Floor Committee 11 wraps up elections with CUS regents, Commission on Worship

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By Rachel Bomberger

PHOENIX — Delegates completed their final rounds of elections on Wednesday, July 22, as Floor Committee 11 (FC11, Registration, Credentials and Elections) oversaw the elections of regents to the boards of Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE); Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP); Concordia University Texas (CTX); and Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW).

FC11’s final action of the convention was to administer elections for the newly formed LCMS Commission on Worship, which was reinstated this week by the Synod in convention when it approved Res. 4-06, “To Amend Bylaws to Reinstate Commission on Worship.”

Detailed election results are as follows:

Concordia University, Nebraska (Seward, Neb.) Board of Regents — Lay (2/2)

First ballot:

• Dan Buman (NEB) — 104 votes, 13.47%

• Bruce D. Schultz (KS) — 369 votes, 47.80%

• Douglas Tewes (NEB) — 229 votes, 29.66%

• Stan Ullerich (IW) — 70 votes, 9.07%

Second ballot:

• Bruce D. Schultz (KS) — 547 votes, 64.66%

• Douglas Tewes (NEB) — 299 votes, 35.34%

Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) Board of Regents — Ordained

First ballot:

• Jeffrey P. Cloeter (MO) — 295 votes, 33.83%

• Adam T. Filipek (ND) — 165 votes, 18.92%

• Donald J. Fondow (MNN) — 412 votes, 47.25%

Second ballot:

• Jeffrey P. Cloeter (MO) — 346 votes, 39.91%

• Donald J. Fondow (MNN) — 521 votes, 60.09%

Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) Board of Regents — Commissioned

First ballot:

• John Chilman III (PSW) — 119 votes, 13.82%

• Tia M. Esser (SD) — 363 votes, 42.16%

• Gary L. Volberding (MNS) — 379 votes, 44.02%

Second ballot:

• Tia M. Esser (SD) — 441 votes, 50.81%

• Gary L. Volberding (MNS) — 427 votes, 49.19%

Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) Board of Regents — Lay (1/2)

First ballot:

• Karl Abbott (SE) — 183 votes, 21.21%

• Paul C. Hinz (TX) — 304 votes, 35.23%

• Richard A. Rolf (MI) — 109 votes, 12.63%

• Rosa Summers (MNS) — 267 votes, 30.04%

Second ballot:

• Karl Abbott (SE) — 161 votes, 18.40%

• Paul C. Hinz (TX) — 410 votes, 46.86%

• Rosa Summers (MNS) — 304 votes, 34.74%

Third ballot:

• Paul C. Hinz (TX) — 508 votes, 59.07%

• Rosa Summers (MNS) — 352 votes, 40.93%

Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) Board of Regents — Lay (2/2)

• Karl Abbott (SE) — 194 votes, 22.25%

• Richard A. Rolf (MI) — 91 votes, 10.44%

• Rosa Summers (MNS) — 587 votes, 67.32%

Concordia University Texas (Austin, Texas) Board of Regents — Ordained

First ballot:

• Keith W. Schweitzer (IW) — 188 votes, 21.73%

• Neil S. Vanderbush (TX) — 336 votes, 38.84%

• Richard A. Zeile (MI) — 341 votes, 39.42%

Second ballot:

• Neil S. Vanderbush (TX) — 441 votes, 50.69%

• Richard A. Zeile (MI) — 429 votes, 49.31%

Concordia University Texas (Austin, Texas) Board of Regents — Commissioned

• Christopher R. Marshall (SW) — 286 votes, 33.06%

• Miguel A. Ruiz (TX) — 579 votes, 66.94%

Concordia University Texas (Austin, Texas) Board of Regents — Lay (1/2)

• Jon Allen (EA) — 156 votes, 18.06%

• William Brandt (TX) — 458 votes, 53.01%

• Bob L. Ssekyanzi (TX) — 250 votes, 28.94%

Concordia University Texas (Austin, Texas) Board of Regents — Lay (2/2)

• Jon Allen (EA) — 197 votes, 23.15%

• Bob L. Ssekyanzi (TX) — 654 votes, 76.85%

Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon, Wis.) Board of Regents — Ordained

First ballot:

• Jonathan E. Conner (IW) — 220 votes, 25.11%

• Dwayne M. Lueck (NW) — 239 votes, 27.28%

• Lance A. O’Donnell (SW) — 417 votes, 47.20%

Second ballot:

• Dwayne M. Lueck (NW) — 301 votes, 34.28%

• Lance A. O’Donnell (SW) — 577 votes, 65.72%

Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon, Wis.) Board of Regents — Commissioned

• Jennifer Knox (SW) — 646 votes, 73.91%

• Paul R. Steinhaus (NW) — 228 votes, 26.09%

Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon, Wis.) Board of Regents — Lay (1/2)

First ballot:

• Jon Allen (EA) — 162 votes, 18.69%

• Rande T. Casaday (EN) — 91 votes, 10.50%

• David Lambert (EN) — 357 votes, 41.18%

• Stephen M. Saunders (SW) — 257 votes, 29.64%

Second ballot:

• Jon Allen (EA) — 168 votes, 19.35%

• David Lambert (EN) — 477 votes, 54.95%

• Stephen M. Saunders (SW) — 223 votes, 25.69%

Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon, Wis.) Board of Regents — Lay (2/2)

• Jon Allen (EA) — 188 votes, 21.44%

• Rande T. Casaday (EN) — 74 votes, 8.44%

• Stephen M. Saunders (SW) — 615 votes, 70.13%

Commission on Worship — Ordained (Parish Pastor)

First ballot:

• John M. Berg (SW) — 56 votes, 6.57%

• Steven C. Briel (MNS) — 48 votes, 5.63%

• Jason M. Kaspar (TX) — 89 votes, 10.45%

• David A. Kind (MNS) — 211 votes, 24.77%

• Brent W. Kuhlman (NEB) — 110 votes, 12.91%

• Steven P. Mueller (PSW) — 238 votes, 27.93%

• Daniel C. Moss (OK) — 53 votes, 6.22%

• Sean R. Smith (MDS) — 47 votes, 5.52%

Second ballot:

• David A. Kind (MNS) — 432 votes, 49.71%

• Steven P. Mueller (PSW) — 437 votes, 50.29%

Commission on Worship — Commissioned

First ballot:

• Matthew C. Janssen (MO) — 126 votes, 14.69%

• Darin D. Koenemann (IN) — 126 votes, 14.69%

• Miguel A. Ruiz (TX) — 245 votes, 28.55%

• Paul M. Soulek (NEB) — 209 votes, 24.36%

• Thomas J. Winterstein (MI) — 152 votes, 17.72%

Second ballot:

• Miguel A. Ruiz (TX) — 345 votes, 39.47%

• Paul M. Soulek (NEB) — 342 votes, 39.13%

• Thomas J. Winterstein (MI) — 187 votes, 21.40%

Third ballot:

• Miguel A. Ruiz (TX) — 391 votes, 44.74%

• Paul M. Soulek (NEB) — 483 votes, 55.26%

Commission on Worship — Lay

First ballot:

• Michael Hollman (IN) — 257 votes, 30.34%

• Noreen L. Linke (RM) — 257 votes, 30.34%

• Joseph L. Olson (SW) — 333 votes, 39.32%

Second ballot:

• Michael Hollman (IN) — 288 votes, 32.21%

• Noreen L. Linke (RM) — 236 votes, 26.40%

• Joseph L. Olson (SW) — 370 votes, 41.39%

Second ballot:

• Michael Hollman (IN) — 371 votes, 42.35%

• Joseph L. Olson (SW) — 505 votes, 57.65%

FC 11 is chaired by LCMS Rocky Mountain District President Rev. James B. Maxwell. LCMS New Jersey District President Rev. Stephen A. Gewecke serves as vice-chairman for the committee.

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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.

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Posted July 21, 2026