2025 Year in Review: Installations

Installations of new pastors are a time of great hope for congregations as they begin a new chapter of ministry. We thank God for all of the pastors who have accepted calls in the CNH District. Here is a snapshot of some of the installations in 2025: 

David Ficken was installed January 12th at St. Philip Lutheran Church in Dublin, CA. He and his wife Kristen have three adult children: Rebekah, Tigist, and Abush. Pastor Dann Ettner, following Pastor John Whaley, served a long interim at St. Philip. In the later years he was assisted by Rev. Paul Sauer, an LCMS chaplain stationed nearby and a member of St. Philip. 

Steve Tomac was ordained and installed as Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Yerington, Nevada on Saturday, January 18th. Pastor Steve is enrolled in the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program and recently met requirements for ordination and installation at FLC.

Brian Muldowney was installed as St. Andrew's (Stockton) Senior Pastor on January 19th. Muldowney previously served as St. Andrew’s associate pastor.

Pastor Jason Weber was installed at Zion Unity Lutheran in Lodi, CA on March 30th. This church has sites in Lodi, Valley Springs and Jackson, CA. 

Muluneh Taye was installed as associate Pastor at Redeeming Grace in Santa Clara, CA. Muluneh has been called to start a new ministry in the Sunnyvale and Santa Clara area. The call is to plant a church among 1.5 and 2nd generation East African professionals. Redeeming Grace is a new church created from what was previously Redeemer, Santa CA.

Jacob Eisinger was ordained and installed as Pastor or St. Mark’s Lutheran in Elko, NV on Saturday, July 26th. Pastor Alan Eisinger, Jacob’s father, delivered the homily.

Two Interim Pastors who were installed in the past year were Rev. Dallas Dubke at Our Redeemer, Honolulu and Rev. Peter Dorn at Zion, Piedmont.