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Regional Pastor Conferences

South Region Pastoral Conference

Chairman: vacant
Vice-Chairman: Rev. Stephen Schumacher (Bethany, Naperville)
Secretary: Rev. Seth Clemmer (Bethany, Naperville)
Registrar/Treasurer: Rev. David Totsky (St. Peter, Joliet)

Program Committee: Rev. Larry Ruger, (St. Paul, Matteson), Rev. Dwight Wyeth (Zion, Bonfield) Rev. Benjamin Hayter (Zion, Chebanse), Rev. Matt Carlson (Our Savior, Joliet)

2025 Conference

Dates: September 22-24, 2025 (more info to come)

 

 

East Region Pastoral Conference

Chairman: Rev. David Prentice (Faith, Westchester)
Vice chairman: Rev. Leonard Peyton (St. John, Forest Park)
Treasurer: Rev. Carlos Ortiz-Lugo (Holy Cross, Chicago)
Secretary: Rev. Steve Warren (St. Paul, Chicago)
Registrar: Rev. Michael Duffy (St. Paul, Melrose Park)
Program Committee Members: Rev. Jacob Erhard (St. John, Chicago), Rev. Dr. Edward Naumann (St. Paul, Brookfield), Rev. Matt Zickler (Grace, Western Springs)

2025 Conference

Dates: October 20-22, 2025

Location: DeKoven Center, 600 21st Street, Racine, Wisconsin, 53403

A new addition to the conference activities is a “fireside chat” to be held Monday evening, October 20, 2025.

For the conference itself, two speakers are lined up:
Rev. Dr. Scott Bruzek will speak on Beauty in Word, Liturgy, and Eucharist
Rev. Dr. “Ike” Nicholson will lead discussion on urban ministry challenges.

Rev. Daniel Galchutt, the Executive Director of the LCMS Office of National Mission, will be on hand for some added support and discussion opportunity.

Agenda

Registration:

REGISTER HERE

Two Nights (meals and Fireside chat) – Single room is $115 / Double room is $95.

One Night Stay (meals) – Single room is $85 / Double room is $65.

Conference only, commuting only (includes meals) – $40

Registration deadline is October 18, 2025.

(If you are in need of a scholarship, contact either Rev. Prentice, pastor.prentice@comcast.net or Rev. Payton, lrpayton@stjohnforestpark.org.)

 

North/West Region Pastoral Conference

Chairman: Rev. Dr. Chris James (Immanuel, Downers Grove)
Vice chairman: Rev. Matt Hoffman (St. Andrews, Park Ridge)
Treasurer: Rev. Micah Greiner (St. Peter, Arlington Heights)
Registrar: Rev. Matt Conrad (Cross, Yorkville)
Secretary: Rev. Jamie Holt (St. Mark’s, St. Charles)
Program Committee: Rev. Erik Gauss (Cross, Yorkville), Rev. Jorge Mazariegos (Vida y Fe, West Dundee), Rev. Jonathan Petzold (Beautiful Savior, Antioch)
Nominations Committee: Rev. Braun Campbell (Immanuel, Belvidere), Rev, Peter Imlah (St. John’s, Lombard), Rev. Jeremy Latzke (St. John’s, Algonquin)

2025 Conference

Dates: October 13-15, 2025

Location: Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan, WI

Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann is our Keynote. Topic is Sabbath Rest

Sabbath Rest
“Remember the Sabbath Day.” Often the commandment gets boiled down to, “Go to church and pay attention.” But a closer look at the 3rdcommandment quickly moves beyond Sunday morning into all of life. God’s directive calls us to consider essential existential questions like “What does it mean to be human?” and “What’s the point of life?” And this commandment’s place in the Decalogue also makes us think more carefully about the law and its relevance for the Christian life. There is a great deal of significant theology at work in the idea of sabbath—much more than “be sure to take time to relax and re-create.” Digging in to the richness of the sabbath promises to yield some surprising and significant rewards.

 

Conference locations

DeKoven Center in Racine, Wisconsin, is the site where East Region pastors meet.

South Region pastors set their conference in the scenic Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois.

Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wisconsin, is host location for the North and West Region combined conference.