Lean structure with the local church at its heart
The NALC is very lean structurally, but there is enough structure to help congregations with their ministries. The NALC’s focus is on assisting the ministry of congregations, not on congregations assisting the ministry of the national church.
Executive Council
The Executive Council functions as the board of directors for the NALC, providing leadership for the church between the annual Convocations. The Executive Council consists of the Bishop, four clergy and four lay members who are elected for staggered three-year terms. Terms begin on October 1 in the year elected and end on September 30, three years later. No member of the Executive Council, except the Bishop, may serve more than two consecutive full terms. A partial term of more than two years is considered a full term. The General Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer have voice but not vote on the Executive Council.
Mr. Michael Johnson, CFP
Treasurer
The Treasurer is the chief financial officer of the NALC, overseeing the receiving and disbursing of all funds and keeping accurate accounts of all transactions. Further, the Treasurer provides complete and accurate reports for review by all members of the NALC.
Sedona, AZ
Current term ends 2026
The Rev. Mark Werner
Recording Secretary
The Recording Secretary is appointed by the Executive Council and assures that proper records are made and retained. Among other things, the Recording Secretary shall assure the maintenance of current lists of (i) ordained ministers of the NALC; (ii) congregations of the NALC; and (iii) commissioned lay leaders of the NALC. The lists maintained by the Recording Secretary shall be used to determine who may participate in Convocations and exercise other rights of membership.
Pittsgrove, NJ
Lay Positions
Clergy Positions
Court of Adjudication
The Court of Adjudication hears appeals from disciplinary decisions; resolves questions of interpretation of NALC governing documents; and decides claims that a person or entity has violated these governing documents. The Court of Adjudication consists of seven members, each elected to a three-year term by the annual Convocation. Terms begin on October 1 in the year elected and end on September 30, three years later. Any member of an NALC congregation shall be eligible for election and service.
The Rev. Dr. George Black
Auburn, CA
Current term ends 2025
Mr. Samuel Duncomb
Northwood, IA
Current term ends 2024
The Rev. Jeffray S. Greene
Brooks, GA
Current term ends 2025
The Rev. Leslie Haines
Fort Wayne, IN
Current term ends 2027
The Rev. Ryan Henkel
Emmons, MN
Current term ends 2027
The Rev. Ronald Hoyum
Bainbridge Island, WA
Current term ends 2025
Mr. Matthew Lind
Bainbridge Island, WA
Current term ends 2025
Inquiry Panel
The NALC Constitution authorizes the Executive Council to develop a process for discipline and appeals. The Inquiry Panel is a part of that plan should such a process be needed.
The Rev. Tom Lurvey
Winnipeg, MB
204-981-4587
The Rev. Lisa Peterson
Marblehead, OH
419-265-9333
Mr. Dan Reynolds
Abilene, KS
785-479-0203
Mission Districts
Congregations shall join in collaboration to fulfill most effectively the ministry and mission of the NALC, normally based on common geographic boundaries. Such organization shall be done in consultation with the bishop and subject to the approval of the executive council.
The deans, who shall be ordained ministers of the NALC, shall be accountable to the bishop and shall support the work of the bishop by conducting similar functions in their respective mission districts. Deans shall serve as pastor to pastors, their families, and congregations and will conduct a ministry of teaching and visitation with pastors and congregations. Deans may continue to serve under the call of a congregation.
Atlantic Mission Region (4 Mission Districts)
Regional Dean
Position Vacant
Central Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Rodney Lilley (Lebanon, PA; 717-926-5647)
Region: South-central Pennsylvania (Lebanon, Lancaster and Berks counties and Abington)
Email
Northeast Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Gregory Davidson (Plymouth, MA)
Region: Delaware, New Jersey, New England, eastern New York, northeastern Pennsylvania
Email
Maryland/Virginia Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Dennis Di Mauro (Warrenton, VA)
Region: Eastern Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia
Email
Western Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Paula Murray (Glen Rock, PA)
Region: South-central Pennsylvania to the Maryland border, west of the Susquehanna River
Email
Carolinas Mission Region (4 Mission Districts)
South Carolina Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Dawn Rister
Email
Central Pacific Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Taylor Stempniak (Fresno, CA; 803-767-5128)
Region: Northern California and northern Nevada
Email
Eastern South Dakota Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Thomas Christenson (Castlewood, SD; 605-793-2444)
Region: Eastern South Dakota
Email
Great Plains Mission Region (3 Mission Districts)
Regional Dean
The Rev. Dennis Beckmann (Mankato, KS; 785-476-5220)
Email
Great Plains Mission District East
Dean: The Rev. Fritz Brandenburg (Westboro, MO)
Region: East of Hwy 77
Email
Great Plains Mission District South
Dean: Vacancy
Region: South of 400 through Missouri including Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Ava, Missouri
Great Plains Mission District West
Dean: The Rev. Jeff Cottingham (Gothenburg, NE)
Region: Hwy 77 North to South and KS 400 East to West
Email
Great Rivers Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Carlin Ours (Pontiac, IL)
Region: Illinois
Email
Michigan Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Jess Abbott (interim)
Region: Michigan (lower peninsula)
Email
Mid-South Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Scott Ness (Fayetteville, GA; 770-461-3403)
Region: Alabama, Florida panhandle, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee
Email
Northwest Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Ian Wolfe (Baker City, OR)
Region: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington
Ohio Mission Region (5 Mission Districts)
North Eastern Ohio Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Michael Koch (Medina, OH; 330-635-8008)
Region: counties of Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, and Wayne
Email Website
Southeastern Ohio Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Tom Jacobson (Thornville, OH; 740-246-6576)
Region: counties of Athens, Belmont, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Licking, Madison, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Union, Vinton, and Washington
Rocky Mountain Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Ken Hohag (Colorado Springs, CO)
Region: Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and the corner of Texas below New Mexico
Email
Sonshine Mission District of Florida
Dean: The Rev. Alan Peacock (Jacksonville, FL; 904-553-4203)
Region: Florida (except panhandle area)
Email
Southwest Pacific Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Randy Ouimette (Arroyo Grande, CA)
Region: Arizona, southern California, Hawaii and southern Nevada
Email
Texas Mission Region (3 Mission Districts)
North Texas Mission District
Dean: The Rev. Ricky Richards
Region: Texas (north)
Email
Western Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming Mission District
Dean: The Rev. David Baer (Whitewood, SD)
Region: western Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming
Email
Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
Co-Deans: The Rev. Mark Knappe (Menomonee Falls, WI), The Rev. Tom Reiff (Arbor Vitae, WI)
Region: Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
Ministry of Oversight
The Church is expressed primarily in the congregation but is also manifested in wider structures that serve the ministry of the local congregation. Oversight in the Church has been fundamental since New Testament times. The NALC is served by a bishop, and by regional pastors who are called deans. Both men and women may serve in all offices of the church.
Learn more about the Ministry of Oversight.