Board Members

Chairman

Rev. Micah Gaunt

Rev. Micah R. Gaunt was born in Seward NE, but did most of his growing up in Orchard Farm, MO. After high school, he earned a B.S. in Education from Concordia University, Nebraska. He taught literature and theology for three years at Lutheran High North in Houston, TX. Afterward, he studied at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and was ordained into the Office of Holy Ministry in 2007. He served for 12 years at Bethlehem, Ravenna and Zion, North Shelton, NE. He is currently serving among the saints at Peace in Hastings, NE. His most successful endeavor was meeting and marrying his wife, Dawn. By God's grace, they have had nine children born to them.




Vice Chairman

Rev. Tysen Bibb

Rev. Bibb is a Missouri native who was born and raised in the St. Joseph area. A 2009 graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin, Tysen earned a Bachelors Degree in Theology and served as a rostered and commissioned youth director for three years prior to enrolling at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. Upon graduating in 2016, Rev. Bibb was ordained into the Office of Holy Ministry and served at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota for over four years. In the Fall of 2020, Rev. Bibb accepted a call to serve God’s saints at Trinity Lutheran Church in Norborne, Missouri, where he and his family currently reside. Tysen, his wife Sarah, and their three sons love small town life in rural Missouri.




Reverend

Michael Knox

Rev. Michael Knox has been pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa, since 1996. Before accepting the Call to Our Redeemer, he was the Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Campbell, Nebraska, from 1987 through 1996 and Zion Lutheran Church in Upland, Nebraska, from 1987 through 1994. While serving at Our Redeemer, he has also served Christ Lutheran in Waterloo (1998-2016) and Peace Lutheran in Shell Rock (2007-present). Pastor Knox currently serves as second Vice-President of the Iowa District East, the Chairman of the IDE Board of Directors, and as a Synodical Reconciler.
 
Pastor Knox and his wife Tammy have been blessed by God with four children: Jennifer, Jason, Jessica, and Jamie, as well as one daughter-in-law, Michaela. They have three grandchildren: Paisley, Elias, and Noelle.
 
 
 



Reverend

Mark Kranz

The Rev. Mark J. Kranz received the Divine Call to be pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in April
2020, and was installed on August 9, 2020. He earned a B.A. in Dance from the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln in 2010 and then a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne,
Indiana, in 2020. He and his wife, Bethany, currently have four children. Pastor Kranz enjoys reading,
throwing darts, and hand tool woodworking. The Kranz family is blessed to be in the town of Excelsior
Springs! 




Technology and Media

Mr. Birk Baker

Mr. Birk Baker was born in Nebraska City NE. on July 14th 1973. He was baptized in March of 1999

He graduated high school from Campbell County Highschool in Gillette, Wyo. in 1991. He received an athletic scholarship and attended Black Hills State University, where he met his wife Charity Falin.

In June of 1995 he married Charity in Rapid City SD. He has 5 children, Adriana attending the University of Nebraska and an assistant manager at Hyvee. Tristen who works for Watts Electric in Waverly NE. Three still at home Constence, Wyatt and Lydia.

In 1994 he went to work for then Peed Corporation. He currently is the Production Manager there which is now Sandhills Publishing.

He attends Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eagle Ne. He has served on the Board of Trustees and has served on the Board of Elders. He currently teaches fifth and sixth grade Catechesis. He also teaches high school Bible class. He is the lay delegate from Immanuel Eagle.




Conference Chairman

Mr. Richard Lichtenfeld

Mr. Richard Lichtenfeld was born in August of 1974 in Columbus, Nebraska, and baptized into Christ on August 25, 1974.

He has been married to his wife, Megan, since 1998 and they have been blessed with four children, Noah, Samuel, Ruby and Chloe. 

Richard has been a professional in the insurance industry since 1999. 

He and his family are members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE.  He is involved in many areas of the church and is currently the Chairman of the Board of Elders.




Secretary

Mrs. Myrtle Siefken

Myrtle grew up in western Washington and moved to Idaho after earning a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Washington. For most of her career she was a technical editor at the Idaho National Laboratory, primarily in Materials Science. She is a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians and has served as a judge in Business Professionals of America regional high school competitions.

She enjoys studying God’s Word and is an active participant in Bible class at Hope Lutheran Church in Idaho Falls, where she also serves as the congregation's recording secretary. She currently holds local and district positions in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML).