HOUSTON –- Delegates to the 63rd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod returned Dr. Raymond L. Hartwig to his office as Secretary of the Synod during elections here this afternoon (July 16).
Also returned to his position as Vice President-Finance/Treasurer was Thomas W. Kuchta, who ran unopposed.
Hartwig received 708 (59.1 percent) of the votes cast. Rev. Philip J. Esala of Kettering, Ohio, received 425 votes (35.5 percent) and Rev. David L. Mahsman of St. Louis, Mo., received 64 votes (5.3 percent).
Hartwig, 61, of St. Louis, has served as Synod secretary for the last nine years. Previously, he was president of the LCMS South Dakota District for 10 years and also served as a parish pastor.
Kuchta, 65, of St. Louis, is completing his second three-year term in his current office. He also served on various synodical, district, and university committees and boards. He received 100 percent of the 1,147 votes cast.
The 2007 LCMS triennial convention is meeting here July 14-19 under the theme “One Message –- Christ! His Love is Here for You!”
