David deFreese

David served at Mosaic from 2012 until his retirement in 2023. His responsibilities included collaboratively engaging with the leadership of Mosaic and local agencies to develop effective relationships and partnerships with congregations, judicatories and communities, offering spiritual support during times of significant transition or crisis, promoting the expansion of Mosaic's ministry and providing direction for Rejoicing Spirits, a program that supports Mosaic goal of lifting up the spiritual gifts of people with intellectual disabilities. David graduated from Augustana Sioux Falls, S.D., and earned a master of divinity degree at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He received an honorary doctorate from Midland University in 2003. Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1982, he served three Nebraska congregations before being elected bishop of the Nebraska Synod in 2000. He was re-elected again in 2006 and chose not to stand for re-election in 2012.