Merle Freitag is the President of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, serving as President since August 1998. Prior to LCEF, Freitag served as Vice President of Finance for the American Red Cross Biomedical Services. Prior to the Red Cross, he served 32 years in the U.S. Army, most recently as Comptroller of the Army (1991-94) and as Director of the Army Budget (1989-91).

“I have always had a desire to work for the LCMS. LCEF has afforded me that opportunity, for which I am grateful to God. The mission of LCEF is one that appeals to me personally: to make resources and services available to entities and individuals of the LCMS as they pursue the work of the Great Commission.”