The 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in Phoenix ended just before 10 a.m. noon MST today. Final updates and stories from the convention will be available on reporter.lcms.org/category/convention in the next few days.
Headlines
• National Witness passes final resolutions
• Mercy floor committee concludes its business
• Resolutions address Lutheran identity, CUS corporate status, CUAA
• Final day of convention begins
• ‘Today’s Business’ and Convention Minutes
10:21 a.m. Mountain Standard Time
National Witness passes final resolutions
PHOENIX — In the final session of voting on July 23, three resolutions from Floor Committee 1 (FC1, National Witness) were adopted by unanimous voice vote:
- Res. 1-10, “To Confront Increased Idolatry of Our Culture with Clear Confession of Love of Christ and Lutheran Resources in Christian Apologetics”;
- Res. 1-06A, “To Support Lutheran Congregations and Schools in Urban Contexts”; and
- Res. 1-11A, “To Confess God’s Design for the Family.”
Speaking from the floor in favor of Res. 1-11A, the Rev. Peter Bender, voting delegate from the LCMS South Wisconsin District, said, “Consider what’s going on throughout the United States in other denominations in their undermining of God’s design for marriage and for family, what it is to be human, made in the image and likeness of the Triune God of love. I am deeply grateful for our Synod and our clear confession, and this resolution continues that tradition.”
With the adoption of these three resolutions, the work of FC1 came to a close.
9:51 a.m. Mountain Standard Time
Mercy floor committee concludes its business
PHOENIX — In its second and final session before the convention on Thursday morning, July 23, Floor Committee 3 (FC3, Mercy) brought two resolutions to the floor, which were adopted by the body.
- Res. 3-04A, “To Encourage Use of Counseling and Telehealth Services for Care and Retention of Church Workers” (adopted by voice vote); and
- Res. 3-06A, “To Encourage Synod to Respond to the Growing Addiction Crisis” (adopted by voice vote).
As called for by Res. 3-06A, following its passage, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison led the convention in prayer for those facing addiction: “Dear Lord Jesus, look with favor upon those suffering addiction and mental illness of various sorts. Have mercy upon them. Have mercy upon all of us.
“We pray that You would use the mental challenges and difficulties in each of our lives to cause us to be open to those who are suffering from addiction of various sorts. … Cause us to be a witness to Your blessed love, redemption, salvation and also consolation and comfort amidst their struggles. Grant healing according to Your gracious will. We plead it for Your sake. Amen.”
In addition to these, two resolutions — 3-03A and 3-05A — were adopted as part of the day’s Consent Calendar.
8:52 a.m. Mountain Standard Time
Resolutions address Lutheran identity, CUS corporate status, CUAA
PHOENIX — In FC7’s second appearance before the convention on Wednesday, July 22, the body returned to considering Res. 7-07A, “To Clarify Lutheran Identity in Connection with the Concordia Universities,” introduced during the morning session before time ran out.
An amendment was proposed to reverse the order of “CUS BOD” and “Commission on Theology and Church Relations” in the first Resolved:
“Resolved, That the CUS BOD, in consultation with the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, shall define and clarify what is meant by Lutheran identity in connection with our Concordia universities, and shall issue a report to the 2029 Synod convention, at the same time issuing the same report to the boards of regents of our Concordia universities.”
The amendment failed, and the resolution was adopted, as presented, by 84.39%.
FC7 next introduced Res. 7-08A, “To Study Synodwide Corporate Status of Concordia University System.” The resolution outlines several overtures submitted by the LCMS Board of Directors (BOD) and others that are “irreconcilable with one another” and directs the LCMS BOD and CUS BOD, “in consultation with the Institution Advisory Council [formed of the Concordia university presidents], to analyze the relative strengths and weaknesses between retaining the CUS as a corporation and converting the CUS into a commission of the Synod, and propose the best model to the 2029 convention.”
After brief discussion, the resolution passed by 94.13%.
Finally, FC7 presented Res. 7-09A, “To Give Thanks for Work and Ministry of Concordia University Ann Arbor.” The resolution was read in full. After some discussion and a failed amendment, the resolution was voted on as presented, passing by 89.99%. FC7 Chairman Rev. Brady Finnern invited the assembly to stand and sing the Common Doxology, as directed by the resolution, in thanksgiving for the blessing of Concordia University Ann Arbor, and also invited LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison to offer a prayer. Harrison prayed:
“Dear Lord Christ, we poor sinners pray for Your mercy. Forgive us where we have fallen short. Help us to forgive others where we have been wronged. … Bring a new day, we pray, in Ann Arbor. Bring a new day of church work in Ann Arbor. … Bless the leadership of CUWAA. Bless the leadership of our South Wisconsin District and our Michigan District and all those surrounding districts. Please, O Lord, we need Your mercy, and we count upon it. Amen.”
8:36 a.m. Mountain Standard Time
FC 10 concludes business
PHOENIX — Floor Committee 10 (FC10, Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution) made its final appearance before the convention on Wednesday afternoon, July 22.
Earlier in the day, a parliamentary error pertaining to FC10’s previous appearance before the convention was corrected. As explained in the minutes for July 22:
“Having called the convention to order, President Harrison opened the session and relinquished the chair to First Vice-President Lange. The parliamentarian noted his mistake the previous day: that Res. 10-05A [‘To Amend Bylaw 4.2.4 regarding Installation of District Presidents’] changed the bylaws instantly and therefore was not able to be reconsidered. He asked the chair to rule the adopted motion to reconsider out of order. The parliamentarian noted there is yet the possibility of a ‘fix.’ The chair ruled that the motion to reconsider Res. 10-05A was out of order, that it is a continuing breach, that the motion is null and void, and that Res. 10-05A stands adopted, as if the reconsideration never occurred. The parliamentarian apologized and was forgiven.”
After FC10 returned to the floor, it offered an amendment to Bylaw 4.2.4 as adopted: to add, after the words “circumstance(s),” the words, “as determined by the Synod President” so that the resolution reads: “The President of the Synod or his representative shall report on the condition and affairs of the Synod. He shall also deliver the sermon at the opening or convention service. Except in the case of extenuating circumstances as determined by the Synod President, he shall also install or reinstall the elected or re-elected district president prior to the conclusion of the district convention in which he is elected. The district president shall assume office upon a date certain in accordance with the bylaws of the district or practices of the district.”
To a delegate’s question of whether it was possible to amend a previously adopted resolution, the parliamentarian responded, “This is not rescinding, … reconsidering or amending a previously adopted motion. This is a new Bylaw amendment.”
This measure was then adopted by voice vote. Due to Bylaw 7.1.1 (a), it will require ratification in Session 9.
Res. 10-07, “To Respectfully Decline Overtures,” also passed by voice vote. A list of the overtures declined is in the first issue of Today’s Business, Page 185.
8:30 a.m. Mountain Standard Time
Final day of convention begins
PHOENIX — On the final morning of convention, July 23, two resolutions were adopted from the Consent Calendar by voice vote:
- Res. 3-03A, “To Thank God for Work of LCMS Disaster Response and Human Care Partners and To Require Districts to Appoint Disaster Response Coordinators”; and
- Res. 3-05A, “To Commend Efforts to Serve Worker Wellness and Encourage Participation in Concordia Plans Services.”
The Rev. Aaron Yaeger, voting pastoral delegate from the LCMS Southeastern District, proposed a resolution from the floor: “To Publish Convention Delegate Seat Assignments.” The resolution was not adopted, receiving 36.60% of the vote.
Res. 10-08, “To Amend Bylaw 4.2.4 regarding Installation of District Presidents,” came back to the floor. Although the resolution had previously been adopted, an amendment to the resolution that proposed a change in the wording of the Bylaws required further ratification. It passed by voice vote.
Ethan Thompson, voting lay delegate from the LCMS Michigan District, brought forward a resolution, “To Address Modern Day Martyrdom.” Consideration of this resolution will continue later in the morning.
‘Today’s Business’ and Convention Minutes
Follow the progress of the convention through Today’s Business and the official Convention Minutes. Review daily agendas, resolutions, election updates, reports and the official record of convention actions.
• View Today’s Business issues
2026 LCMS Convention
Under the theme “Christ Is Risen Indeed,” the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod met July 18–23, 2026, at the Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix.
There are several ways to get convention news, including:
Web
• lcms.org/convention/national
Video
• lcms.org/convention/national/livestream
Audio
• kfuo.org
Social media
Posted July 23, 2026
