Nearly 65 percent of Lutheran Hour Ministries' registered voting members cast ballots in the ministry's recent election to fill five seats on the Board of Directors for the International Lutheran Laymen's League/Lutheran Hour Ministries. Mark Duesenberg of Rocky River, Ohio will begin his first term on the Board; Linda Arnold of Oswego, Illinois; Melanie Braun of Tempe, Arizona; Vincent W. James of Boston, Massachusetts; and Gordon D. Tresch of Williamsville, New York, have been re-elected to their second terms.
Each of these individuals will start a three-year term beginning at the next Board of Directors meeting in July. Read more about these Board members below.
Linda Arnold of Oswego, Illinois
Following a long nursing career, Arnold retired in 2019 after eight years as an assistant professor at Lewis University's College of Nursing, where she taught baccalaureate courses and served as chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee. A commissioned LCMS church worker and LHM Board member, she served as LWML vice president for communication, chair of LWML's Board of Directors' Restructuring Committee, and on the Women's Leadership Institute Advisory Board for Concordia University Wisconsin (including chair). Arnold has led more than 30 international short-term mission teams. She holds a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in nursing education.
Melanie Braun of Tempe, Arizona
Braun is co-owner and private wealth advisor of a financial planning practice and has more than 32 years of experience in marketing, communications, consulting, and leadership in government, education, and financial services. Congregational involvement at Gethsemane Church has included the worship team, sanctuary building committee, nominations and hiring teams, and a mission trip to Guatemala. Currently the treasurer on LHM's Board, her community service experience includes the Lutheran Church Extension Fund's loan committee. Braun earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications and an MBA. She is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and holds the Accredited Portfolio Manager Advisor (APMA™) designation.
Mark Duesenberg of Rocky River, Ohio
Duesenberg has 23 years of experience guiding global manufacturing and services companies across several industries to enhanced levels of growth, optimization, risk management, and corporate governance. He has served on senior leadership teams for organizations headquartered in the United States, Asia, and Europe (residing in Europe for nine years). His nonprofit board experience includes serving as chair for We Raise Foundation, vice chair of the governance committee at Valparaiso University, and as a member of the audit committee for the American Arbitration Association. He holds a bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.
Vincent W. James of Boston, Massachusetts
James spent 20 years as director of admissions at Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He directed recruitment activities for prospective students interested in master's and doctorate programs. He previously was associate director of admissions/director of the educational council at Massachusetts Institute of Technology after filling programming and systems analyst roles for various organizations. A current LHM Board member/representative on The LHM Foundation, he has served as chief elder and congregation president as well as other volunteer roles at First Lutheran Church. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from MIT and an MBA from Rutgers University.
Gordon D. Tresch of Williamsville, New York
Tresch is a former partner at the Feldman Kieffer law firm, specializing in civil litigation defense with a concentration in medical malpractice and municipal law. A current LHM Board member, his extensive church related involvement also includes serving as chair of the LCMS Commission on Handbook, on the LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters, as an LCMS convention delegate, and as chair and member of the LCMS Eastern District Board. Tresch was named a "Servant of Christ" by the LCMS Eastern District in 2018 and received Fortress Insurance's Attorney of the Year award in 2007. He holds B.A. and J.D. degrees.
Bylaws Changes Approved
As the world around us continues to change, Lutheran Hour Ministries seeks to respond in the most effective ways for sharing the Gospel whenever and wherever it needs to be heard. A bold plan for global expansion is the latest evolution for this strong, emergent, future-focused ministry that harnesses new opportunities, research, and resources to fulfill our mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. Below is an overview of the Bylaws changes that were approved by the voting membership.
- Extend the number of allowable terms for existing Board members to provide more continuity in leadership during times of change.
- Allow past Board members who have termed out but have extensive organizational knowledge to be considered as new candidates for re-election following one or more intervening years off the Board.
- Establish a process to ensure that all constituents may submit petitions to the Board of Directors to have them addressed.
- Remove obsolete language about convention voting since official business no longer takes place at LHM events.
Click here to see the revised set of Bylaws based on these approved changes.
Thanks to everyone who participated this year in the election process!