David C. Fleming, Executive Director for Spiritual Care
Pastor David C. Fleming was installed as Executive Director for Spiritual Care in 2020. He had served as Associate Director since 2018.
He has served as Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan since 1993 (Senior Pastor 1993-2019, Associate Pastor 2019-). Previously, he served Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Warrenville, Illinois 1987-1993. Rev. Fleming was a graduate assistant at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, 1986-1987.
Currently, Pastor Fleming is a member of Concordia University Wisconsin’s Board of Regents.
He and his wife, Jo Marie, have three children and two grandchildren.
Pastor Fleming was inducted as a Fellow in the DOXOLOGY Collegium in 2014. He received the Fr Zwer Award in 2011 for pastoral support of Lutheran Schools by the Michigan Association of Non-public Schools. He was honored as Alumnus of the Year by Concordia Theological Seminary.
He has spoken at district pastoral conferences, Lutheran Worship conferences, and served missionaries and pastors in the United States, Ghana, and Latvia. He has authored several articles and Concordia Publishing House’s Advent resource “God Loves Me Dearly.”
Beverly K. Yahnke, Executive Director for Christian Counsel
Dr. Yahnke is a clinical psychologist who has provided consultation to District Presidents, pastors, principals, teachers and congregations for over three decades. She is known throughout the church as a compassionate counselor, articulate speaker, and engaging teacher. In 2008, she accepted the invitation from the Board of Directors to serve as DOXOLOGY’s Executive Director for Christian Counsel.
Previously, she has served as Professor of Psychology and Department Chair at Concordia University Wisconsin. Early in her tenure at CUW, she was named as “Faculty Laureate” for excellence in teaching. Yahnke has also received the University’s “Dettmann Award for Dedicated Service “.
Dr. Yahnke worked for 20 years in private practice at the clinic she founded, Christian Counseling Services in Milwaukee. CCS was devoted to providing care for clients of faith, including church workers and their families. Yahnke has written numerous articles about psychology, education and faith, and is a frequently invited speaker for clergy and educator conferences at home and abroad.
Dr. Yahnke has served the LCMS as a nationally elected member of the LCMS Board for Higher Education (1998-2004). More recently, was elected by the LCMS national convention to serve as a Regent on the Board of Concordia Theological Seminary (2016-2022). In 2016, Concordia Theological Seminary awarded her with Doctor of Humane Letters Degree, Honoris Causa.
Harold L. Senkbeil, Executive Director Emeritus
Dr. Harold Senkbeil brings considerable pastoral presence and wisdom to this project, having served faithfully in the parish for more than 31 years. His parish experience includes small town/rural, campus, suburban, central city and mission planting settings.
Senkbeil served as Associate Professor in the Pastoral Ministry and Missions Department of Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana from 2002 – 2008. In July, 2008, he accepted the call to serve DOXOLOGY, a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, as Executive Director for Spiritual Care. Senkbeil served as an elected member of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the LCMS (1998-2002) and an elected member of the Board of Regents of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (2010-2018). In 2001 that institution awarded him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. He is the author of a number of books, including Sanctification: Christ in Action (NPH, 1989) and Dying to Live: the power of forgiveness (CPH, 1994), plus contributions to many other books and professional theological and pastoral journals. His book on pastoral work, The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart, was published by Lexham Press in 2019, together with a companion volume:Pastoral Leadership and Planning: for the care of souls, which he co-authored with DOX Collegium Fellow Dr. Lucas Woodford. In 2016 his friends and colleagues celebrated the 45th anniversary of his ordination into the office of the holy ministry with a festschrift entitled Take Courage (publication pending).
Dr. Senkbeil is a frequently invited guest speaker at LCMS District pastoral conferences and other foreign and domestic settings, including twice presenting at the annual Reformation Lectures of Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary (ELS), Mankato, MN. He is known as a pastor to pastors, providing colleagues with theological resources, enrichment, encouragement and personal pastoral care.