Dr. William R. Diekelman

The Rev. Dr. William R. Diekelman of Ballwin, Mo., was elected to his second three-year term as first vice president of the 2.45-million-member Lutheran Church–Missouri  Synod. 

Diekelman, 60, is a 1973 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.  He graduated from Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1969.  He received an honorary doctorate from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., in 2002.

Prior to his initial election as LCMS first vice president in 2004, Diekelman served five terms -- a total of 13 years -- as president of the Synod’s Oklahoma District.  During that time, he also was pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Owasso, Okla., a call he began serving in 1981.

Previously, Diekelman also served as the Oklahoma District’s first vice president (1988-91) and as a circuit counselor (1985-88).  He also served as a member of the district’s board of directors, and as a member of the Wheat Ridge Ministries board of directors from 1997 to 2007. 

Diekelman served as chairman of the Synod’s Placement Committee, Council of Presidents, from 1997 to 2000, and as pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Elko, Nev., from 1973 to 1981.

He and his wife, Carol, have six children.