New BME administrator called
Filed Under: BME, Ministerial Education
WELS Board for Ministerial Education called Rev. Thomas Westra Jan. 13 to be its new administrator after Rev. David Wenzel declined the call Dec. 27. This is the third call issued to replace previous administrator Rev. Peter Kruschel, who accepted a mission counselor call last June.
"Anytime one receives a call to serve with the gospel in a role that represents others, it is humbling experience," says Westra, who has served at Beautiful Savior, Cincinnati, Ohio, for the past 24 years. He is also a member of the Board for Ministerial Education and serves on the Governing Board of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
"I think my years of service on those boards give me some insight into the challenges and opportunities before worker training and our synod at the present time," says Westra. "However, my perspective and understanding of WELS Ministerial Education comes primarily from being a product of the system myself. I think pastors and teachers who serve in WELS have a deep appreciation for what God has given them through our worker training system. I think we all work hard and pray fervently that God would continue to bless our church body through it."
Westra says he'll now be doing some soul searching to see where God can best use him. "I have tremendous respect for those who are serving our church body in positions of leadership and those who are serving at our four ministerial education schools," he says. "The opportunity to work alongside them would be a great privilege. At the same time, to serve God's people here with the message of our Savior's love is also an awesome privilege."
