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District Profile

 

EASTERN DISTRICT FACTS

The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod-Eastern District is one of the four original districts of the LCMS. With a congregational count of nearly 150, the district's churches are located in western New York, Pennsylvania and the panhandle of Maryland (see map).

Our mission: "to encourage, nurture, and link congregations to strengthen themselves and each other as we carry out the ministry of Christ together."

District Profile:

Congregations: 144
Preschools: 47
Elementary Schools: 15
High Schools: 0
Communicant Members: 36,437
Baptized Members: 50,907

President: Dr. John G. Brunner

District Office:

Eastern District
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
5111 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221-5295

Phone: (716) 634-5111
Fax: (716) 634-5452

E-mail inquiries: Linda.Smyth@lcmsed.org

District Web Site: www.lcmsed.org



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District Staff


Office of the President

Rev. Dr. John G. Brunner, President
716.634.5111, ext. 12

Rev. John Brunner is serving his third term as President of the Eastern District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

Before becoming Eastern District president, Rev. Brunner was pastor of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, Malvern, Pa. for 13 years. He served the Eastern District for two terms as Vice President representing the Philadelphia Region and one term as Chairman of the Board for Parish Services.

Pastor Brunner has also served parishes in South Dakota and Wisconsin. He has extensive experience in youth ministry at the local, regional, and national level and served for ten years as Spiritual Life Leader of the Appalachian Servant Event of the LCMS.

John is a 1972 Graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago.

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Assistants to the President

Mr. James Brese, Treasurer
Congregation Ministry Facilitator
716.634.5111, ext. 15

Jim Brese, a lifelong resident of Western New York, serves as Treasurer of the Eastern District and assists our churches as a Congregational Ministry Facilitator.

He has been certified as a Christian Coach through Ministry Coaching International. He works with professional church workers as they strive for leadership excellence.

Jim's Personal Vision Statement: To grow people in His service.

His Personal Mission Statement: Affirm others in service to God. Inspire others for Christian action and hope. Teach areas of leadership. Share the faith with family and others.

 

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Mr. Robert Foerster, Schools & Education
Congregation Ministry Facilitator
716.634.5111, ext. 14

Robert C. Foerster has been blessed to be able to serve children, families and congregations in Wisconsin, Maryland, North Carolina and, since early 1999, New York and Pennsylvania. Through the special people of all of those ministries he has been nurtured and mentored in many areas of congregational life and planning as well as early childhood and elementary school ministry and service. The unfolding potential of new and different ministry to those of the "GenX" and "millennial" generations excites, stretches, consumes and scares him. The educational programs of Concordia (Ann Arbor), Concordia (Seward), Towson University (Maryland) and the Early Childhood Fellows Program (Univ. of North Carolina) have provided his formal academic training. The children, adults and colleagues of the past thirty years of his ministry have provided the majority of his real learning and growth.

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Rev. David Weeks, Mission Facilitator
716.634.5111 (Buffalo)

Rev. David L. Weeks serves the Eastern District as Assistant to the President/Mission Facilitator. His specialties include: Mission Opportunities, Transition and Change, Natural Church Development process, Apostolic Congregation Transformation Strategy process, Coaching, and exploration in current realities.

He continues to be the District Contact Person for LCMS World Relief and the District Mission Executive working with LCMS North American Missions and Mission Partners. His real claim to fame is helping congregations explore options in ministry in order to experience renewed hope.

David’s Personal Mission Statement: “I believe that I have been created to help connect God’s people more closely and passionately to our Lord Jesus Christ for service in His kingdom.John 10:10B, Ephesians 2:8-10 through:

  • Word and sacrament
  • Preaching and teaching
  • Facilitation of a process
  • Relationship building
  • Coaching
  • Prayer partnerships


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Specialty Staff

Mr. Richard Porter
LCEF Vice President

716.634.5111, ext. 11

As LCEF Vice President, Rick serves congregations with services and loan resources so they can expand facilities to carry out their ministries. He promotes investment opportunities in LCEF to congregations and individuals. Rick came to the District staff and LCEF after working 26 years in retail management and several years of volunteer service in the Eastern District.

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Mr. Richard Paul
Director - Gift Planning Development
LCMS Foundation

716.634.5111, ext. 17
Toll Free: 877.239.6869

The Director of Gift Planning Development (DGDP) is responsible for coordinating and supervising the gift planning training and mentoring programs of the Foundation Gift Planning Services. These groups include the Gift Planning Counselors of the various Districts, the Associate Gift Planning Counselors, Development Directors of various RSO organizations of the LCMS, and the Congregational Gift Planners of the Transfer the Blessing stewardship process.

Rich joined the LCMS Foundation in 1999, having previously served five years as district representative & estate planning specialist for Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) in New York. Rich was the chief executive officer of a large commercial office products company in the Buffalo area for seventeen years.

Rich is a graduate of Dean College, Boston, MA and Canisius College, Buffalo.


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Mr. Bruce Sutherland
Gift Planning Counselor
LCMS Foundation

716.634.5111, ext. 16
Toll Free: 877.239.6869

Bruce Sutherland joined the LCMS Foundation in July 2002. As part of a joint venture with the Eastern District, Bruce is working with individuals and congregations in a new concept called “Developing A Fully Resourced Church”. He works to raise the visibility and resources necessary to support both local and national ministries. Local ministries include Camp Pioneer & Retreat Center, Lutheran Schools and others described in the Eastern District "Adopt-A-Mission" catalog.

On the national level Bruce is coordinating development efforts with the LCMS Foundation staff for World Missions and the “For the Sake of the Church” campaign. Most recently Bruce is serving as the Campaign Coordinator for the Eastern District Mission and Ministry Campaign.

Bruce holds a BS degree from Penn State University in marketing & economics and spent 16 years in financial services with AAL and Wells Fargo Financial before joining the LCMS Foundation.

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Mrs. Linda Gage,
Executive Director
Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center

716.549.1420

Linda Gage has served as the Executive Director of Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center since 1997. Linda joined Pioneer in 1985 and has held a variety of administrative positions during her tenure on Pioneer’s ministry team. Linda’s connection to camp encompasses a lifetime.

Being a lifelong Eastern District member, Linda fondly remembers coming to Camp Pioneer with her parents and grandparents for picnics and waterfront fun, and then attending a week of Confirmand’s Camp. As a member of First Trinity Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, while growing up she was taught by Elmer “Hap” Schroeter, previous Pioneer Director, in Youth Choir, and attended other retreats hosted at Pioneer.

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Administrative Assistants


Office of the President

Linda Smyth
716.634.5111, Ext. 13

Office of the Treasurer

Barbara Sigafoos
716.634.5111, Ext. 18

Schools/Missions/CMF

Diane Will
716.634.5111, Ext. 10

LCMS Foundation/LCEF

Diana Zubrzycki
716.634.5111, Ext. 19

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Directories
Board of Directors  
First Vice President
Rev. Dr. Chris Wicher
Second Vice President
Rev. Dr. Arthur Dueker
Third Vice President
Rev. Arthur Litke
Fourth Vice President
Rev. Kim E. Bode
District Secretary
Rev. William Carney
   
Lay Directors  
Lay Director, Buffalo Region Mr. John Schultz
Lay Director, Philadelphia Region
Mrs. Patricia Miller
Lay Director, Pittsburgh Region
Mr. Kevin Kerr
Lay Director, Rochester Region
Ms. Jean Heberle
   
Representative / Chair Positions  
Teacher Representative, Board of Directors
Mrs. Carolyn Habedank
Chair, Board for Mission Services Rev. Bryan Spang
Chair, Board for Congregational Services
Rev. Ronald Habedank
Chair, Board for Financial Services Mr. Robert Smith
Chair, Board for Pioneer Ministries
Rev. Fred Poeppel

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Circuit Counselors  
Buffalo (North)
Michael C. Blackwell
Buffalo (South)
Daniel Wurster
Cattaraugus
Jerry LeFeber
Central NY (North)
Richard Mokry
Central NY (South)
Peter DeVantier
Lakeshore
Travis Grubbs
Niagara (North)
Philip N. Sallach
Niagara (East)
David Triplett
Niagara (West)
Karl Haeussler
Philadelphia
James Eckert
Pittsburgh (North East)
Herbert Schumm
Pittsburgh (North West)
Paul Meseke
Pittsburgh (South East)
Reholma McCants
Pittsburgh (South West)
John Weldon
Rochester (East)
David Bernard
Rochester (West)
Gary Bauch
Susquehanna
Gerald J. Grimm
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Modified May 4, 2007