Synod elects regents for CSL, CUC, CUI, CUNE

(LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Rachel Bomberger

PHOENIX — Returning to the floor for its third session of the day late Tuesday afternoon, Floor Committee 11 (FC11, Registration, Credentials and Elections) oversaw the election of regents to the boards of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL); Concordia University Chicago (CUC); Concordia University Irvine (CUI); and Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE). It will resume its work on Wednesday with the remainder of the CUNE regents, along with those of Concordia University Wisconsin and Concordia University Texas.

Detailed election results are as follows:

Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Mo.) Board of Regents — Ordained (1/2)

First ballot:

Joel A. Brondos (CI) — 345 votes, 41.77%

Warren W. Graff (RM) — 95 votes, 11.50%

Bruce E. Keseman (SI) —142 votes, 17.19%

Richard C. Rudowske Jr. (MO) — 157 votes, 19.01%

Harald G. Tomesch (SW) — 87 votes, 10.53%

Second ballot:

Joel A. Brondos (CI) — 463 votes, 54.41%

Bruce E. Keseman (SI) — 165 votes, 19.39%

Richard C. Rudowske Jr. (MO) — 223 votes, 26.20%

Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Mo.) Board of Regents — Ordained (2/2)

First ballot:

Warren W. Graff (RM) — 102 votes, 11.82%

Bruce E. Keseman (SI) — 415 votes, 48.09%

Richard C. Rudowske Jr. (MO) — 259 votes, 30.01%

Harald G. Tomesch (SW) — 87 votes, 10.08%

Second ballot:

Bruce E. Keseman (SI) — 560 votes, 65.19%

Richard C. Rudowske Jr. (MO) — 299 votes, 34.81%

Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Mo.) Board of Regents — Commissioned

Sarah E. Gaffney (SI) — 283 votes, 32.60%

Michael S. Staub (TX), —585 votes, 67.40%

Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Mo.) Board of Regents — Lay

Michelle M. Kazmierczak (IN) — 320 votes, 37.04%

Noreen L. Linke (RM) — 87 votes, 10.07%

Mark O. Stern (NI) — 457 votes, 52.89%

Concordia University Chicago (River Forest, Ill.) Board of Regents — Ordained

Matthew D. Bean (SE) — 122 votes, 14.12%

Rene G. Castillero (SI) — 166 votes, 19.21%

Lawrence R. Rast Jr. (IN) — 576 votes, 66.67%

Concordia University Chicago (River Forest, Ill.) Board of Regents — Commissioned

First ballot:

Jeremy T. Geidel (NEB) — 276 votes, 31.94%

Nathaneal Hahn (WY) — 412 votes, 47.69%

Paul R. Steinhaus (NW) — 176 votes, 20.37%

Second ballot:

Jeremy T. Geidel (NEB) — 373 votes, 43.22%

Nathaneal Hahn (WY) — 490 votes, 56.78%

Concordia University Chicago (River Forest, Ill.) Board of Regents — Lay (1/2)

First ballot:

Alicia K. Dietrich (SI) — 287 votes, 33.61%

David Walz (NI) — 308 votes, 36.07%

Alison C. Witte (OH) — 100 votes, 11.71%

Mark D. Wolfrum (NI) — 159 votes, 18.62%

Second ballot:

Alicia K. Dietrich (SI) — 370 votes, 42.92%

David Walz (NI) — 388 votes, 45.01%

Mark D. Wolfrum (NI) — 104 votes, 12.06%

Third ballot:

Alicia K. Dietrich (SI) — 444 votes, 52.42%

David Walz (NI) —403 votes, 47.58%

Concordia University Chicago (River Forest, Ill.) Board of Regents — Lay (2/2)

David Walz (NI) — 487 votes, 56.24%

Alison C. Witte (OH) — 95 votes, 10.97%

Mark D. Wolfrum (NI) — 284 votes, 32.79%

Concordia University Irvine (Calif.) Board of Regents — Ordained

Brian L. Kachelmeier (TX) — 558 votes, 65.11%

Elroi Reimnitz (PSW) — 110 votes. 12.84%

Muluneh Taye (CNH) — 189 votes, 22.05%

Concordia University Irvine (Calif.) Board of Regents — Commissioned

Robert S. Fogo (TX) — 399 votes, 47.05%

Sarah E. Gaffney (SI) — 449 votes, 52.95%

Concordia University Irvine (Calif.) Board of Regents — Lay (1/2)

First ballot:

Harry Edmon (NOW) — 70 votes, 8.17%

Laura G. Hemminger (NOW) — 297 votes, 34.66%

Gary C. Nelson (CNH) — 249 votes, 29.05%

Brian T. Yamabe (CNH) — 241 votes, 28.12%

Second ballot:

Laura G. Hemminger (NOW) — 379 votes, 44.48%

Gary C. Nelson (CNH) — 261 votes, 30.63%

Brian T. Yamabe (CNH) — 212 votes, 24.88%

Third ballot:

Laura G. Hemminger (NOW) — 473 votes, 56.78%

Gary C. Nelson (CNH) — 360 votes, 43.22%

Concordia University Irvine (Calif.) Board of Regents — Lay (2/2)

First ballot:

Harry Edmon (NOW) — 83 votes, 9.82%

Gary C. Nelson (CNH) — 377 votes, 44.62%

Brian T. Yamabe (CNH) — 385 votes, 45.56%

Second ballot:

Gary C. Nelson (CNH) — 331 votes, 39.40%

Brian T. Yamabe (CNH) — 509 votes, 60.60%

Concordia University, Nebraska (Seward, Neb.) Board of Regents — Ordained

Scott T. Adle (NEB) — 527 votes, 62.96%

Luther C. Biggs (NEB) — 128 votes, 15.29%

John David K. Zischke (MDS) — 182 votes, 21.74%

Concordia University, Nebraska (Seward, Neb.) Board of Regents — Commissioned

First ballot:

Craig A. Ernstmeyer (MO), 352 votes, 42.21%

Jay A. Krause (SI) — 341 votes, 40.89%

Alan P. Runge (NI) — 141 votes, 16.91%

Second ballot:

Craig A. Ernstmeyer (MO) — 442 votes, 52.81%

Jay A. Krause (SI) — 395 votes, 47.19%

Concordia University, Nebraska (Seward, Neb.) Board of Regents — Lay (1/2)

First ballot:

Dan Buman (NEB) — 95 votes, 11.40%

Christopher P. Heins (MO) — 318 votes, 38.18%

Bruce D. Schultz (KS) — 153 votes, 18.37%

Douglas Tewes (NEB) — 199 votes, 23.89%

Stan Ullerich (IW) — 68 votes, 8.16%

Second ballot:

Christopher P. Heins (MO) — 426 votes, 50.90%

Bruce D. Schultz (KS) — 155 votes, 18.52%

Douglas Tewes (NEB) — 256 votes, 30.59%

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 21, 2026