LCC reelects President Teuscher, elects new Vice-President

EDMONTON – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) has reelected Rev. Dr. Timothy Teuscher to a second term as President without opposition. The same day also saw the election of Rev. Michael Schutz as the church’s new Vice-President.

President Teuscher was first elected in 2017. Since becoming LCC President, he has also joined the Board of Directors of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), which he now serves as Vice Chairman.

In May 2022, Concordia Lutheran Seminary bestowed an honorary Doctor of Divinity on President Teuscher for, among other things, his 42 years of service as a pastor; service as a circuit counsellor; service as first and second vice president on the East District’s Board of Directors; service on LCC’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations; and leadership in implementing LCC’s new structure following the 2017 convention.

A New Vice President

Also during the morning of June 11, LCC elected Rev. Michael Schutz to serve as its new Vice-President. Rev. Schutz was elected on the second ballot with 58 percent of the votes over Rev. Kurt Reinhardt with 42 percent of the votes. Rev. Alexander Klages, who had also let his name stand, was eliminated after placing third on the first ballot.

Rev. Schutz is pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Penticton, B.C., which he has served as pastor since 2013. Prior to his ordination, he served the same congregation as Director of Parish Services (DPS) from 2009-2013. He previously served as a DPS in Spokane, Washington (2005-2009) and in Kelowna, B.C. (2000-2004). He has also been a Circuit Counsellor since 2018. Rev. Schutz has also served synod on the Committee for Communications and Technology from 2003-2005 and 2012-present, and on the Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure from 2017-2018.

Rev. Schutz succeeds Rev. Tom Kruesel, who declined to let his name stand again for reelection. Rev. Kruesel was elected as LCC’s sole Vice-President in 2017 following the vote to restructure. Under LCC’s previous structure, he served as Third Vice-President from 2009-2011 and Second Vice-President from 2011-2017.

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