The Nebraska District elected Earle Treptow, pastor at Zion, Denver, Colo., as its new president during its convention after Joel Frank, president of the Nebraska District for the past 20 years, retired from full-time ministry. Treptow was installed June 16.

Treptow will continue in his current call at Zion. He will be assisted by Brett Krause, a 2010 Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary graduate, who was assigned to serve as the associate to the Nebraska District president. Krause will help Treptow as he takes on his new responsibilities.

Each of the 12 districts has a president who serves on the synod's Conference of Presidents. Each district president oversees doctrine and practice in his district.

How will Treptow prepare for his new role? He says, "Step one: Pray. Step two: Get counsel and training from those who know what the work entails. How many people actually know exactly what a district president does? I had only a general idea before. Step three: Put together a plan that incorporates the wisdom gathered from other members of the Conference of Presidents that will serve the congregations, teachers, and pastors of the Nebraska District. Step four: Pray some more."

He adds, "My personal experience has certainly led me to love the Nebraska District. We are blessed to have congregations and called workers who genuinely appreciate one another and work hard to support and encourage one another. Much of that the Lord has worked in our district through the leadership of Pastor Frank, who served faithfully and well as district president for 20 years. It is my prayer that we will continue, by the strength of the Spirit, to treasure one another and to support the ministry carried out in other places instead of just thinking about local congregational responsibilities."