BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
NOMINEES FOR REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
NORTHWEST REGION
Kendall, Chad D., Rev., 47, Trinity, Lowell, IN
Occupation:Pastor
Education:B.S.; M.Div.
Service:
Synod:Adj. Prof., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort
Wayne (2016-present); Adj. Prof., Concordia
University, Chicago (2017-present)
District:Committee on Constitutional Matters, Chair. (2015-
2017)
I am a Lutheran pastor who grew up outside of the church, having embraced secular ideologies. At the age of 22 I became a Lutheran. Today, I am in my eleventh year serving the Lord in Indiana. I am a pastor and a missionary. I love to share the gospel with Millennials and those who come from similar backgrounds as myself. The Lord’s work in the Indiana District is very important because of the church’s task in mission. In a day when churches are in decline and secularism grows, it is critical to have people serving who know how and are willing to engage the surrounding culture. I would like to serve as a Vice President in the Indiana District in order to help church leaders and pastors go forth in God’s grace and truth.
*Stuckwisch, D. Richard, Jr., Rev. Dr., 52, Emmaus, South Bend,
Occupation:Pastor
Education:B.A.; M.Div.; M.A.; S.T.M.; Ph.D.
Service:
Synod:Adj. Prof., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort
Wayne (2015-present); Mission Field Prof., Asia
(2009, 2011, 2012,2015, 2018); Chap./ Presenter,
Higher Things (2006, 2008, 2011, 2016(; Catechist,
Concordia Catechetical Symposium, Sussex, Wisc.
(2002-present); Prof. Church History, DELTO
Program (2000-04); Guest Prof, Lutheran Sem,
Novosibirsk, Russia (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008);
Member of Lutheran Service Book Project (1998-2006);
Synod Delegate 2004, 2007)
District:Regional Vice President (2015-18); Circuit Visitor (2012-15); Committee on Worship and Spiritual Care (2003-12, Chair. 2006-12)
Congregation:Stewardship Committee (1992-94); Youth Leader/Sunday
School Teacher (1988-89)
Community:Southold Dan Theater (patron/supporter 2011-present);
Pastoral Advisory Committee, Resurrection Academy
(2000-15); Michiana Lutheran Education Assn. (1997-99)
The Church lives entirely by faith in the Word of her Lord Jesus Christ. Everything derives from His Word and depends upon His Word, not as facts and information in a book, but as it is taught, preached, confessed, administered, and celebrated in the Liturgy, on the mission field near and far, in catechesis and pastoral care. The Church’s work is therefore centered in the proclamation of Christ’s Word, that it might be given free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of all people. It is also by and with His Word that we are to love and care for one another as fellow members of His Body. To that end, it is vital to the life and health of our District that we provide the same pastoral care to the pastors and teachers of the Church that we rightly expect them to have for their congregations.
NORTHEAST REGION
Ahlersmeyer, Thomas R., Rev. Dr.,64, Holy Cross, Fort Wayne, IN
Occupation:Pastor
Education:B.A.; M.Div.; PhD.
Service:
Synod:Adj. Prof., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne
(2016-present); Consultant, Capital Funding Services –
LCEF (2015-present); President, Concordia University,
Ann Arbor (2003-2009); Bd. of Regents CUAA (1998-
2003); LCMS Bd. for Communication Services (1986-
1995)
District:Circuit Visitor (2015-2018); Essayist-Ohio District
Convention (2009)
Community:Bd. of Directors, Lutheran Inner-City Network Coalition of
Northeast Indiana (2015-present); Bd. of Directors, The
Lutheran Foundation (2015-present); Preacher, Worship
Anew (2012-present); Lecturer, Ethiopian Ev. Church
MekaneYesus (2015); Bd. of Directors, Lutheran Special
Education Ministries (2012-2014); Bd. of Directors,
Bethesda Lutheran Communities (2006-2011)
Personal Statement: “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy” (2 Corinthians 1:24). This Scripture passage voices my thoughts on the privileges and possibilities of District leadership. Lift high the cross! Lead with the Gospel in good times and in bad! Love as our Lord Jesus Christ in order “to encourage and assist the Christian outreach and nurture of Indiana District congregations and other ministries.” God has blessed and surprised me with wonderful opportunities to serve in pastoral ministry for nearly four decades -- in the parish (rural, suburban, and urban settings) and in educational leadership (elementary schools, high schools, and a university of the Church). I deeply love the parish and school I now pastor, but am willing to serve other Indiana District congregations and ministries for their joy in the Gospel, if God so directs.
Brock, Peter J., Rev., 34, St. John, Decatur, IN
Occupation:Pastor
Education:B.A.; M.Div.
Service:
Synod:Adjunct Professor, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne
(2014-present); Visiting Professor, Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Tanzania — South-East of Lake Victoria Diocese’s (ELCT—
SELVD)Bishop Emmanuel Makala Training Center (2014, 2015,
2018); Visiting Professor, Lutheran Seminary, Accra, Ghana
(2016); Presenter: Congress on the Lutheran Confessions,
Bloomington, MN (2018); Liturgy Workshop, Plymouth, MN
(2018);International LCMS Disaster Response
Conference, Fort Wayne (2016);Infertility Ethics Symposium,
St. Louis (2014); Concordia Deaconess Conference (2013);
Contributor, The Necessary Distinction; All Theology Is Eminently
Practical: Essays in Honor of John T. Pless; CTQ and Logia
District:Indiana District Secretary (2015-present); Board of Directors
2015-present); Committee on Constitutional Matters (2015-
present)
Community:Operation Barnabas (2017-present); Police Week (2016-
present); Shepherds United (2013-present); Lutheran Bible
Institute
“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28), so then are we implored “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1b-3). In this next triennium of significant turnover and transition, I pray that The Indiana District, humbly submitting to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, will conserve and promote this unity of the true faith, seek to strengthen congregations and their members in faith toward God and love toward their neighbors, support and encourage pastors, teachers, and other church workers, as well as those who study toward service in the church, and walk together in opportunities for outreach and human care.
CENTRAL REGION
Mueller, David R., Rev., 52, Trinity, Goodland, IN
Occupation:Pastor
Education:B.A.; M.Div.
Service:
Synod:Convention Delegates (2004, 2010)
District:Circuit Visitor (2012-present); Council for
Congregational Services (2006-2012); Evangelism Task
Force (2009-2015); Nominating Committee (2012-
present)
Congregation: Teacher: St. Paul, Sterling Hts, MI (1988-90); St. Peter,
Huntington, IN (1990-93); Lutheran High East, Cleveland
Hts., Oh (1993-96)
Community:Goodland Vol. Fire Dept. (2000-present); Brook Youth
Soccer (2000-present)
“The cross alone is our theology,” said Luther. Oh, how “miserable” such a theology is! Oh, how blessed and comforting such a theology is! Our life as the whole Body of Christ in each place is nothing else. How frightening these years are becoming in this world that hates our theology of the cross! And yet, how wonderful is this pure Gospel of our Confession that brings us such Peace, and which we bring to so many people all around us whose identity is being ripped away by the voices of this world. As our district goes through a period of significant change both in the district office, and especially in our congregations and communities, God grant our precious theology of the cross to be the beginning and end of all that we do!
*Shadday, David A., Rev., 60, St. Paul’s, Indianapolis, IN
Occupation:Pastor
Education:B.A.; M.Div.
Service:
District:Vice President (2012-present); Circuit Visitor (1988-1991);
Mission Action Council Coordinator (1992-1994)
Community:LLL Zone and District Advisor; Organized Pro-Life March
(1988-1991)
SOUTHERN REGION
Bloch, Philip E., Rev., 55, Immanuel, Seymour, IN
Occupation:Pastor
Education:B.S., Ed.; DCE Cert.; M.Div.
Service:
Synod:Colloquy Mentor-Concordia, Mequon
District:Circuit Visitor; Council for Congregational Services; Fan
Into Flame Steering Committee; IW-Youth Gathering
Steering; Great Comm. Convocation Dist. Coord.; LWML
Pastoral Advisor; LLL Pastoral Advisor; Theology
Teacher, Trinity High, Seymour
Community:Optimist Club; Boy Scouts Chaplain and Comm. Member;
Cub Scout Webelos Den Leader; Jackson County Health
Center Bd.; Seymour Museum Board
Rastl, Nathan, Rev., 56, St. Peter, Vincennes, IN
Occupation:Pastor
Education:B.A.; M.Div.
Service:
Synod:Convention Delegate (2001)
District:Committee on Worship and Spiritual Care (2000-2009);
2014-present); Circuit Visitor (IE – 1995-1997)
Community:Volunteer, United Leasing and Finance Golf Tournament
(2016-2018)