Leadership

The Pastor is assisted by a team of elders, men who have been elected by the congregation to be “overseers” of our members.  The congregation is divided into elder groups, with one elder over each group. The elders make up the Board of Elders, with its Director being selected by the group. Members may talk to their elders about church concerns. To find out which elder has been assigned to you, ask the Pastor or review the listing on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.

Pastor Mark Kophamer, Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elizabethton, Tennessee, began serving as Interim Pastor at Concordia in July 2025. Pastor Kophamer grew up on a farm near Morrison, Illinois.  He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1977. He served almost six years in the Army, leaving in 1983 with the rank of Captain. After a short time back on the farm and as a grain merchandiser, he went to Concordia Theological Seminary at Fort Wayne, Indiana, graduating in 1989. Pastor Kophamer took a call to Zion and Immanuel Lutheran churches at Garland, Nebraska, and then to Immanuel, Seward, Nebraska as a single parish. While at Immanuel he worked retail as a second job. He also taught New Testament as an adjunct professor at Concordia University, Seward for three semesters. In 2018 Pastor Kophamer began serving as Interim Pastor at Redeemer Lutheran in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and accepted the call as Pastor at Redeemer in 2019. For several years Pastor Kophamer was on the staff at Mountain Youth Academy in Mountain City, Tennessee, where he worked with young people with behavioral problems.

Paul Becker served as Pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Kingsport, Tennessee, from October 1994 until his retirement in June 2025. He was born in Summit, N.J., in 1957, baptized at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Springfield, N.J., and later attended Redeemer Lutheran Church and School (K – 6) in Westfield, N.J.   He graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in 1979 with a degree in voice and piano. He and Mary (nee Heckmann) were married on July 30, 1983.  He completed the M.Div. at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., in 1985 and received the S.T.M. in 1988.  He served at Prince of Peace Lutheran in Douglasville, GA from 1986 – 1994.  Beyond pastoral duties, he enjoys reading, music, outdoor exercise, singing with the regional chorus groups, volunteering with a local pro-life group,  learning about natural health practices, supporting the homeschool movement, and spending time with family and friends. Pastor Paul and Mary are looking forward to continuing their service to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in retirement. Travel will also be a feature, as they spend time with their four children and nine grandchildren in North Carolina (Katie and family), South Dakota (Caleb and family), Alaska (Josiah and family), and back home to Tennessee (Julie and family).

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., founded on the Biblical teachings of Martin Luther.  Concordia Lutheran Church is one of the more than 6,200 LCMS congregations worldwide.   Visit LCMS.org

Mid-South District
The LCMS is organized into 35 Districts. Concordia Lutheran Church is part of the Mid-South District, which includes Tennessee, Arkansas, and the southern counties of Kentucky. The congregations in the Mid-South District work together in many areas of ministry. Learn more

Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML)
Concordia has an active Lutheran Women’s Missionary League group involving women of all ages and careers and affiliated with the National and Mid-South District Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. As the name implies its purpose is to further the spreading the Gospel. This is done by gathering “mites” for missions, promoting Bible study and helping women serve the Lord with their gifts and talents. The group meets four times a year for planning and business meetings, sponsors bi-monthly morning and afternoon Bible Studies, and coordinates a number of service projects throughout the year.
Visit LWML worldwide organization’s site.