By Rachel Bomberger
PHOENIX — The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in convention, under the auspices of Floor Committee 11 (FC 11, Registration, Credentials and Elections) has elected new members to the Board for National Mission (BNM), the Board for International Mission (BIM), the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR), and the Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) Board of Governors.
Detailed election results are as follows:
Board for National Mission — Central Region — Ordained/Commissioned
- Douglas L. Rutt (MO) — 327 votes, 36.99%
- Michael P. Schuermann (CI) — 557 votes, 63.01%
Board for National Mission — Great Lakes Region — Ordained/Commissioned
- Peter C. Bender (SW) — 551 votes, 61.36%
- Miriam R. Yakimow (MI) — 347 votes, 38.64%
Board for National Mission — West-Southwest Region — Ordained/Commissioned
First ballot:
- Kevin W. Austin (PSW) — 296 votes, 33.45%
- Thomas E. Chryst (TX) — 411 votes, 49.83%
- Neil S. Vanderbush (TX) — 148 votes, 16.72%
Second ballot:
- Kevin W. Austin (PSW) — 344 votes, 38.26%
- Thomas E. Chryst (TX) — 555 votes, 61.74%
Board for National Mission — East-Southeast Region — Lay
- Rande T. Casaday (EN) — 132 votes, 14.73%
- David L. Daniels (SE) — 454 votes, 50.67%
- Karen A. Dowbnia (EN) — 124 votes, 13.84%
- Janis G. McDaniels* (SE) — 186 votes, 20.76%
Board for National Mission — Great Plains Region — Lay
- Vernon W. Kettelhake (NEB) — 283 votes, 31.73%
- Sarah Rausch (SD) — 609 votes, 68.27%
Board for International Mission — East-Southeast Region — Ordained/Commissioned
- James A. Douthwaite (SELC) — 460 votes, 51.57%
- Gregory D. Jans (NJ) — 164 votes, 18.39%
- Rachel E. Jaseph (SE) — 268 votes, 30.04%
Board for International Mission — Great Plains Region — Ordained/Commissioned
First ballot:
- Richard X. Her (MNS) — 222 votes, 24.67%
- Daniel Preus (MNN) — 420 votes, 46.67%
- Brent D. Smith (NEB) — 258 votes, 28.67%
Second ballot:
- Daniel Preus (MNN) — 494 votes, 54.65%
- Brent D. Smith (NEB) — 410 votes, 45.35%
Board for International Mission — Central Region — Lay
- Adam D. Fosse (KS) — 533 votes, 59.89%
- Seth R. Hinz (MO) — 357 votes, 40.11%
Board for International Mission — Great Lakes Region — Lay
- Kelly Bone (MI) — 354 votes, 39.20%
- John L. Powers (SW) — 549 votes, 60.80%
Board for International Mission — West-Southwest Region — Lay
- Richard P. Fielitz Jr. (CNH) — 147 votes, 16.46%
- Terence Lung (CNH) — 548 votes, 61.37%
- Doss Tychicus* (PSW) — 198 votes, 22.17%
Commission on Theology and Church Relations — Ordained (Parish Pastor)
First ballot:
- Theodore J. Hopkins* (MI) — 186 votes, 20.62%
- Andrew C. Kennell (MO) — 148 votes, 16.41%
- Martin R. Noland (CNH) — 209 votes, 23.17%
- Mark P. Surburg (SI) — 359 votes, 39.80%
Second ballot:
- Theodore J. Hopkins* (MI) — 224 votes, 24.83%
- Martin R. Noland (CNH) — 230 votes, 25.50%
- Mark P. Surburg (SI) — 448 votes, 49.67%
Third ballot:
- Martin R. Noland (CNH) — 351 votes, 39.31%
- Mark P. Surburg (SI) — 542 votes, 60.69%
Commission on Theology and Church Relations — Lay
- Keith G. Chuvala (TX) — 253 votes, 28.24%
- Paul P. Edmon (NE) — 472 votes, 52.58%
- Joseph L. Olson* (SW) — 171 votes, 19.08%
Concordia Historical Institute Board of Governors — Ordained (1/2)
First ballot:
- Rodney A. Benkendorf (MO) — 345 votes, 38.38%
- Mark A. Loest (MI) — 168 votes, 18.69%
- David P. Ramirez (SW) — 197 votes, 21.91%
- Robert V. Roethemeyer (IN) — 189 votes, 21.02%
Second ballot:
- Rodney A. Benkendorf (MO) — 462 votes, 51.33%
- David P. Ramirez (SW) — 240 votes, 26.67%
- Robert V. Roethemeyer (IN) — 198 votes, 22.00%
Concordia Historical Institute Board of Governors — Ordained (2/2)
First ballot:
- Mark A. Loest (MI) — 155 votes, 17.24%
- David P. Ramirez (SW) — 296 votes, 32.93%
- Robert V. Roethemeyer (IN) — 448 votes, 49.83%
Second ballot:
- David P. Ramirez (SW) — 329 votes, 36.35%
- Robert V. Roethemeyer (IN) — 576 votes, 63.65%
Concordia Historical Institute Board of Governors — Lay
First ballot:
- David Duesenberg (MO) — 154 votes, 17.25%
- Alessandro Meregaglia (NOW) — 301 votes, 33.71%
- Matthew C. Phillips (NEB) — 438 votes, 49.05%
Second ballot:
- Alessandro Meregaglia (NOW) — 364 votes, 40.76%
- Matthew C. Phillips (NEB) — 529 votes, 59.24%
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-chair for the committee.
*Indicates nomination from the floor of convention.
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 21, 2026
