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Senate Chaplains

Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

The Senate Chaplain typically opens each floor session with a prayer. This is a list of elected Minnesota Senate Chaplains. The Senate Chaplain is typically elected in the odd numbered year, at the start of the biennium. The Senate may also appoint other Senate Chaplains to serve during a floor session. For the names of all appointed Senate Chaplains, please refer to the Journal of the Senate index for the appropriate year. Journal indexes are available online from 1973 to the present.

This page was compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library from information in Minnesota legislative manuals, Journals of the Senate, Senate Research, and other sources. While efforts have been made to verify this information in more than one source, the library cannot guarantee the accuracy of sources; errors are possible. Please report any errors to the Library staff.

Years Chaplain Denomination
2025-2026 Rev. Kirsten Fryer Lutheran (ELCA)
2023-2024 Rev. Dr. Dewayne Davis Congregational
2021-2022 Pastor Mike Smith Assemblies of God
2019-2020 Pastor Mike Smith Assemblies of God
2017-2018 Pastor Mike Smith Assemblies of God
2015-2016 Rev. Dennis Morreim Lutheran (ELCA)
2013-2014 Rev. Dennis Morreim Lutheran (ELCA)
2012 Rev. Phil Shaw Nondenominational
2011 Father David Hennen Catholic
2009-2010 Rev. Kevin McDonough Catholic
2007-2008 Rev. Kevin McDonough Catholic
2005-2006 Rev. Rob Lubben Lutheran
2003-2004 Rev. Albert Gallmon, Jr. Baptist
2001-2002 Dr. Paul J. Dovre Lutheran
1999-2000 Rabbi Stacy Offner Jewish
1997-1998 Thomas Stillday Spiritual Elder
1995-1996 Rev. Marilyn S. Breckenridge Lutheran
1993-1994 Bishop David W. Preus  Lutheran
1991-1992 Rev. Arlen D. Hermodson Lutheran
1989-1990 Rev. Philip J. Weiler Presbyterian
1987-1988 Rev. Philip J. Weiler Presbyterian
1985-1986 Rev. James H. Hanson Lutheran
1983-1984 Sister Michelle McGurran Catholic
1981-1982 Sister Michelle McGurran Catholic
1979-1980 Rev. Nicholas J. Finn Catholic
1977-1978 Rev. Nicholas J. Finn Catholic
1975-1976 Rev. Nicholas J. Finn Catholic
1973-1974 Rev. Nicholas J. Finn Catholic
Rev. Paul Dumke Lutheran
1971-1972 Rev. John J. O’Neill Catholic
Rev. Leman Victor Olsenius Lutheran
1969-1970 Rev. Edward S. Sthokal Catholic
Rev. Leman Victor Olsenius Lutheran
1967-1968 Rev. John C. Abbott Catholic
Rev. Leman Victor Olsenius Lutheran
1965-1966 Rev. Msgr. Raymond A. Ruthowski Catholic
Rev. Leman Victor Olsenius Lutheran
1963-1964 Rev. Max J. Matz Catholic
Rev. Leman Victor Olsenius Lutheran
1961-1962 Rev. Max J. Matz Catholic
Rev. Leman Victor Olsenius Lutheran
1959-1960 Rev. Max J. Matz Catholic
Rev. Clifford Ansgar Nelson Lutheran
1957-1958 Rev. Max J. Matz Catholic
Rev. Clifford Ansgar Nelson Lutheran
1955-1956 Rev. Max J. Matz Catholic
Rev. Clifford Ansgar Nelson Lutheran
1953-1954 Rev. Max J. Matz Catholic
1951-1952 Rev. Joseph Simonson Lutheran
1949-1950 Rev. Joseph Simonson Lutheran
1947-1948 Rev. Joseph Simonson Lutheran
1944E-1946 Rev. Joseph Simonson Lutheran
1943-1944 Rev. Frank Doran D. D. Methodist
1941-1942 Rev. Frank Doran D. D. Methodist
1939 Rev. Frank Doran D. D. Methodist
1937 Rev. Frank Doran D. D. Methodist
1936 Rev. Frank Doran D. D. Methodist
1935 Rev. Mr. M. D. Haferman
1933 Rev. Mr. M. D. Haferman
1931 Rev. Mr. M. D. Haferman
1929 Rev. Mr. M. D. Haferman
1927 Rev. Mr. M. D. Haferman
1925 Rev. Richard S. Read
1923 Rev. Charles Fox Davis
1921 Rev. W. J. Harrington Catholic
1919 Andrew D. Stowe Episcopal Church
1917 Andrew D. Stowe Episcopal Church
1915 Andrew D. Stowe Episcopal Church
1913 Andrew D. Stowe Episcopal Church
1911 Andrew D. Stowe Episcopal Church
1909 B. B. Johnson
1907 J. W. Eckman
1905 Lewis S. Hall
1903 George C. Pollock
1902E H. A. Chouinard
1901 W. W. Lewis
1899 R. N. Joscelyn
1897 Robert Forbes
1895 Robert Forbes
1893 D. A. Tawney
1891 Edw. Savage
1889 E. R. Lathrop
1887 John Allison
1885 N. Hobart
1883 R. Smith
1881 R. Smith
1879 S. G. Gale
1878 E. C. Sanders
1877 E. C. Sanders
1876 Major E. C. Sanders
1875 S. W. Phelps
1874 J. Marvin
1873 J. Marvin
1872 J. Marvin
1871 J. Marvin
1870 A. L. Cole
1869 A. L. Cole
1868 L. J. White
1867 L. J. White
1866 F. A. Noble
1865 F. A. Noble
1864 F. A. Noble
1863 J. O. Rich
1862 Rev. A. S. Fiske
1861 Rev. W. J. Erdman
1859-1860 J. D. Pope
1857-1858 J. V. Van Ingen

Following year: E = Extra (Special) Session

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