Congregations in Transition
Updated May 15, 2025
In Leadership Transition:
Bethania, Racine (PT solo pastor) – Rev. Paul Nuechterlein, contract pastor
Church of the Resurrection, Pewaukee (FT solo pastor)
Emaus ECLA, Racine (bi-lingual: Spanish & English) – Rev. Miguel Perez, Synod Authorized Minister (SAM)
Faith/Santa Fe, Milwaukee (PT solo pastor – Rev. Germán Novelli-Angrisano, interim pastor
Peace, Burlington (solo pastor) – Rev. Carol Jeunnette, contract pastor
Reformation, Milwaukee (solo pastor) – Rev. Grant Applehans, contract pastor
MET (Ministry Exploration Team) Process:
Adoration, Greenfield (PT pastor) – Rev. Dean Willich, interim pastor
Atonement, Muskego (FT associate) – Deacon Douglas Krekling, contract
Incarnation, Milwaukee (PT solo pastor) – Rev. Karen Kuttler, interim pastor
Luther Memorial, West Allis (PT solo pastor) – Rev. Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld, interim pastor
Martin Luther, Wauwatosa (FT solo pastor) – Rev. Lynn Erickson, interim pastor
Our Savior’s, Hartland (FT solo pastor) – Rev. Casey Sugden, interim pastor
Redeemer, Hartford (PT solo pastor) – Rev. Steve Rutter, interim pastor
St. John, Grafton (solo pastor) – Rev. Sara Gillespe, interim pastor
St. Luke, Waukesha (FT associate pastor) – Rev. Maren Hooper, transition pastor
MSP Posted:
Living Faith, Racine (FT solo pastor) – Rev. Kathy Brown, interim pastor
North Cape, Franksville (FT solo pastor) – Rev. Robb Kosky, interim pastor
Our Savior, Oconomowoc (3rd pastor – YFM)
Names Submitted:
First United, Sheboygan (FT senior pastor & FT associate pastor) – Rev. Gerald Mansholt, interim senior pastor & Rev. Heidi Borkenhagen, interim associate pastor
Good Shepherd Trinity, Milwaukee (ELCA/PCUSA – PT solo pastor) – Rev. Marilyn Miller, contract pastor
Lutheran Campus Ministry at UW Milwaukee (PT solo pastor) – Rev. Diane Olson, interim pastor
Mount Carmel, Milwaukee (FT lead pastor)
St Luke, Sheboygan Falls (PT or FT solo pastor) – Rev. John Horner-Ibler, transition pastor
St Mary’s, Kenosha (FT lead pastor) – Rev. Jordon Miller-Stubbendick, bridge pastor
St Paul, Milwaukee (FT pastor) – Jenny Nettesheim, SAM
Unity, Brookfield (third FT co-pastors) – Rev. Eric Silberschmidt, transition pastor
Vernon, Mukwonago (FT solo pastor) – Rev. Roy Nelson, bridge pastor
Call Extended (*started the call)
Ascension, Milwaukee (tri-lingual: Hmong, Spanish & English) – Rev. Aida Muñiz*
Christ, Paddock Lake (PT solo pastor) – Rev. Melody Brink
Rostered Ministers in Transition
Updated May 15, 2025
Rev. Melody Brink, from solo pastor at Messiah, Twin Lakes to shared pastor at Messiah, Twin Lakes and Christ Lutheran, Paddock Lake
Rev. Larry Harpster – from synod call to interim ministry at Mount Carmel, Milwaukee to on leave from call
Rev. Kerstin Hedlund, on leave from call, transferred to the Southern Ohio Synod
- Rev. Kimberly Jordan, from called pastor at Church of the Resurrection, Pewaukee to on leave from call
Rev. Aida Muniz, from transition pastor at Ascension, Milwaukee to called pastor at Ascension, Milwaukee
Rev. Thomas Smith, retired, transferred to the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin
Remembering Rostered Ministers who have died
Deacon Elaine Klitz died on Monday, September 16, 2024. She was 91 years old. Deacon Klitz served at St. Luke’s, Greendale from 1956 to 1991. She became an Associate in Ministry in 1965 and continued her work at St. Luke’s as the church secretary.
Please hold Deacon Klitz’s family and friends in your prayers as they grieve her loss. A full obituary is here. We thank God for the life and ministry of Deacon Elaine Klitz. May light perpetual shine upon her!
Deacon Alice M. Zweifel died on Monday, February 10, 2025. Through her church involvement, Alice completed a two-year Mini-Seminary and became an Associate in Ministry in 1986, serving as the Director of Education at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa. Following a move to Sun Prairie in 1990, she served interims as Associate in Ministry at Luther Memorial in Madison, Our Savior’s in Sun Prairie, and St. James in Verona. She retired in 1994.
Please hold Deacon Zweifel’s family and friends in your prayers as they grieve her loss. A full obituary is here. We thank God for the life and ministry of Deacon Alice Zwiefel. May light perpetual shine upon her!
Rev. Donald A. Johnson died on Saturday, January 18, 2025. He was ordained in 1965 and served four congregations in North Dakota before being called to North Cape Lutheran Church in Franksville where he served from 1976 – 1993. Following this call, Pastor Johnson was a chaplain at Lincoln Lutheran Home in Racine from 1993 – 1999 when he retired.
Please hold Pastor Johnson‘s family and friends in your prayers as they grieve his loss. A full obituary is here. We thank God for the life and ministry of Pastor Don Johnson. May light perpetual shine upon him!
