Lange re-elected first vice-president; Espinosa joins Praesidium

The Rev. Peter K. Lange listens as he is reelected LCMS first vice-president during the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod on July 19. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Rachel Bomberger

PHOENIX — The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in convention has elected its first vice-president and five regional vice-presidents, who will also serve as the second through sixth vice-presidents for the next triennium:

First Vice-President — Peter K. Lange (MO)

Second Vice-President — Benjamin T. (Ben) Ball (SI)

Third Vice-President — Alfonso O. Espinosa (PSW)

Fourth Vice-President — Christopher S. Esget (EN)

Fifth Vice-President — Nabil S. Nour (SD)

Sixth Vice-President — Eric C. Skovgaard (SW)

Detailed election results are as follows:

First Vice-President

Christopher S. Esget (EN) — 66 votes, 7.13%

Alfonso O. Espinosa (PSW) — 157 votes, 16.95%

Eric T. Lange (NOW) — 77 votes, 8.32%

Peter K. Lange (MO) — 559 votes, 60.37%

Don R. (Richard) Stuckwisch Jr. (IN) — 67 votes, 7.24%

Central Region Regional Vice-President

First ballot:

Benjamin T. (Ben) Ball (SI) — 449 votes, 47.97%

Joel D. Biermann (MO) — 402 votes, 42.95%

Peter J. Brock (IN) — 36 votes, 3.85%

Jeffrey P. Cloeter (MO) — 28 votes, 2.99%

Michael P. Schuermann (CI) — 21 votes, 2.24%

Second ballot:

Benjamin T. (Ben) Ball (SI) — 488 votes, 51.91%

Joel D. Biermann (MO) — 432 votes, 45.96%

Jeffrey P. Cloeter (MO) — 20 votes, 2.13%

East-Southeast Region Regional Vice-President

Wally M. Arp, 121 votes — 13.08%

Christopher S. Esget — 525 votes, 56.76%

Jeffrey E. Skopak — 100 votes, 10.81%

Deric A. Taylor — 82 votes, 8.86%

Luke T. Zimmerman — 97 votes, 10.49%

Great Lakes Region Regional Vice-President

First ballot:

Mark D. Brandt (MI) — 205 votes, 22.31%

Jamison J. Hardy (EN) — 139 votes, 15.13%

David P. Ramirez (SW) — 184 votes, 20.21%

Eric C. Skovgaard (SW) — 343 votes, 37.32%

Sean A. Willman (MI) — 48 votes, 5.22%

Second ballot:

Mark D. Brandt (MI) — 260 votes, 27.93%

David P. Ramirez (SW) — 219 votes, 23.52%

Eric C. Skovgaard (SW) — 452 votes, 48.55%

Third ballot

Mark D. Brandt (MI) — 311 votes, 33.62%

Eric C. Skovgaard (SW) — 614 votes, 66.38%

Great Plains Region Regional Vice-President

David C. Mumme (MNS) — 118 votes, 12.81%

Nabil S. Nour (SD) — 472 votes, 51.25%

Matthew R. Richard (ND) — 144 votes, 15.64%

Scott C. Sailer (SD) — 92 votes, 9.99%

Steven D. (Steve) Turner (IW) — 95 votes, 10.31%

West-Southwest Region Regional Vice-President

Timothy P. (Tim) Ahlman (PSW) — 215 votes, 22.99%

Alfonso O. Espinosa (PSW) — 498 votes, 53.26%

Bradley W. Jurischk (TX) — 34 votes, 3.64%

Eric T. Lange (NOW), 113 votes, 12.09%

Yohannes A. Mengsteab (TX) — 75 votes, 8.02%

The Rev. Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa is congratulated by the Rev. Robert (Bob) Pase upon being elected to serve as LCMS third vice-president. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

During the same session, delegates voted to rank the regional vice-presidents in order from second to sixth vice-president.

Second Vice-President

First ballot:

Benjamin T. Ball (SI) — 417 votes, 44.74%

Christopher S. Esget (EN) — 97 votes, 10.41%

Alfonso O. Espinosa (PSW) — 199 votes, 21.35%

Nabil S. Nour (SD) — 149 votes, 15.99%

Eric C. Skovgaard (SW) — 70 votes, 7.51%

Second Ballot:

Benjamin T. (Ben) Ball (SI) — 493 votes, 52.90%

Christopher S. Esget (EN) — 69 votes, 7.40%

Alfonso O. Espinosa (PSW) — 247 votes, 26.50%

Nabil S. Nour (SD) — 123 votes, 13.20%

Third Vice-President

First ballot:

Christopher S. Esget (EN) — 233 votes, 25.11%

Alfonso O. Espinosa (PSW) — 407 votes, 43.86%

Nabil S. Nour (SD) — 204 votes, 21.98%

Eric S. Skovgaard (SW) — 84 votes, 9.05%

Second ballot:

Christopher S. Esget (EN) — 258 votes, 27.77%

Alfonso O. Espinosa (PSW) — 520 votes, 55.97%

Nabil S. Nour (SD) — 151 votes, 16.25%

Fourth Vice-President

First ballot:

Christopher S. Esget (EN) — 419 votes, 45.25%

Nabil S. Nour (SD) — 384 votes, 41.47%

Eric C. Skovgaard (SW) — 123 votes, 13.28%

Second ballot:

Christopher S. Esget (EN) — 494 votes, 53.12%

Nabil S. Nour (SD) — 436 votes, 46.88%

Fifth Vice-President

Nabil S. Nour (SD) — 618 votes, 66.74%

Eric C. Skovgaard (SW) — 308 votes, 33.26%

Following the election of Nabil S. Nour as fifth vice-president, Eric C. Skovgaard was, by default, named to the position of sixth vice-president of the LCMS.

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

• facebook.com/lcmsconvention

Email

• lcms.org/reporter-signup

Posted July 19, 2026