Mueller and Kruschel return to their roots
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
This month we are bidding farewell to two faithful servants here at the Synod Administration Building. Wayne Mueller, the synod's first vice president, has accepted a call to serve as pastor at St. John, Jefferson, Wisconsin. Peter Kruschel, administrator of the Board for Ministerial Education, will be leaving to begin his duties as a mission counselor in the Arizona-California and Pacific Northwest Districts.
Both men have served their synod faithfully in their calls. After leaving the parish ministry, Wayne Mueller served as a professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Following that he was the first administrator of the Board for Parish Services. Most recently, he has served as the synod's first vice president (also called the vice president for mission and ministry). By accepting the call to St. John, Pastor Mueller is returning to his roots and to what is his first love: the work of a parish pastor. Pastor Mueller's fondness for the pastoral ministry was a frequent topic of his conversations. His ability to communicate complex theological truth in clear, understandable ways will serve his congregation well as he preaches, conducts Bible class, and instructs people new to the faith.
Peter Kruschel returns to his roots in a different way. Although he began his ministry in an established urban congregation (Grace, Milwaukee), he accepted a call to serve in a home mission setting in Orlando, Florida. There he developed a genuine love for the work of home missions. His leadership skills and passion for home missions were widely recognized, and he was called to serve as the assistant administrator of the Board for Home Missions. Now, after serving for seven years as the administrator of the Board for Ministerial Education, Pastor Kruschel is also returning to his roots in the home mission field.
The Board for Ministerial Education will be calling a new administrator at its October meeting; nominations for the position are currently being sought. The office of first vice president will remain vacant until a new vice president is elected at next summer's synod convention. In the meantime, Pastor Mueller's duties are being delegated to others.
We are thankful for the time that these two faithful servants spent serving their synod in various capacities. As they return to their ministerial roots, we are thankful that God will continue to use them to proclaim his gospel and to serve his church.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: Ministerial Education, vice president
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