Leadership

“So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence.” – Romans 12:5-8

St. John is governed by its congregation according to the church constitution. The day-to-day functions of the church are administered by the pastor, the Church Council, and other committees and groups.

Rev. Keith Weise

Pastor Weise was installed at St. John on January 8, 2023. Pastor Weise was ordained in 2005 and has served the Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd (Sauk Rapids, MN), Lutheran Senior Services (Ballwin, MO), and Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (Altenburg, MO).

Pastor Weise is the spiritual leader of St. John. He sets a good example to the church, conducts worship services, directs the work of Christian education, administers the sacraments, and visits and comforts the sick and distressed. He has an especially deep interest in the liturgy and how God comes to us through grace in ways that touch our mind, body, and soul. He has also participated in musical ministries throughout his life and contributes his talents to St. John by singing, playing, and composing music.

Pastor Weise has been married to Deanne since 2000, and they have four children. His hobbies include reading, composing sacred choral music, listening to classical music, and enjoying day trips with his family.

Church Council

The Church Council is the executive body of the church. During the Annual Congregational Meeting in October, the congregation elects or re-elects a President to a one-year term and four regular members to two-year terms. Regular members are chosen by the Council itself to serve as Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary.

The current members of the Council are:

  • William Kirchner (President)
  • Rodney Gebert (Vice-President)
  • Hank Horak (Treasurer)
  • Andrew Hamann (Secretary)
  • Louise Dunklin
  • Jeff Haller
  • Margaret Jones
  • Tammy Kelley
  • Debra Rutledge

The Council meets monthly to carry out the work of the church. It is the custodian of all church records, including fiscal and property records.

Women’s Guild

The St. John Women’s Guild is the women’s organization at St. John and is open to all women. Among other activities, the Women’s Guild organizes the annual Pfolk Pfest in October, which is a fundraiser with a meal and auctions of arts, crafts, antiques, and special food items. The funds raised support the Women’s Guild and charitable organizations. The Women’s Guild also organizes the Women’s Banquet in May and the Candlelight Service in December.

The current officers of the Women’s Guild are:

  • Helen Roithner (President)
  • Brenda Kirchner (Vice-President)
  • Kathy Pemberton (Treasurer)
  • Amy Quintana (Secretary)

The Women’s Guild meets on the second Sunday of each month.

Other Committees

The Constitution and the Council form and authorize committees as needed to serve the needs of the church. These committees are subject to the oversight of the Council and the Congregation but usually act independently in their areas of responsibility.

  • Budget Committee
  • Cemetery Committee (Rodney Gebert)
  • Christian Education Committee (Chris Hamann)
  • Evangelism Team (Pastor Keith Weise)
  • Memorial Committee (Elizabeth Wendland)
  • Property Maintenance Committee (Ronald Roithner)
  • Records Committee (Laverne Engelmann)