Presidential election to remain electronic, with call for increased participation

By Stacey Eising

PHOENIX — For most of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) history prior to its 2010 convention, the election of the LCMS president was held during the convention, as are the elections of all other elected positions that serve the Synod.

2010 Res. 8-17 changed this process, introducing an electronic voting process and opening the election of the Synod president to all of the congregations of the Synod. This necessitates that the election be held in advance of the convention, and sometimes that it be drawn out over a period of weeks as run-off votes are conducted.

In his report at the opening of the 69th Regular Convention of the LCMS on July 19, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison advocated for a return to the historic practice of electing the president at convention, noting the low percentage of eligible congregations that vote (59% in 2019 and 54% in 2023), the technological challenges that have plagued the process, and the “shameful online activity and vitriol” visible to the whole world throughout the electronic election process, especially when it is drawn out over weeks.

In response to this call, Floor Committee 9 (FC9, Structure and Administration) presented Res. 9-18, “To Amend Bylaw 3.12.2 to Elect the Synod President at Convention,” to the floor on Wednesday morning, July 22 (the text appeared in Issue 2B of Today’s Business). A delegate immediately proposed as a substitute resolution Res. 9-15, “To Increase Congregation Participation in Election of Synod President,” which had originally been proposed by FC9 and called for attempts to increase congregational participation in the electronic election. (Res. 9-18 had supplanted this resolution.)

In the ensuing debate, delegates for the substitute resolution argued that the wider representation possible under the electronic system should continue to be pursued, and that an at-convention election increases the political rancor of the convention itself and political tension within circuits around the selection of delegates. Delegates against the substitute resolution argued that the convention is the decision-making body of the Synod and thus it is appropriate for this election to be handled by that body; that attempts to increase congregational voter participation in the past have been unsuccessful; and that internal political tension at the LCMS convention is preferable to more public, visible online politics.

The substitute resolution passed with 69.40% of the vote. This adoption “killed” Res. 9-18, retaining the online, pre-convention election process for Synod president.

Res. 9-15 seeks to increase congregational voter participation in a number of ways — including encouraging congregations to complete and regularly update their congregational profiles in the LCMS Information Support Network.

In his remarks after the resolution was passed, FC9 Chairman Rev. Justin Panzer implored congregations to do so:

“On behalf of the Council of Presidents, especially the district presidents and Secretary Sias, I’d like to point out that in our Handbook, it actually [calls] three different times for congregations to send in their yearly statistics. So … if you could please encourage your congregation to send in those yearly statistics, to please make sure that you also have … at least a handful of congregational emails on hand, that’s going to make this process of [Res.] 9-15 much smoother. You’ll be able to communicate not only with the district but also with the Synod a lot [more easily]. And so, I would just plead with you to do that.”

The resolution also directs LCMS district presidents to educate their congregations on their right to vote and on the voting process, and it directs circuit visitors to work with vacant congregations to help them understand the voting process and register to vote.

More information on the process of nominating and electing LCMS presidents can be found in Step 4A and Step 4C of the Guide to Triennium Phases.

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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