By Gretchen Roberts
ST. LOUIS (July 22, 2013) — The Rev. Dr. Raymond L. Hartwig was elected today to his sixth three-year term as secretary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) by the church body’s 65th Regular Convention.
With 1,196 registered delegates able to vote and 1,003 votes cast for the election, Hartwig on the first ballot received 839 votes, or 83.7 percent.
Also on the ballet was the Rev. Daryl D. Gehlbach, pastor of Prince of Peace Deaf Lutheran Church in Fridley, Minn., with 164 votes, or 16.4 percent.
Prior to his election as Synod secretary in 1998, Hartwig served as president of the LCMS South Dakota District for 10 years and as a parish pastor. He and his wife, Tamara, attend Zion Lutheran Church in St. Louis.
The LCMS convention is meeting July 20-25 at the America’s Center Convention Complex under the theme “Baptized for This Moment.”
