Delegates elect 21 members to five Synod boards

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By Stacey Egger

MILWAUKEE — On Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), delegates turned their attention to filling seats on several boards of the Synod and its entities. Floor Committee (FC) 13 Chairman Rev. Scott C. Sailer, president of the LCMS South Dakota District, presented the slate of candidates for each position.

Board for National Mission

• East-Southeast Region, Ordained or Commissioned — Timothy J. Droegemueller (Florida-Georgia District) was elected with 481 votes (57.40%);

• Great Plains Region, Ordained or Commissioned — Craig K. Niemeier (Nebraska District) was elected with 543 votes (61.01%);

• Central Region, Layperson — Stephen Weller (Kansas District) was elected on the second ballot with 523 votes (57.79%);

• Great Lakes Region, Layperson — Crysten Sanchez (Iowa District East) was elected with 740 votes (79.48%); and

• West-Southwest Region, Layperson — Carol A. Hack Broome (California-Nevada-Hawaii District) was elected on the second ballot with 547 votes (58.32%).

Board for International Mission

• Central Region, Ordained or Commissioned — James D. Gier Jr. (Indiana District) was elected on the third ballot with 469 votes (50.16%);

• Great Lakes Region, Ordained or Commissioned — Scott Yakimow (Michigan District) was elected with 486 votes (50.21%);

• West-Southwest Region, Ordained or Commissioned — Terrence Chan (California-Nevada-Hawaii District) was elected on the second ballot with 498 votes (51.55%);

• East-Southeast Region, Layperson — James S. (Jim) Wolf (English District) was elected with 514 votes (52.99%); and

• Great Plains Region, Layperson — John W. Edson (Minnesota South District) was elected with 511 votes (52.63%).

Commission on Theology and Church Relations

• Ordained Minister (parish pastor) — David H. Petersen (English District) was elected on the second ballot with 473 votes (52.56%);

• Commissioned Minister (parish teacher) — Joseph J. (Joe) Gerth (Southern Illinois District) was elected with 543 votes (59.67%); and

• Layperson — Jack D. Kilcrease III (Michigan District) was elected on the second ballot with 501 votes (54.05%).

Concordia Publishing House Board of Directors

• Ordained Minister — Mark Birkholz (Northern Illinois District) was elected on the second ballot with 623 votes (66.07%);

• Commissioned Minister — Pamela J. Nielsen (Missouri District) was elected on the second ballot with 503 votes (53.06%); and

• Layperson (3) — Jill Johnson (Nebraska District) was elected on the fifth ballot with 480 votes (50.10%); Kurt A. Battles (Minnesota North District) was elected on the second ballot with 610 votes (63.48%); and Elaine Graff (Rocky Mountain District) was elected with 508 votes (52.64%).

Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod Board of Directors

• Ordained or Commissioned Minister — Jason M. Braaten (Central Illinois District) was elected with 494 votes (51.89%); and

• Layperson (2) — Jonathan H. Kramer (Missouri District) was elected on the second ballot with 482 votes (50.58%); and Julie Johnson (Southern Illinois District) was elected on the second ballot with 517 votes (55.06%).

FC 13 will bring further elections to the convention (for the Concordia University System Board of Directors and the boards of regents for the Concordia universities and seminaries) on Aug. 2.

View election results

Posted Aug. 2.

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2023 LCMS Convention

Under the theme “We Preach Christ Crucified,” the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod met July 28–Aug. 3, 2023, at the Baird Center in Milwaukee.

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