Immanuel Lutheran Church Adds Vicar to Staff

Douglas Bender has been commissioned as vicar at . A vicar is a seminary student that is in training to become a pastor.

Prior to attending the Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, he attended Concordia University of Wisconsin. He has completed two years of Seminary training and now experiences one year of on the job training as a vicar at Immanuel.

“I am looking forward to this coming year with the many varied experiences as I learn more about being an effective pastor,” Bender said, in a prepared statement. 

Bender's home town is Quincy, IL, where his father, Rev. Harold Bender, was a pastor until two months ago when he and his wife, Jolynn, transferred to St. Paul Lutheran Church in West Allis, WI. Bender enjoys playing the guitar, basketball, football and all kinds of board or card games.

“We are blessed to have Doug this year," said Pastor Michael Lutz, senior pastor of Immanuel, in a prepared statement. "We know that he will add much to our staff and ministry.”