Preachers

All our preachers are ordained pastors within the American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC). The AALC is a Confessional Lutheran church body and member of the International Lutheran Council.

Rev. Matthew Fenn

Rev. Matthew Fenn holds a Bachelor of Divinity from the University of London, and a Diploma in Lutheran Theology with Certification for Ordination from Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. He is currently enrolled in American Lutheran Theological Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program. He served as pastor of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stratford, ON until receiving a Call to serve as Associate Pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church, Waterloo, IA.

Rev. Dr. Chris Caughey

Rev. Dr. Chris Caughey has come to Lutheranism from the confessional Reformed world. He is serving his first call to a dual parish in rural Kentucky. He teaches Biblical Theology at American Lutheran Theological Seminary. He has taught a variety of courses at the undergraduate level, ranging from U.S. History and English, to Greek, Hebrew, NT Survey, Gospel of John, Church History, and Christ in the Old Testament. Though his dissertation was on six different puritans and the way they understood the Mosaic covenant, he is probably finished with puritans for a while. He has much to learn and explore about the history of Lutheranism, and when he has a sense of his new research interests, he will gladly let us know. His first love continues to be biblical theology, and he is fascinated by philosophy. He has also been a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Evangelical Theological Society.

Rev. Anthony R. Voltattorni

Rev. Anthony R. Voltattorni serves as the common parish pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Marshall, MI, where he has been ascending the pulpit since 2013. Before receiving his present Call, he served at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Standish, MI, where he was ordained in 2009. He holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University. Rev. Voltattorni and his wife, Sarah—whom he met at his home Church in 1996—have been married since 2002. Together, they have been blessed with seven children.

Rev. Dr. Cary G. Larson

Rev. Dr. Larson is the 5th Presiding Pastor of The American Association of Lutheran Churches, elected at the 28th General Convention on June 23, 2022. Dr. Larson served as the first called pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church of Waseca, Minnesota (2010 to present). Previously, Dr. Larson was called to two rural congregations in southern Minnesota, Le Sueur River Lutheran, and Vista Lutheran, from 2006 to 2010. Dr. Larson was ordained into the Office of Word and Sacrament on June 18, 2006 by the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Before ordained ministry, Dr. Larson served as a commissioned officer in the U. S. Navy and retired as a Commander (O-5). In 2020, Dr. Larson received a Doctor of Ministry with an emphasis on evangelism from The Institute of Lutheran Theology, Brookings, South Dakota. Dr. Larson and his wife, Connie (Sommers), live in Iowa. They have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Rev. Dr. Curtis E. Leins

The Rev. Dr. Curtis E. Leins was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor in 1978 and served as a parish pastor in North Carolina and Delaware, also helping to plant several congregations. After 35 years in parish ministry, he was called to serve in leadership roles for The American Association of Lutheran Churches (The AALC), first as National Home Mission Developer and Assistant Presiding Pastor in 2013, then as Presiding Pastor (National Bishop) from 2014–2022. During his ministry, he also served as a Military Chaplain and provided pastoral oversight for 80 congregations worldwide. Dr. Leins began teaching Church History at the American Lutheran Theological Seminary (ALTS) in 2010 and, after his term as Presiding Pastor, became a Professor of Theology and Spiritual Formation at ALTS, where he was elected President in June 2024. Dr. Leins is married to Deborah Ann Leins, and they have three sons.