Synod elects CPH, LCEF, Foundation, CUS, CTSFW board members

LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford

By Rachel Bomberger

PHOENIX — Floor Committee 11 (FC11, Registration, Credentials and Elections) enjoyed a full session on Tuesday afternoon, July 21, as it administered elections for the boards of directors of Concordia Publishing House; Lutheran Church Extension Fund; The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation; the Concordia University System; and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

Detailed election results are as follows:

Concordia Publishing House Board of Directors — Lay (1/4)

First ballot:

Heidi K. Abegg (EN) — 239 votes, 29.47%

Jeff Bull (IW) — 51 votes, 6.29%

Thomas R. Halvorson (MT) — 196 votes, 24.17%

Mark Hemingway (EN) — 113 votes, 13.93%

Seth R. Hinz (MO) — 93 votes, 11.47%

Noreen L. Linke (RM) — 21 votes, 2.59%

Sarah Rausch (SD) — 55 votes, 6.78%

William M. Thompson II (MO) — 43 votes, 5.30%

Second ballot:

Heidi K. Abegg (EN) — 523 votes, 62.26%

Thomas R. Halvorson (MT) — 317 votes, 37.74%

Concordia Publishing House Board of Directors — Lay (2/4)

Jeff Bull (IW) — 78 votes, 9.08%

Thomas R. Halvorson (MT) — 441 votes, 51.34%

Mark Hemingway (EN) — 132 votes, 15.37%

Seth R. Hinz (MO) — 92 votes, 10.71%

Noreen L. Linke (RM) — 25 votes, 2.91%

Sarah Rausch (SD) — 53 votes, 6.17%

William M. Thompson II (MO) — 38 votes, 4.42%

Concordia Publishing House Board of Directors — Lay (3/4)

Jeff Bull (IW) — 81 votes, 9.19%

Mark Hemingway (EN) — 467 votes, 53.01%

Seth R. Hinz (MO) — 144 votes, 16.35%

Noreen L. Linke (RM) — 43 votes, 4.88%

Sarah Rausch (SD) — 79 votes, 8.97%

William M. Thompson II (MO) — 67 votes, 7.60%

Concordia Publishing House Board of Directors — Lay (4/4)

First ballot:

Jeff Bull (IW) — 102 votes, 11.59%

Seth R. Hinz (MO) — 286 votes, 32.50%

Noreen L. Linke (RM) — 65 votes, 7.39%

Sarah Rausch (SD) — 143 votes, 16.25%

William M. Thompson II (MO) — 284 votes, 32.27%

Second ballot:

Seth R. Hinz (MO) — 339 votes, 38.09%

Sarah Rausch (SD) — 161 votes, 18.09%

William M. Thompson II (MO) — 390 votes, 43.82%

Third ballot:

Seth R. Hinz (MO) — 360 votes, 40.91%

William M. Thompson II (MO) — 520 votes, 59.09%

Lutheran Church Extension Fund — Board of Directors — Ordained

First ballot:

Michael L. Kumm (SD) — 430 votes, 49.09%

Kevin D. Robson (MO) — 215 votes, 24.54%

Blaise C. Sedney (SE) — 231 votes, 26.37%

Second ballot:

Michael L. Kumm (SD), 556 votes, 63.25%

Blaise C. Sedney (SE), 323 votes, 36.75%

Lutheran Church Extension Fund — Board of Directors — Lay (1/3)

First ballot:

Jason Behr (SW) — 90 votes, 10.29%

Matthew W. Hurtienne (EN) — 92 votes, 10.51%

Julie A. Johnson (SI) — 392 votes, 44.80%

Jonathan H. Kramer (MO) — 98 votes, 11.20%

Gretchen A. Roberts (MDS) — 143 votes, 16.34%

Ryan Weir (KS) — 60 votes, 6.86%

Second ballot:

Julie A. Johnson (SI) — 617 votes, 72.16%

Gretchen A. Roberts (MDS) — 238 votes, 27.84%

Lutheran Church Extension Fund — Board of Directors — Lay (2/3)

First ballot:

Jason Behr (SW) — 56 votes, 6.31%

Matthew W. Hurtienne (EN) — 82 votes, 9.24%

Jonathan H. Kramer (MO) — 295 votes, 33.26%

Gretchen A. Roberts (MDS) — 409 votes, 46.11%

Ryan Weir (KS) — 45 votes, 5.07%

Second ballot:

Jonathan H. Kramer (MO) — 347 votes, 39.34%

Gretchen A. Roberts (MDS) — 535 votes, 60.66%

Lutheran Church Extension Fund — Board of Directors — Lay (3/3)

Jason Behr (SW) — 81 votes, 9.19%

Matthew W. Hurtienne (EN) — 144 votes, 16.35%

Jonathan H. Kramer (MO) — 548 votes, 62.20%

Ryan Weir (KS) — 108 votes, 12.26%

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation Board of Trustees — Ordained

Mark L. Huff (MI) — 250 votes, 28.41%

Todd C. Riordan (IN), 630 votes, 71.59%

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation Board of Trustees — Lay

First ballot:

Glenn R. Pittsford (TX) — 160 votes, 18.37%

Franklin E. Simek Jr. (SI) — 310 votes, 35.59%

Mark O. Swenson (MNS) — 401 votes, 46.04%

Second ballot:

Franklin E. Simek Jr. (SI) — 383 votes, 44.33%

Mark O. Swenson (MNS) — 481 votes, 55.67%

Concordia University System Board of Directors — Ordained

Jacob C. Bobby (SD) — 236 votes, 26.64%

Matthew E. Borrasso (SE) — 154 votes, 17.38%

Mark S. Nuckols (SW) — 496 votes, 55.98%

Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Board of Regents — Ordained (1/2)

First ballot:

Randall L. Golter (IE) — 97 votes, 10.91%

Timothy M. Klinkenberg (PSW) — 174 votes, 19.57%

Korey D. Maas (MI) — 343 votes, 38.58%

David P. Ramirez* (SW) — 207 votes, 23.28%

Jeffrey E. Skopak (SE) — 68 votes, 7.65%

Second ballot:

Timothy M. Klinkenberg (PSW) — 197 votes, 22.16%

Korey D. Maas (MI) — 505 votes, 56.81%

David P. Ramirez* (SW) — 187 votes, 21.03%

Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Board of Regents — Ordained (2/2)

First ballot:

Randall L. Golter (IE) — 101 votes, 11.43%

Timothy M. Klinkenberg (PSW) — 313 votes, 35.41%

David P. Ramirez* (SW) — 385 votes, 43.55%

Jeffrey E. Skopak (SE) — 85 votes, 9.62%

Second ballot:

Timothy M. Klinkenberg (PSW) — 409 votes, 45.80%

David P. Ramirez* (SW) — 484 votes, 54.20%

Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Board of Regents — Commissioned

Matthew C. Janssen (MO) — 245 votes, 28.13%

Mark W. Meehl (NEB) — 626 votes, 71.87%

Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Board of Regents — Lay

First ballot:

Elizabeth R. Killinger (TX) — 266 votes, 29.82%

Michael D. Lange (PSW) — 225 votes, 25.22%

Christian A. Preus (MNS) — 401 votes, 44.96%

Second ballot:

Elizabeth R. Killinger (TX) — 407 votes, 45.58%

Christian A. Preus (MNS) — 486 votes, 54.42%

* 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:

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• lcms.org/convention/national

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• lcms.org/convention/national/livestream

Audio

• kfuo.org

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• facebook.com/lcmsconvention

Email

• lcms.org/reporter-signup

Posted July 21, 2026