Official Acts 2022-2025*

Transfers from the LCMS Atlantic District Not Reported Previously:

• Dr. Kathryn Galchutt (commissioned) transferred out; June 30, 2021; (served as Professor of History of Concordia College New York and called to be Professor of History, Concordia University, Irvine, California)
• The Rev. Dr. Gregory Sawyer (ordained) transferred out; July 30, 2021 (served as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Mastic Beach and called to be Principal of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, Lakeland, Florida)
• The Rev. Matthew Christopher Schultz (ordained) transferred out; June 20, 2022 (served as Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Niskayuna and called to be Pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Pratt, Kansas)
• The Rev. Dr. Thomas Johnson (ordained) transferred in; May 1, 2022 (served as Pastor of First St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois and called to be Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Dix Hills)
• The Rev. Paul Koehn (ordained) transferred out; August 1, 2019 (served as Pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Colonie and called to be Sole Pastor of St. Paul, Albion, Michigan)
• The Rev. Warren Lattimore (ordained) transferred in; September 25, 2021 (served as Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in New Orleans, Louisiana and called to be Associate Pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Bronx)
• The Rev. Edward Alexander Marque (ordained) transferred in; November 28, 2022 (served as Associate Pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois and Concordia Lutheran Church in Machesney Park, Illinois and called to be Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Woodside)
• The Rev. Mark Mueller (ordained) transferred out); April 30, 2022 (served as Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Delmar and called to be Pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Casselberry, Florida)
• The Rev. Gem Gabriel; ordained; transferred on October 1, 2022; (served as Missionary of the LCMS Atlantic District and called to serve The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in New London, CT)
• Dr. Kathryn Witto; commissioned; transferred on December 1, 2022; (served as Teacher at Martin Luther School in Maspeth and called to be Spiritual Life Leader—LCFS at Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, Indiana).
• The Rev. Dr. John Arthur Nunes; ordained; transferred on October 23, 2022; (served as President of Concordia College New York and called to be Sole Pastor of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, California).

Departed from the Atlantic District by Accepting Divine Calls:

• The Rev. Jordan Robert Voges; ordained; transferred on January 14, 2022; (served as Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and called to be Pastor of Saint James Lutheran Church in West Saint Paul, Minnesota)
• The Rev. Phillip Dale Bartelt; ordained; transferred on October 14, 2023 (served as Missionary of the Atlantic District and called to be Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, New Fairfield, CT)
• The Rev. Anthony John Giordano; ordained; transferred on Feburary 9, 2024 to the New Jersey District (served as Pastor at Lutheran Friends of the Deaf, Mill Neck, NY and called to be Pastor of Calary Lutheran Church, Verona, NJ and St. John Lutheran Church, Bloomfield, NJ)
• The Rev. Nils Niehmeier (ordained) to the LCMS New England District (Lutheran Church of the Savior, Bedford, MA)
• The Rev. Erik Johnson (ordained) to the Missouri District (Concordia Lutheran Church, Maplewood, MO)

Departed the Atlantic District by Transfer:

• Dr. Gary Dresser commissioned; transferred to the New England District January 29, 2024 (emeritus)
• The Rev. John Hopkins (ordained); transferred to the Northern Illinois District February 15, 2025 (emeritus)
• The Rev. Thomas Fisher (ordained) to the LCMS English District August 2, 2024 (emeritus)

Received onto the Roster LCMS Atlantic District

• The Rev. David Michael Santos; ordained; Pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Middle Island; September 18, 2022.
• The Rev. Zaza Lawson Kandakai; ordained; Associate Pastor of Christ Assembly Lutheran Church, Staten Island; July 23, 2023.
• The Rev. Henry Deonarine Chanderdatt; ordained; Associate Pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Brooklyn; October 22, 2023.
• The Rev. Jose Augusto Pinedo Whatts; ordained; Associate Pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Brooklyn; November 19, 2023.
• The Rev. Dr. Steven Lee Ware; assigned by the Council of Presidents on December 12, 2021 as Emeritus status; installed as Pastor of Family of Faith Lutheran Church, Middletown; June 23, 2024.
• The Rev. Connor Edward Forbes; ordained; Associate Pastor of St. James Lutheran Church, St. James; June 28, 2024.
• DCM Hannah Annie Ryan; commissioned; Director of Parish Ministries of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Delmar; August 3, 2024.
• The Rev. Alessandro Rubino; ordained; Associate Pastor of The Life Lutheran Church, Old Westbury; January 12, 2025
• The Rev. Abel Villos; transferred from Lutheran Church of the Philippines; Missionary of the Atlantic District serving as Pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Yonkers; May 2025

Installations in the LCMS Atlantic District Not Reported Previously

• The Rev. Anthony Giordano (ordained) installed as Pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, East Meadow effective August 1, 2021
• The Rev. Dr. Joshua Hollmann (ordained) installed as Professor at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota Manhattan effective October 5, 2021
• The Rev. Dr. Joshua Hollmann (ordained) installed as Pastor of True Light Lutheran Church, Manhattan effective September 25, 2022
• The Rev. Erik Johnson (ordained) installed as Pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Manhattan effective March 20, 2022.
• Deaconess Dr. Janine Bolling (commissioned) installed as Teacher and Director of Global Student Program of Martin Luther School, Maspeth effective August 29, 2018.
• Ms. Karen Wiggins (commissioned) installed a Teacher at Concordia College, Bronxville effective August 9, 2018.

Installed in the Atlantic District

• The Rev. Mark Budenholzer (ordained) installed as Assistant Pastor of Village Lutheran Church, Bronxville effective December 4, 2022
• The Rev. Edward Alexander Marque (ordained) transferred in November 28, 2022 and installed as Sole Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Woodside effective January 7, 2023
• The Rev. Steven Williamson-Link (ordained) installed as Sole Pastor of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Patchogue effective February 2, 2023
• Dr. Wilbert Paul Stelzer (commissioned) installed as Principal Teacher of Our Savior New American School, Centereach, NY effective September 3, 2023
• Deaconess Dr. Janine Bolling (commissioned) installed as Deaconess of The Evangelical Lutheran Church and School of Our Saviour, UAC effective September 10, 2023
• The Rev. Warren Lattimore (ordained) transferred in; September 25, 2021; installed as Associate Pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Bronx effective September 10, 2023
• The Rev. Matthew Ryan Gonzalez (ordained) installed as Senior/Administrative Pastor of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, UAC effective September 10, 2023
• The Rev. Thomas Cusanelli (ordained) installed as Pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Amityville effective October 8, 2023
• The Rev. George Carstensen (ordained) installed as Sole Pastor of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Niskayana and Director of Gospel Communication of the LCMS Atlantic District effective November 26, 2023
  The Rev. Sean Chapman (ordained) installed as Specific Ministry Pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, East Meadow effective December 10, 2023
• The Rev. Dr. Johnson Elwin Rethinasamy (ordained) installed as Sole Pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, Hicksville effective June 30, 2024
• The Rev. Samuel Sessa (ordained) installed as Senior Administrative Pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church, Cairo effective August 2, 2024
• The Rev. Henry Albrechtsen (ordained) installed as Sole Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Warwick effective August 25, 2024
• The Rev. Abel Villos (ordained) installed as Missionary to the LCMS Atlantic District serving as Pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,Yonkers effective May 18, 2025
• The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Doka (ordained) installed as Pastor of Family of Faith Lutheran Church, Middletown and St. Peter Lutheran Church in Pine Island, Warwick effective June 8, 2025

Changed Roster Status but Not Reported Previously

• The Rev. Sung Woo Leem was changed from active to candidate status effective September 15, 2018
• The Rev. Alfred John Hofler was changed from active to emeritus status effective September 2, 2019
• Dr. Gary Dresser was changed from active to emeritus status effective June 20, 2021
• Dr. Deborah Carter was changed from active to candidate status effective June 20, 2021
• The Rev. Charles Bell was changed from active to emeritus status effective October 1, 2019
• The Rev. John Priest was changes from active to emeritus status effective November 20, 2019

Changed Roster Status

• The Rev. Erik Johnson moved from active to candidate status effective December 1, 2022
• Ms. Marie Dettling was moved from candidate to emeritus status effective December 19, 2022
• Ms. Amy Lecakes was moved from active to candidate status effective December 12, 2022
• Mr. Kevin Cook was moved from candidate to emeritus status effective June 26, 2023
• The Rev. Anthony Giordano was moved from active to candidate status effective September 15, 2023
• Mr. Edward Dettling was moved from active to emeritus status effective May 1, 2023
• The Rev. John Hopkins was moved from active to emeritus status effective April 10, 2023
• Ms. Kathryn Fisher was moved from candidate status to emeritus status effective March 1, 2024
• Ms. Julie Taylor was moved from candidate to emeritus status effective July 22, 2024
• The Rev. Victor Rapp was moved from active to emeritus status effective July 27, 2024
• The Rev. Kelly-Ray Meritt was moved from active to emeritus status effective August 21, 2024

Resigned from the Roster of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod but Not Reported Previously

• Dr. Jason Thoms (commissioned) effective January 1, 2019
• Dr. James Burkee (commissioned) effective November 7, 2019

Resigned from the Roster of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

• The Rev. Dr. Derek G. Lecakes (ordained) effective December 7, 2022
• Dr. Rachel Eells (commissioned) effective May 19, 2023
• The Rev. Jose Pinedo Whatts (ordained) effective September 6, 2024

Faithful Departed Not Reported Previously

• Mr. James A. Johnson, commissioned (reported July 23, 2019)
• The Rev. Robert Duchow, ordained (reported June 11, 2021)
• The Rev. Robert H. Rose, ordained (reported July 24, 2021)
• The Rev. Kenneth E. Hansen, ordained (reported April 23, 2022)
• The Rev. Wayne F. Olson, ordained (reported August 6, 2021)

Faithful Departed

• The Rev. William Eberle, ordained (reported August 27, 2022)
• The Rev. Paul Steinke, ordained (March 7, 2023)
• Dr. LuJuana R. Butts, commissioned (May 18, 2023)
• The Rev. Phillip N. Yang, ordained (June 1, 2023)
• Ms. Elizabeth M. Crowe, commissioned (January 10, 2024)
• Mr. John Alberda, commissioned (January 31, 2024)
• The Rev. Dr. Thomas Sluberski, ordained (March 2, 2024)
• Dr. Ralph C. Schultz, commissioned (September 24, 2024)
• The Rev. Alfred J. Hofler, ordained (December 10, 2024)
• The Rev. William Riley Bloom, ordained (February 14, 2025)
• Dr. Vijayasekaran George, commissioned (February 19, 2025)
• The Most Rev. Dr. James C. Zwernemann, ordained (March 30, 2025)
• The Rev. Roberto Muñoz, ordained (April 17, 2025)

Congregational Activity Not Reported Previously

• St. Mark Lutheran Church, Maspeth (formerly in Brooklyn), closed (October 8, 2017)
• All Saints Lutheran Church, LaGrangeville and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Hurley, became dual parish (March 1, 2018)
• Emanuel Lutheran Church, Corona, closed (June 8, 2019)
• St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Albany, became a dual parish (July 12, 2022)
• Immanuel Lutheran Church, Delhi and Trinity Lutheran Church, Stamford, became a dual parish (June 12, 2021)

Congregational Activity

• St. Matthew Lutheran Church of the Deaf, closed (January 6, 2023)
• Trinity Lutheran Church, Walden, resigned its membership in the LCMS (December 22, 2023)

* A note about Official Acts 2022-2025:

There were a number of official acts that had not been reported previously. During this triennium, significant work was done to rectify the records of official acts in the LCMS Atlantic District.