Meet Pastor Dehning

Our Faithful Undershepherd

The Rev. K.C. Dehning was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, on January 22, 1960. He was baptized into the Christian faith at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, Kansas on February 7, 1960, and made a personal public confession of this faith and a lifelong pledge of fidelity to Christ in the Rite of Confirmation at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hooper, Nebraska on April 7, 1974.

Pastor Dehning graduated from Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska (12/12/84), with a B.A. degree in Speech/Drama.  After working in the Food Service Industry, he enrolled at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and graduated (5/17/91) with a Master of Divinity degree.  Pastor Dehning was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry on June 16, 1991, in St. John Lutheran Church, Groton, South Dakota.

While a student at Concordia-Seward, Pastor Dehning met his wife, Terri (nee Elkins).  They were married on May 24, 1985.  Terri graduated from Concordia-Seward (May 1987) with a B.S. degree in Education and taught pre-school while Pastor Dehning attended the seminary.  The Lord has blessed Pastor and Terri with two daughters, one son, two sons-in-law, and one grandson. The Dehnings also own two cats.

Pastor Dehning served his vicarage year at Christ Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska; and has served as Associate Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska; as Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Wheaton, Kansas; Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington, Kansas; Redeemer Lutheran Church, Warsaw, Indiana; and Trinity Lutheran Church, Culver, Indiana prior to serving St. James.  

In addition to spending time with his family, Pastor Dehning’s hobbies and interests include:  reading, listening to music, watching movies and TV shows, and following his favorite sports teams.

Pastor Dehning began serving St. James on June 1, 2009.