Northwest District elects Von Behren

Von Behren

Delegates of the Northwest District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) met for their 67th regular convention June 19–21 in Spokane, Wash. The convention theme, drawn from 1 Timothy 1:5, was “The Aim of Our Charge is Love.” Delegates elected the Rev. Dr. Michael T. Von Behren, Portland, Ore., on the first ballot. Von Behren had previously filled the term of former district president, the Rev. Dr. Paul A. Linneman, who retired in May 2024.

Also elected were:

Rev. Eric T. Lange, Gresham, Ore., as first vice-president;

Rev. Jonathan M. Dinger, Pocatello, Idaho, South Idaho Region, as second vice-president;

Rev. Michael Warmbier, Cornelius, Ore., Oregon Region, as third vice-president;

Rev. Brian Bowes, Okanogan, Wash., Inland Empire Region, as fourth vice-president; and

Rev. Timothy Bayer, Tacoma, Wash., Puget Sound Region, as fifth vice-president.

All elected officers were installed during the convention.

Delegates adopted 11 resolutions, including to:

Strengthen participation of commissioned ministers at district conventions by encouraging calling entities to fund expenses of advisory delegates to convention and use advisory polling preceding each vote on resolutions;

Memorialize the LCMS to support and clarify the prior approval process by ensuring transparency and availability of the decisions of prior approval panels; and

Memorialize the LCMS to retain all currently approved routes of pastoral formation and encourage recruitment to all currently approved educational pathways to ordination without preference of one over another.

The Rev. Anthony Oliphant is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Elmhurst, Ill.

Posted Aug. 1, 2025