Office of the President

Rev. Dr. Chris Wicher, President

Rev. Dr. Chris Wicher is serving his first term as President of the Eastern District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

Before becoming Eastern District president, Rev. Wicher was pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Cheektowaga, New York for eleven years. He served the Eastern District for one term as Vice President representing the Buffalo Region and three terms total as Circuit Counselor for Buffalo North and Niagara East Circuits.

Pastor Wicher also served congregations in Newfane, New York and in Goderich, Ontario, Canada. Chris has extensive training in Family Systems Theory, Healthy Congregations, and Bridge Building assistance.

Chris is a 1982 Graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where he stayed until 1983 to earn his Masters in Sacred Theology. Chris holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago.

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.

 

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.

Rev. David Bernard, Assistant to the President
716.634.5111, ext. 19

Rev. David Bernard serves the Eastern District as Assistant to the President. His areas of responsibility include Continuing Education; Distance Education (MTC, SMP,EIIT), Congregational Diaconal ministry, Colloquy, Revitalization or The TCN process, coaching and in depth Congregational Financial analysis and training.

Reverend Bernard also serves as Pastor of St Paul Lutheran Church, Cohocton, NY and Circuit Counselor of the Rochester East Circuit.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Administrative Assistants

Modified September 9, 2009