HOUSTON—Delegates to the 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod elected the remainder of the praesidium (second-through-fifth vice-presidents) in balloting this afternoon. Eighteen candidates were presen
On the second ballot (575 votes needed for election), Dr. John Wohlrabe Jr. was elected as second vice-president with 737 votes (64 percent); Dr. Paul Maier was elected as third vice-president (677 votes; 59 percent); and Rev. Daniel Preus was elected fourth vice-president with 600 votes (52 percent). On the third ballot (571 votes needed for election), Dr. Scott Murray was elected fifth vice-president with 571 votes (50 percent).
Wohlrabe, 55, of Geneseo, Ill., is pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church, Genesco, and currently the Synod’s third vice-president. He is a graduate of Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Mich., and received S.T.M. and Th.D. degrees from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy from 1987 to 2009. He served as assistant director of Concordia Historical Institute during 1986-87. From 1982 to 1984, he served as pastor at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Fort Lupton, Colo.
Maier, 80, of Kalamazoo, Mich., currently serves the LCMS as second vice-president. He is professor of ancient history at Western Michigan University. He also served as pastor of University Lutheran Church, Kalamazoo, from 1958 to 1999. Previously, he served as the Synod’s fourth vice-president 
Preus, 61, of St. Louis, Mo., served congregations in Hobart, Ind.; Truman, Minn.; Oak Park, Ill.; and Colorado Springs, Colo., from 1975 to 1995. Beginning in 1995, he served the LCMS as director of Concordia Historical Institute in St. Louis. From 2001-2004, he served as the Synod’s first vice-president. Since 2005, he has served as director of Luther Academy in St. Louis. Preus also has served on the LCMS Board for P
Murray, 52, of Houston, Texas, has served three pastorates from 1983 to the present: St. Paul Lutheran, Cobourg, Ont., Canada; Salem Lutheran, Gretna, La.; and Memorial Lutheran in Houston. He served on the Commission on Theology and Church Relations—as a member from 1995 to 2001 and as vice chair from 1998 to 2001. He has also served as editorial associate for “Logia,” on the Board of Directors of Lutheran Education Association in Houston, and on the Board of Directors of Luther Academy.
The 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is meeting July 10-17 at the George R. Brown Convention Center under the theme “ONE People–Forgiven.” Among the approximately 3,000 participants are some 1,200 clergy and lay voting delegates.
Posted July 13, 2010
