President Don Schiemann (ABC) will not stand for reelection

Rev. Don Schiemann

CANADA – As Lutheran Church–Canada moves on from its national convention (held in Vancouver in early June) and sets its sights on district conventions in 2015, it does so with the knowledge that change is coming: President Don Schiemann of the Alberta-British Columbia (ABC) District has announced he will not stand for reelection.

“After much prayer and conversation with family and co-workers,” President Schiemann writes in a newly released letter, “I have decided that I will not accept a nomination to serve another term in this capacity. I believe, with respect to my service as District President, it is time for me to step aside and for new leadership to take the helm, so to speak.”

President Schiemann was first elected as President of the ABC District in 2000. “By the time of our 2015 convention,” he notes, “I will have served five terms—fifteen years—in this office.” He further notes 2015 will mark his 39th year in ministry, and that he turns 64 the same year.

“I love our Lutheran Church–Canada and I love our Alberta-British Columbia District,” he writes. “It would pain me deeply to know that our beloved District is not receiving the kind of care and leadership from her District President that she needs. So at this point in my life and vocation, I have become convinced that I can best serve our District by allowing someone else to move in to this position.”

President Schiemann goes on to note that the first pre-convention bulletin for 2015’s ABC District Convention will be released in the next few weeks. It contains information for ABC members on nominating candidates for District President. “As we prepare for that process which will ultimately lead to an election,” President Schiemann writes, “I urge that we single-mindedly come to Him who answers prayer and humbly ask that our gracious Lord would guide and direct our Church to lead us to the man of His choosing, the one who will serve as our next District President.”

Read the full-text of President Schiemann’s letter here.

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