Official nominee source text
- Section
- East-Southeast Region Regional Vice-President
- Office/position
- East-Southeast Region Regional Vice-President
- Candidate category
- ordained
- Source page
- p. 30
- Election line
- Elect 1 minister of religion—ordained (Great Lakes Region)
- Also candidate for
- First Vice-President
Formatted from official nominee source text for readability.
Basic Details
- Name
- Jeffrey Eric Skopak
- Locale
- Ashe ville, NC
- Congregation
- Emmanuel, Asheville, NC (SE)
- Birth Year
- 1966
- Birthplace
- Ne w Brunswick, NJ
- Wife’s Maiden Name
- Pa rr
- Number of Children
- 2
- College
- Concordia College, New York (1988)
- Seminary
- Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO (1992)
- Other Degrees
- DMin, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO (2010)
- Member of Synod Congregations (years)
- 59
- Rostered Member of Synod (years)
- 34
- Year of Ordination
- 1992
Service History
Pastorates
| Congregation | Years |
|---|---|
| St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY | 1992–1996 |
| Redeemer Lutheran Church, Manchester, NJ | 1996–2005 |
| St. James Lutheran Church, St. James, NY | 2005–2008 |
| Fountain of Life Lutheran Church, Tucson, AZ | 2008–2014 |
| Grace Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, FL | 2014–2023 |
| Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Asheville, NC | 2023–present |
- Congregation
- St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
- Years
- 1992–1996
- Congregation
- Redeemer Lutheran Church, Manchester, NJ
- Years
- 1996–2005
- Congregation
- St. James Lutheran Church, St. James, NY
- Years
- 2005–2008
- Congregation
- Fountain of Life Lutheran Church, Tucson, AZ
- Years
- 2008–2014
- Congregation
- Grace Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, FL
- Years
- 2014–2023
- Congregation
- Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Asheville, NC
- Years
- 2023–present
Synod Offices
| Position | Years |
|---|---|
| Synodical Reconciler | 1997–2005 |
| PALS Facilitator | 2000–2005 |
| Facilitator, Consecrated Stewards | 2009–2014 |
- Position
- Synodical Reconciler
- Years
- 1997–2005
- Position
- PALS Facilitator
- Years
- 2000–2005
- Position
- Facilitator, Consecrated Stewards
- Years
- 2009–2014
District Offices
| Position | Years |
|---|---|
| Circuit Visitor, Atlantic District | 1994–1996 |
| Facilitator for Church Revitalization, SELC District | 1998–2005 |
| Facilitator, Your Congregation’s Future | 1999–2005 |
| Circuit Visitor, SELC District | 2002–2005 |
| Circuit Visitor, PSW District | 2012–2014 |
- Position
- Circuit Visitor, Atlantic District
- Years
- 1994–1996
- Position
- Facilitator for Church Revitalization, SELC District
- Years
- 1998–2005
- Position
- Facilitator, Your Congregation’s Future
- Years
- 1999–2005
- Position
- Circuit Visitor, SELC District
- Years
- 2002–2005
- Position
- Circuit Visitor, PSW District
- Years
- 2012–2014
Other Significant Service or Experience
| Type of Service | Years |
|---|---|
| 2008–2014 Guest Lecturer , Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO | 2010 |
| Visiting Professor for the International Lutheran Council (Lutheran Leadership Development Program) | 2019–present |
| Podcast: Christ, Culture, and Cinema | 2021–present |
| Christ, Culture, and Cinema: How Faith and Film Intersect | 2022 |
| Essa yist, Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa | 2023 |
- Type of Service
- 2008–2014 Guest Lecturer , Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO
- Years
- 2010
- Type of Service
- Visiting Professor for the International Lutheran Council (Lutheran Leadership Development Program)
- Years
- 2019–present
- Type of Service
- Podcast: Christ, Culture, and Cinema
- Years
- 2021–present
- Type of Service
- Christ, Culture, and Cinema: How Faith and Film Intersect
- Years
- 2022
- Type of Service
- Essa yist, Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa
- Years
- 2023
Vice Chairman, Open Door Pregnancy Center, Toms River, NJ
1999–2005 Vice Chairman, Hands of Hope Pregnancy Centers, Tucson, AZ
Author, Concordia Publishing House:
Personal Statement
I am humbled and honored to be nominated to serve our Synod. It is with great joy that I continue to hold to the words from Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” In an ever-changing world, how important it is to remember that our God does not change. He remains our loving God, who has blessed us with salvation in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus! As His servants, we are privileged to bring this sacred truth to a world in desperate need to hear it and receive it as the only hope for peace and true life. To the glory of God!
Also candidate for
First Vice-President
Additional official source text
to reinforce, restructure, and reorganize strong regional Lutheran congregations in population centers of the East and Southeast.
Emphasizing shared Lutheran distinctives, these congregations can be beacons of Christ’s Gospel.
c. Nominations and Candidates for Great
Lakes Region Regional Vice-President Elect 1 minister of religion—ordained (Great Lakes Region)
(3-year term)
Nominations Received: A total of 384 nominating votes were cast by 341 congregations of the region. Here following are the names and tallies of all ordained ministers who received nominating votes:
Eric C. Skovgaard 79
Mark D. Brandt 55
David P. Ramirez 49
Jamison J. Hardy 43
Sean A. Willman 33
John C. Wohlrabe Jr 16
John M. Berg 7
6 votes:
Peter C. Bender; Allan R. Buss
5 votes:
David P. E. Maier
4 votes:
Benjamin T. (Ben) Ball; David C. Fleming; William M. (Max)
Mons
3 votes:
Micah D. Greiner; Matthew R. Richard; Matthew W. Rueger
2 votes:
Cory A. Estby; Joel A. Hess; Michael C. Larson; Dwayne M. Lueck;
Nathan M. Meador; Nabil S. Nour; Stephen K. Preus; Randolph H. (Randy) Raasch
1 vote:
Steven J. Anderson; Darryl L. Andrzejewski; Phillip A. Baerwolf;
Mark C. Bestul; Craig L. Bickel; Christopher R. Bodley; Jason M. Braaten; Mark P. Braden; Jesse K. Cearlock; James D. Chinery;
Larry G. Courson; Dean M. Davenport; David A. Davis; Randall S. Duncan; Jacob J. Eichers; Chad R. Elfe; Christopher S. Esget; Evan P. Gaertner; Michael B. Hanson; David S. Hasselbrook; Michael W. Henrichs; John E. Hill; Bradley B. (Brad) Hubbard; Steven A. Hulke; Andrew M. Johnson; Robert E. (Rob) Kasper; Steven G. (Steve) Kline; Jeffrey W. Leininger; Eric W. Majeski; Charles S. (Chuck) Mueller Jr.; Bryan R. Osladil; Daniel E. Paavola; Preston A. Paul; Leonard R. Payton; David H. Petersen; James A. O. Preus;
John R. Prohl; Caleb J. Schauer; Michael P. Schuermann; Matthew G. Schuler; Timothy J. Shoup; Edward A. (Tony) Sikora Sr.; Jeremy M. Swem; Ralph G. Tausz; Christopher I. Thoma; Eric R. Wenger;
Kristopher R. (Kris) Whitby; William P. Yonker As required by Bylaw 3.12.2.7 (c), the nominees who received the highest number of votes were notified to obtain their approval in writing for the inclusion of their names on the ballot. Because the Bylaws of the Synod provide no opportunity for adding names to this slate, other than due to the death, declination, or unavailability of a candidate, the ballot for the election of the Great Lakes Region VicePresident is expected to contain the names of the following top five consenting candidates in alphabetical order:
Mark D. Brandt Jamison J. Hardy David P. Ramirez Eric C. Skovgaard Sean A. Willman
Vice-President: Great Lakes Region | 31
