Synod Staff
Rev. Felix Malpica
Bishop
The Rev. Felix J. Malpica is a graduate of Luther College and Luther Seminary, receiving his M.Div. in 2013 and being ordained in 2014. He also currently serves on the Board of Regents for Luther College and as a Holden Village Board Member. A writer, storyteller, musician, and theologian, Bishop Malpica loves to share his love of the Gospel as it shapes and forms the way we live in this world. This is central to the way he crafts and leads worship, having been a national leader for worship and music for more than 15 years. Parish Ministry and youth ministry will always be close to his heart and is grateful for the many congregations and ministries he has served over the years in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Texas. He was especially proud of his work supporting the immigrant population in Rock County, WI, developing an immigrant support network of churches and non-profits during the first months of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Bishop Malpica couldn’t do this work without the support of his wife, Jessica, and two young boys, Javier and Ruben. He is excited to keep on “Cultivating Life-Giving Relationships Rooted in God’s Love” in the La Crosse Area Synod, the Driftless Area and with partners around the world.
Rev. Dione Stepanek
Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop
Pastor Dione works closely with congregations and rostered leaders to assist with pastoral transitions and call processes, strategic planning and visioning, and stewardship and mission. Through all this work, she is always asking “how does what we do help us to share the love of Jesus?” As a Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) she serves half of her time as ELCA churchwide staff connecting the three expressions of the church together.
Pastor Dione Stepanek is an alumna of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. During her time in seminary she earned a Master of Divinity with academic concentrations in Global Christianity and Mission Studies. While in seminary she served as an ELCA Horizon International Intern Pastor at The International Church of Bangkok. During the year-long internship, she worked extensively with refugees and asylum seekers - a ministry passion she still holds today.
Since her ordination to Word and Sacrament she has served as Associate Pastor in a large congregation in Waupaca, Wisconsin, Interim Pastor at a two-point parish in Central Wisconsin, and Senior Pastor at a medium-sized congregation in Boulder, Colorado. In addition to her love and appreciation for the global church, Pastor Dione enjoys working with congregations and individuals to explore and discern how to be led by a deep understanding of mission and how to address situations that may get in the way of that purpose.
Brianna Iverson
Executive Administrative Assistant & Office Manager
Brianna serves as the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Bishop and the key point of contact for the synod office. Her duties encompass coordinating Synod Communications and providing administrative support across all congregations, synod committees, and initiatives. This also includes candidacy support and maintaining rostered leader files. Brianna joined the staff in 2020. She is a Luther College alumna with 16 years of experience serving in ministry administrative roles throughout MI, ND, MN, and WI.
Bel Bauer
Part-time Office Assistant & Property Manager
Bel oversees synod property operations and provides office administrative and financial support. She serves on the Synod’s Creation Care Team. Bel is an alumna of Viterbo University and joined the synod staff in 2024.
Jennifer Schmitt
Virtual Bookkeeper
Jennifer Schmitt joined our team in the fall of 2024 when Alice DeFoe went on medical leave. Jennifer is the CEO of Diligent Hands Bookkeeping, LLC. Contact the synod office if you have any financial questions.
Engaging Children Initiative Staff
Rev. Anna Sorenson & Kendra Wieser & Caleb Kvale
We are here to help equip ministry leaders to creatively engage children in prayer and worshipful experiences through:
Movement
Curiosity
The Arts
Story