The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is governed by a board of directors composed of representatives of the 18 synods of ELCA Regions 4 and 5, a bishops’ representative from each of those regions, and 10 members elected by the Church Council of the ELCA.
Board of Directors
Review Members
| Rev. Dr. Gordon Braatz (2022) Churchwide Representative |
Psychologist | Minneapolis, MN |
| M. Wyvetta Bullock (2026) Metropolitan Chicago Synod Representative |
Retired, ELCA Churchwide Office, Executive for Administration | Oak Park, IL |
| Bishop Susan Candea (2022) Region 4 Bishops’ Representative |
Bishop, Central States Synod | Kansas City, MO |
| Bishop Yehiel Curry (2024) Region 5 Bishops’ Representative |
Bishop, Metropolitan Chicago Synod | Chicago, IL |
| Kristi Ferguson (2024), Chairperson Southeastern Iowa Representative |
Professor of General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Retired | Iowa City, IA |
| Warren L. Geier (2022) Northern Great Lakes Synod Representative |
Pastor, Bethany Lutheran Church | Ishpeming, MI |
| Terry Goff (2024), Vice Chairperson Central/Southern Illinois Synod Representative |
Director, Emissions Regulations and Conformance, Caterpillar, Inc., Retired | Hanna City, IL |
| Emmanuel Jackson (2022) Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Representative |
Pastor, Living Word Lutheran Church | Katy, TX |
| Scott Leisinger (2022), Chairperson Northeastern Iowa Representative |
Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Wartburg College | Cedar Falls, IA |
| Greg Lewis (2024) Churchwide Representative |
Retired, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of the Regional Counsel, Attorney; DePaul College of Law, Adjunct Professor | Chicago, IL |
| Jane Mar (2022) Northern Texas- Northern Louisiana Synod Representative |
Bishop Assistant for Lifelong Learning Formation, Retired | Irving, TX |
| Karen McClain (2024) Churchwide Representative |
Senior Director, Athletic Partnership and Strategic Initiatives | Gardena, CA |
| Harry Mueller (2024) Churchwide Representative |
President, Delta Group Electronics, Inc. | St. Louis, MO |
| Rebecca R. Pallmeyer (2021) Churchwide Representative |
United States Chief Judge, Northern District of Illinois | Chicago, IL |
| Maryjeanne Schaffmeyer (2022) East Central Synod of Wisconsin |
Chief Operating Office, Appleton and Theda Clark Medical Centers, Retired | Appleton, WI |
| Janette C. Schumm, (2024) Secretary and Interim Treasurer Central States Synod Representative |
Owner of certified public accounting firm, Retired | Overland Park, KS |
LSTC Foundation Board of Trustees
LSTC’s Foundation Board of Trustees has 15 volunteer members who guide the seminary’s endowment investments.
Review Members
| Clarence Atwood, Jr. | Retired, Director of Internal Audit, University of Chicago Medical Center | Chicago, IL |
| Rev. Amandus J. Derr | Retired, Senior Pastor, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church | Spring, TX |
| Preston C. Fields | Pastor, Salem Lutheran Church | Dekalb, IL |
| Terry Goff | Retired, Caterpillar, Inc. | Hanna City, IL |
| Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy | Executive Director, Pittsburgh United | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Lane Lewis | Retired, Sr. Director, Ansys, Inc. | Greenville, SC |
| Roger Lewis | Retired, Executive Director, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Foundation | Omaha, NE |
| Harry Mueller | CEO, Delta Group Electronics | St. Louis, MO |
| James Nieman | President, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| John R. Reed | Manager, Business Intelligence Technology, American Airlines | Ft. Worth, TX |
| Maryjeanne Schaffmeyer | Retired, Chief Operating Office, Appleton and Theda Clark Medical Centers | Appleton, WI |
| Sarah Stegemoeller | Retired, Nonprofit Corporate + Tax Attorney | Santa Monica, CA |
| Laurence Tietjen | President, Experitec, Inc. | Ballwin, MO |
LSTC Alumni Board
LSTC’s Alumni Board advises the administration on alumni relations, continuing education, fundraising and communications.
Review Members
The Rev. Cindy Crane ’88
Director, Lutheran Office of Public Policy
Madison, WI
The Rev. Jésus Escamilla ’10 (LSPS)
Pastor, San Gabriel Lutheran Church
Alvarado, TX
The Rev. Michael Fick, ’04
Pastor, Ebenezer Lutheran Church
Chicago, IL
Board Chair
The Rev. Stacie Fidlar, ’95
Rock Island, IL
The Rev. William E. Flippin, Jr., ’05
Assistant to the Bishop for the Southeastern Pennsylvania
Atlanta, GA
Dr. Melissa James, ‘04
Deacon, Agape House Garden Steward
La Mesa, CA
Board Vice Chair
The Rev. Liz Kocher, ‘17
Manhattan, Kansas
The Rev. Dr. Carrie Lewis LaPlante, ‘04, ‘15,
Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church
Eldridge, IA
The Rev. R. Keith Lingwall, ’67
Retired
Tucson, AZ
The Rev. Charles V. Newman ’04
Pastor, Crossroads Lutheran Church
San Tan Valley, AZ
The Rev. Beverly Rautenberg-Panko ’98
Retired
South Sioux City, NE
The Rev. Jason Wahlstrom, ‘01
Pastor, Holy Nativity Lutheran Church
Crystal, MN