadlands, Immanuel - The congregation is looking to expand their staff to include an associate pastor. The District President has conducted their pre-call meeting. Their request for a candidate going unfulfilled, they are discussing their next steps.
• Charleston, Immanuel - Rev. Ken Hoover has retired. The congregation has received its list and been calling from the field. They have issued a call to Rev. Robert Zagore of St. John's, FL and he is considering.
• Golden, Holy Cross - Pastor Michael Grieve has accepted a call to Zion Lutheran Church in Gwinner, ND. Having exhausted their first list, they have requested a new list.
• Hoopeston, Good Shepherd/Idaville, Immanuel - A call list has been sent to the congregation. Having exhausted their first list, they are requesting a new list.
• Jacksonville, Our Redeemer - Pastor John Laux has retired. The congregation has received their second list and is preparing to issue a call.
• Kewanee, St. Paul - Pastor Burnell Eckardt has retired. Having received their first list, the congregation called Rev. Sean Smith, but he has declined. The congregation is considering their options, requesting additional names from the District President.
• Lawrenceville, Our Savior - They are being served in vacancy by a pastor from the Southern Illinois District. No call committee has been formed.
• 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. Working from their second list, the congregation has most recently called Rev. Timothy Lorenz of Huntington, IN, and he is contemplating.
• Moline, Holy Cross - Pastor Karsten has retired. The congregation has received their list and they are preparing to issue a call.
• Monticello, Faith - The Rev. Terry Strom has retired. Working from their second list, the congregation has called Rev. Brian Krueger of Random Lake, WI, and he is contemplating.
• Mt. Zion, Mt. Zion - Rev. Robert Bruer has announced his plans to retire later in the year. A meeting discussing options for ministry partnerships has been conducted.
• 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.
• Normal, Christ - Pastor Jonathan Huehn has accepted a call as Senior Pastor of Redeemer-Manitowoc, WI. The congregation is preparing for Pastor Huehn's departure and how to proceed with the vacancy.
• Pekin, Trinity - Pastor Simeon Raddatz has accepted a call to serve at Concordia University-Chicago. Their most recent call was issued to Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek of Lidgerwood, ND and he has declined. The congregation prepares to issue another call.
• Pittsfield, St. Paul -They are being served in vacancy by Prof. Abjar Bahkou and several students from Concordia Seminary - St. Louis.
• Pleasant Plains, Zion - Rev. Don Pritchard has retired. Having exhausted their first list, they have requested a new 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 - They have been vacant since the retirement of Rev. Joseph Eckman.  Rev. Tom Baker is helping out with pulpit supply.
• Sadorus, St. Paul - Rev. Matthew Montgomery accepted a call to Concordia Theological Seminary - Ft. Wayne. They called Rev. Mark Cutler of Manville, WI. He has declined. The congregation is contemplating its next steps as it prepares to issue a new call.
• Salem, Salem - Rev. Michael Feldmann, their previous associate pastor, has accepted the call to become Senior pastor following the retirement of Rev. Doug Meyer. In their continuing search for a new associate pastor, they have received their most recent list and are preparing to issue a call shortly.
• Shobonier, St. Paul - Rev. David Hoehler has retired. The congregation is discussing with their circuit visitor their options for moving forward. At this time, there are no plans to issue a call but to continue for a time of vacancy being served by supply preachers.
• Shumway, Faith - Pastor Rensner accepted a call to South Dakota. From their most recent list, they have called Rev. David Bergelin of Janesville, WI, and he is contemplating.
• Sigel, St. Paul - They are receiving pulpit supply through Rev. Earl Brown.
• 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, including discussions about a partnership with a nearby congregation.
• Springfield, Holy Trinity - They are currently being served in their vacancy by Rev. Michael Koschmann.
• Springfield, Our Savior - Pastor Brendan Harrell has accepted a call to California. The congregation is evaluating their staffing needs to determine how they will proceed.
• Springfield, Trinity - Pastor Paul Hemmenway has accepted a call to Oklahoma. The congregation has called Rev. Matthew Clark of St. Louis, and he is contemplating.
• Thawville, St. Peter - They are presently receiving pulpit supply through Rev. Earl Kinnee.
• Urbana, Trinity - Pastor Shawn Boylan has retired. They have called a pastor but his name will not be published until he has had opportunity to announce to his current congregation.
• Washington, Our Savior - With the departure of Rev. Thomas Heren, the congregation had been served by an intentional interim pastor. They had most recently called Rev. Wayne Miller of Mobile, AL, and he has declined. The congregation prepares to issue a new call.
• Wenona, Zion/Varna, St. Paul - Rev. Peter Glock retired on December 31. They have entered into a Tri-Parish agreement with St. John-Washburn and installed Rev. Mark Gruden as their pastor on June 29.

CID 2024 Vicars/Candidates Placed

• Candidate Brandon Sullivan [CSL] Our Redeemer-Eureka to Christ Lutheran Church-Mason City, IL/Zion Lutheran Church-New Holland, IL
• Candidate Jim Martin [CTSFW], Christ-Normal to Grace Lutheran Church-Clarksville, TN
• Candidate Nathan Nelson [CSL], Former Vicar at Mt. Calvary-Decatur to Trinity Lutheran Church-Leavenworth, KS

CID Vicarage and Deaconess Internship Assignments 2024-2025

• Kimberly Bauer [CTSFW] has received her assignment as a deaconess intern at St. John-East Moline under the supervision of Rev. Kent Umbarger.
• There were no congregations from CID that requested vicars for this coming year.
• Thanks to vicars Jacob Corrigan [CTSFW] and Ethan Hart [CSL], and Deaconess Intern Rachel McCloskey [CSL] for their service rendered to CID congregations during the 23-24 school year.  We keep them in our prayers as they prepare for placement in their first calls. Placement services will be held at Fort Wayne on April 29, 2025 and at St. Louis on April 30, 2025. Click on the respective links for more information or to watch a livestream of the services.

Other Placements of Interest

• Former Mt. Calvary-Decatur Vicar Nathan Nelson has been assigned as Associate Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church-Leavenworth, KS

Calls Pending

• None

Calls Accepted

• Rev. Paul Hemmenway (Trinity-Springfield) to Holy Trinity-Edmond, OK
• Rev. James Wright (Immanuel-Altamont) to Trinity Lutheran Church-Berrien Springs, MI
• Rev. Brendan Harrel (Our Savior's-Springfield) to The Lutheran Church of Our Savior-Santa Maria, CA.
• Rev. John Huehn (Christ-Normal) to Redeemer-Manitowoc, WI

President's Calendar

• Aug 11 - Preach at Dieterich/Wheeler
• Aug 11 - Dedication of St. John's-Mattoon High School
• Aug 16 - Endowment Fund Meeting
• Aug 17-18 - Serve at Holy Cross-Vandalia
• Aug 18 - Lutheran Care Center Service - Altamont
• Aug 21 - CEF Luncheon
• Aug 24 - Keynote Speaker at IL LFL Conference in Eureka
• Aug 25 - Preach at SID/MO Lutheran Women's Retreat - Lake Williamson
• Aug 29 - Preach at LuHi Chapel

• Sep 1 - Camp CILCA Chicken Dinner
• Sep 2 - LABOR DAY - CID Office Closed
• Sep 8-12 - Council of Presidents Meeting in St. Louis
• Sep 12 - Pastors Conference Committee Meeting
• Sep 12 - Finance and Management Commission Meeting
• Sep 13 - Camp CILCA Golf Outing
• Sep 16-18 - Concordia University System Visitation at Concordia University-Chicago
• Sep 21-22 - Serve at Holy Cross-Vandalia
• Sep 24 - CID Board of Directors Meeting with Synodical Visitation
• Sep 24 - Circuit Visitors Meeting
• Sep 26-28 - All Illinois DCE Event
• Sep 28-Oct 5 - District President Administrative Assistants Meeting in Irvine, CA
• Sep 30 - Faith and Family Coalition

• Oct 7-9 - Joint CID/SID Pastors Conference
• Oct 9-11 - Regional COP Meeting in Milwaukee, WI
• Oct 12-13 - Preach at Trinity-Springfield
• Oct 19-20 - Serve at Holy Cross-Vandalia
• Oct 20 - 175th Anniversary Celebration at St. John's-Bath
• Oct 27 - Preach at St. Paul-Pana's 100th Anniversary Celebration
• Oct 31 - Preach at LuHi Chapel