NW DISTRICT NOMINATING COMMITTEE | Slate of Candidates
June 9-10, 2026 | Fox Valley Lutheran High School
*indicates incumbent
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Governing Board - Teacher Representative Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) ONE
_______ Mr. Phil Stern *
Age: 62 Currently Serves at: Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, WI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: 1986-1987 Travel Canvas Witness Ministry
1987-2018 Trinity Lutheran Grade School, Waco, NE Nebraska, District Board of Appeals - 4years Synod Board of Appeals - 1 year, Nebraska District Parish School Coordinator - 12 years
_______ Mr. Peter Wolfgramm - Riverview Lutheran Church, Appleton, WI
Age: 52 Currently Serves - Director of Operations for Grace in Action; Staff Minister at Riverview
Appleton (2001-2019)
_______ Mr. Seth Jaeger
Age: 42 Currently a Member at: Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Appleton, WI
Currently Serves: Fox Valley Lutheran High School - Teacher at Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Head Football Coach, Physical Education Department Chair, PLC Coordinator
Martin Luther College Governing Board - Laymen Representative Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) ONE
_______ Mr. Todd Marten *
Age: 55 Currently a Member at: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Howards Grove, WI (Manitowoc
Conference)
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Todds’ occupation is Turf Management (Asst. Golf Course Superintendent) He is a past member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Council (in Plymouth, WI), past Elder, President, and Vice President of St. Paul’s Howards Grove. Currently serving on St. Paul’s Long Range Planning Committee. (He is a current member of the MLC Governing Board)
_______ Mr. James Hoogervorst
Age: 47 Currently a Member at: Riverview Lutheran Church in Appleton
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Former WELS Pastor (18 years) and Current Business Office Manager at Riverview Lutheran in Appleton; Michigan District, Mission Board; Northern Wisconsin, Commission on Worship; WELS Hymnal Committee, Rites Subcommittee; MLC Grad 2001, WLS Grad 2005, MBA in Healthcare Admin from Concordia, WI, Anticipated Graduation July 2026; My son has completed his freshman year at MLC.
_______ Mr. Dean Ticks
Age: 62 Currently a Member at: Mt Calvary Lutheran, Harrison, WI; Fox River Valley Conference
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Prepress Manager, Green Bay Packaging, De Pere, WI (retiring
6/5/26). Stewardship Dir. (current), digital outreach/social media/AV (current), Elders, will be training for prison ministry team as well upon retirement. Previous committee chairs at other WELS churches: Evangelism, Fellowship, Elders. My son is a graduate of MLC and Wis Luth Seminary (& is a pastor in N. Wis. District.) I fervently wish to help further MLC’s mission in any way possible through this position. Once I’m retired as of 6/5/26, I have a fervent desire to serve not only my own church, but ministries such as MLC & Wis Luth. Seminary. Thank you for the honor of asking me to be nominated.
Luther Preparatory School Governing Board – Pastor Representative Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) ONE
_______ Pastor Jesse Johnston *
Age: 41 Currently Serves at: Mt. CalvaryLutheran Church, Menasha, WI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: WELS United (2013-2014), Northern Wisconsin District Nominating Committee (2016-2020), Northern Wisconsin District Evangelism Committee (2018-present) Northern Wisconsin Special Ministries Coordinator (2019-2024)
Everyone Outreach Facilitator (2021-present), LPS Governing Board member (2022-present)
_______ Pastor Thomas Voss
Age 42 Currently Serves: Martin Luther Lutheran Church and School, Oshkosh, WI and
Campus Ministry Pastor – UW-Oshkosh.
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Previously served Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and School, Des Moines, WA 2010-20; Circuit Pastor (2018-2020); South Sudanese Pacific NW Mission Pastoral Advisor 2013- 20); PNW Board of Appeals (2014-15); LWMS District Pastoral Advisor (2011-12); Tom is an '02 graduate of Luther Prep, as is his wife Kendalyn nee Taylor ('03). Their oldest daughter, Josefine, just completed her freshman year at LPS, and they are likely to have a child at Prep every year, from now until 2038.
_______ Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer
Age: 38 Currently Serving: Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Brillion WI (Manitowoc conference)
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Michigan Lutheran Seminary (Tutor and Recruiter):
2014-2016 Immanuel, Greenville: 2016-2021; Shepherd of the Hills, Tucson: 2021-2025;
Trinity, Brillion: 2026 - present; AZ/CA District Mission Board 2022-2025
NW District Mission Board - Layman Representative Term to 2030
_______ Mr. _David Spielbauer
Age:73 Currently a member of Riverview Lutheran Church, Appleton, WI (for 39 years)
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: My work career was spent mostly in
sales roles - with several different companies selling security and life safety
Systems. Over that time - I have served on a number of our Church Boards:
Lay Ministry, Evangelism, School Board, Spiritual Growth; Additionally, I also assist with communion distribution and make a joyful noise in our church choir.
NW District Nominating Committee – Chairman Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) ONE
_______ Pastor Paul Cole*
Age: 58 Currently Serves: Christ Lutheran Church, Menominee, MI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Tutor at MLPS & LPS, District Adult Discipleship Committee (1998-2004), Northwoods Conference Program Committee Chairman (2017-2023), Commission on Special Ministries Member (present); Circuit Pastor 2020 (present)
_______ Pastor David Olson
Age 48 Currently Serves: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Greenville, WI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Served for 7 years at Shepherd of the Hills in Greeley, CO where he served on the Youth Discipleship Committee and served for a time as the District Evangelism Chairman. Then he served the saints in Madison, TN for 8 years. He served at St. Matthew, Appleton before being called to Immanuel.
NW District Nominating Committee – Fox River Valley Pastoral Conference Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) ONE
_______ Pastor Timothy Wagner *
Age: 49 Currently Serves: Riverview Lutheran Church, Appleton, WI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Michigan District Commission on Special Ministries (2016-18); Michigan District Commission on Worship (2017-18); Ohio Conference Program Committee Chairman (2014-18); WELS Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (2008-2012); NW District Nominating Committee (2022-present); NW District Congregational Special Ministries Coordinator (2024-present).
_______ Pastor Carl Schroeder
Age: 52 Currently Serves: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Sturgeon Bay, WI; Fox River Valley Conference
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Ten Year Associate Pastor at St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran; One
Year Vicar Year Serving Eternal Love Ev. Lutheran. Church at Appleton, WI; Three year Associate Pastor at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids, WI; Seven year Associate Pastor at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Baraboo, WI; Five years Lutheran Elementary School Teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School (WELS) in Fort Worth Texas (fulltime principal for the final two years of service at Immanuel)
_______ Pastor Nathaniel Buchner
Age: 38 Currently Serves: Grace Lutheran Church, Neenah, WI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: A previous LWMS Officer and South Sudanese Global
Committee Member
NW District Nominating Committee – Manitowoc Pastoral Conference Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) ONE
_______ Pastor Joel Stuebs*
Age: 47 Currently Serves: St. Peter Lutheran Church, Mishicot, WI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Manitowoc Conference Program Committee (2019-21) Manitowoc Conference Chairman (2021-2024); Circuit Pastor (2024-Present); District Nominating Committee (2020-present);
_______ Pastor John Berg
Age: 50 Currently Serves: St. John Lutheran Church, Two Rivers, WI - Manitowoc Conference
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: He serves as a circuit pastor and has served on various
convention committees
_______ Pastor Paul Bowe -
Age: 42 Currently Serves: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Manitowoc, WI. - Manitowoc Conference
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: NWD Commission on Evangelism, 2025-present
NW District Nominating Committee – Northwoods Pastoral Conference Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) ONE
_______ Pastor Charles Crass *
Age: 32 Currently Serves: Holy Cross Lutheran Church, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Daggett, MI
_______ Pastor Matthew Stuebs
Age: 37 Currently Serves: Calvary Lutheran, Abrams, WI
_______ Pastor Jason Liebenow
Age: 36 Currently Serves:St. John’s, St. Mark’s and St. Paul Lutheran Church – Florence, WI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: LWMS Spiritual Growth Pastor; Northwoods Conference Program Committee Member
Northern Wisconsin District Board of Appeals – Chairman Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) ONE
_______ Pastor Jonathan Kuske *
Age: 64 Currently Serves: St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Appleton, WI - Fox River Valley
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Circuit Pastor; Conference Chairman of the Board of Appeals
_______ Pastor Peter Lindemann
Age: 56 Currently Serves: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, WI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Previously a Pastor of a Dual Parish, Zion, Egg Harbor/Christ,
Baileys Harbor and Principal at LES school: Circuit Pastor beginning in 2006 - 2024
Northern Wisconsin District Board of Appeals – Pastor Representative Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (2) Two
_______ Pastor James Borgwardt *
Age:55 Currently Serves: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, WI
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Cottonbelt Conference Secretary/Treasurer 1998-2011; WLA Executive Board 2013-2019; Forward in Christ Contributing Editor 2018-2023; Everyone Outreach Presenter 2021-present; District Mission Board 2024-present, Circuit Pastor 2025-present,
_______ Pastor Nathanael Plocher
Age: 31 Currently Serves: Zion Lutheran Church, Rhinelander, WI; Northwoods Conference
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Circuit treasurer (current), LWMS Pastoral Advisor (current); Member of NW District Worship Committee (current)
_______ Pastor Matthew Grunewald
Age: 54 Currently serves: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, WI
_______ Pastor Scott Miller
Age: 52 Currently Serves: Christ Lutheran Church, Baileys Harbor /| Zion Lutheran Church, Egg
Harbor, WI Fox River Valley
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom:Pastor: Light of Life, Greenwood, Indiana (2018-2024); Pastor: Immanuel, South Lyon, MI (2006-2018): Pastor: Grace, Burke, SD (2001-2005) Circuit Pastor: Kentuckiana Circuit, SE WI District (2022-2024)
Northern Wisconsin District Board of Appeals – Teacher Representative Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) One
_______ Mr. David Wilson*
Age: 52 Currently Serves: Immanuel Lutheran School, Manitowoc, WI - Principal
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Lord and Savior, Crystal Lake, IL – Principal/Teacher (10 Years)
Peace, Livonia, MI – Principal/Teacher (10 years), Seminary Governing Board, Chicago Area Teachers’ Conference Chairman, Chicago Area Principals’ Conference Secretary/Treasurer, Chicago Area Principals’ Conference Chairman, Southeastern Michigan Principals’ Conference Chairman, Southeastern Michigan Principal’s Conference Secretary/Treasurer
_______ Mr. Brian Kopp - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Greenville, WI, NWD
Age: 53 Currently Serves: Fox Valley Lutheran High School as the FVL Curriculum Coordinator and
English Instructor
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Previous Academic Dean and Instructor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary; Previous Member of the WELS Ministerial Education Schools Curriculum Committee
_______ Mr. Matthew Augustine
Age: 36 Currently Serves: Trinity Lutheran School - LES, Campbellsport, WI, - Principal
Service in the Lord’s Kingdom: Principal at Zion in Chesaning, MI (2012-2023); VP of WLA
Schools (2026); Program Committee - Michigan District Teacher Conference (2017-2019); New Teacher Induction mentor - Michigan District (2021-2022); Teacher delegate to the 2021 synod convention
Northern Wisconsin District Board of Appeals – Lay Representative Term to 2030
VOTE FOR (1) ONE
_______ Scott Kohls *
Age: 67 Currently a member at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Green Bay, WI
Service in the Lord’s kingdom: Business Unit Manager, Pressure Sensitive Label Products, Belmark inc., Past Bd of Stewardship Chair and Treasurer. Currently serving as Congregational President. Lay Delegate for Northern Wisconsin District Convention June 2026. Occasional volunteer for Kingdom Workers
_______ Tim Baneck
Age 68 Currently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Marinette, WI (Northwoods Conference).
Service in the Lord’s kingdom: Semi-retired; serving as a part-time educational consultant. Has served for many years on his congregation’s Board of Christian Education.