The Rev. Dr. Derek Lecakes of Bayside, N.Y., was elected to his third term as president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Atlantic District at the district’s 61st convention, held July 22–23 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and School in Albany, N.Y. He was elected on the first ballot.
Also elected were:
- Dr. Dien Ashley Taylor of The Bronx, N.Y., as first vice-president (Non-geographic);
- Matthew Staneck of Glendale, N.Y., as second vice-president (Region II);
- David Wackenhuth of Mount Sinai, N.Y., as third vice-president (Region III); and
- Dr. Victor Nelson Jr. of Cairo, N.Y., as fourth vice-president (Region I).
The officers were installed during the convention.
Meeting under the theme “Living Love,” based on 1 Corinthians 13:13, delegates adopted resolutions to:
- Request that the Synod utilize “images and languages that better reflect and serve global diversity” and create anti-racism materials for Synodwide use.
- Ask for (1) an examination of the future feasibility of the Synod and its structure in light of its numerical decline, (2) an audit of Concordia Plan Service’s retirement funding to confirm viability over the next 30 years, (3) the strengthening and expanding of routes to ministry, and (4) the return to longstanding practices in the election of the Synod president.
- Give thanks for the ministry of (now closed) Concordia College New York, Bronxville, N.Y., and explore opportunities for a regional training center for ministry formation and higher education to be formed following Concordia’s closing.
- Pledge to begin new ministries in a sustainable way, support chaplains, encourage house blessings, promote transparency of district governance, encourage the ancient Catechumenate model, and encourage the study of church history.
- Explore the pandemic’s impact on the district with corrective action and petition the state of New York to classify church as an essential workplace and pastors and church workers as essential workers.
Posted Aug. 3, 2022
