Official notice: 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

The 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod will convene at the Phoenix Convention Center on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Open hearings for all floor committees (8:30 a.m.–noon) and an all-delegate orientation session (1:30–3 p.m.) and dinner (5:30 p.m.) will precede the opening Divine Service (7 p.m.). Sunday morning worship (8 a.m.) will immediately precede the first business session of the convention.

From Sunday through Wednesday, convention business will adjourn at 6 p.m. The convention will conclude at 12 p.m. on Thursday, July 23. All registered voting delegates, advisory delegates and advisory representatives are expected to attend all convention sessions until the close of convention (Bylaws 3.1.2.2 [d], 3.1.5.2) as they have been duly elected or appointed by their district or organization.

The 2026 Convention Workbook containing the reports and overtures to be considered by the convention will be posted on the Synod’s website by April 25 and subsequently mailed to all registered voting and advisory delegates; alternate delegates; officers of the Synod and members of boards, commissions and councils; as well as other registered advisory representatives. Comments to floor committees regarding any of the content of the Workbook may be submitted to the Office of the Secretary no later than May 16.

In June, the first issue of Today’s Business, containing the proposed resolutions drafted by the floor committees, will be posted on the Synod’s website and mailed to all registered voting and advisory delegates of the convention; all officers of the Synod and members of boards, commissions and councils; and other registered advisory representatives. Delegates are encouraged to learn the sentiments of those they will be representing by arranging meetings to discuss the proposed resolutions.

Reactions to the resolutions should be addressed in writing directly to the chairmen of the floor committees at least one week prior to the convention for consideration during the July 18 committee meetings. Opportunity to address the floor committees personally will be provided during the July 18 (8:30 a.m.–noon) open hearings. Changes made to the proposed resolutions will be reported in subsequent daily issues of Today’s Business, distributed to delegates prior to the morning sessions of the convention.

The following key dates are important to be aware of to best prepare for full convention participation.

April 25 The 2026 Convention Workbook containing the reports and overtures to be considered by the convention will be posted on the Synod’s website and subsequently mailed to all registered voting and advisory delegates of the convention; all officers of the Synod; and members of boards, commissions and councils, as well as other registered advisory representatives.

May 16 Comments to floor committees regarding any of the content of the Workbook must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary.

May 29–June 1 Of the 11 floor committees, 10 will meet in St. Louis, May 29–June 1 (“Floor Committee Weekend”) to review submitted overtures and draft proposed resolutions. Floor Committee 11 — Registrations, Credentials and Elections — will meet in Phoenix July 18 to prepare for convention elections.

Shortly after Floor Committee Weekend, the first issue of Today’s Business, containing proposed resolutions drafted by the floor committees, will be posted on the Synod’s website and mailed to all registered voting and advisory delegates of the convention; all officers of the Synod; and members of boards, commissions and councils, as well as other registered advisory representatives.

July 11 Responses to the proposed resolutions published in the first issue of Today’s Business are due no later than one week prior to the convention. Responses should be submitted in writing directly to the chairman of the appropriate floor committee. Floor committee chairmen are listed in the Convention Workbook.

July 18

8:30 a.m.–noon: Open hearings for floor committees will be held the morning of July 18. This is an opportunity for anyone (including those who are not convention delegates or representatives) to address the floor committees personally. Floor committees may make changes to proposed resolutions published in the first issue of Today’s Business. Any changes made to the proposed resolutions will be published in subsequent daily issues of Today’s Business, available in the convention hall prior to the morning sessions.

1:30–3 p.m.: A convention orientation session will be held in the Phoenix Convention Center (3rd floor). All voting and advisory delegates and advisory representatives are expected to attend this orientation to review instructions and information regarding participation in convention business and activities.

5:30 p.m.: A delegate dinner will be held, with all voting and advisory delegates expected to attend. Advisory representatives invited to attend will be notified beforehand if their attendance is expected. Individuals who are not serving as a delegate or representative and wish to attend the delegate dinner must purchase a dinner ticket in advance.

7 p.m.: Opening Convention Worship Celebration with Holy Communion, Phoenix Convention Center (3rd floor). This service is open to the public, and the surrounding Phoenix community is encouraged to attend. Preservice music begins at 7 p.m.; the service is expected to conclude by 9 p.m.

July 19

8 a.m.: Sunday morning worship will immediately precede the first business session of the convention, followed by the presentation of the gavel and the opening of convention business.

EXHIBITORS

All convention attendees are encouraged to visit the Exhibitor Hall, open as follows:

Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Sunday, July 19, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m.

Monday, July 20, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tuesday, July 21, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

CHANGE IN AVAILABILITY TO SERVE

If a voting or advisory delegate is unable to serve, the district secretary should be informed immediately so that an alternate delegate may be properly registered through the Office of the Secretary.

FLOOR COMMITTEES

The Synod president has appointed 11 floor committees to review overtures that deal with a specific set of topics and develop proposed resolutions for the convention delegation to consider. The list of floor committees and members is printed in the Convention Workbook and available at lcms.org/convention/national.

HOUSING

All registered delegates and advisory representatives should have received housing and travel information by this time. If this is not the case, the district office or the entity represented should be contacted.

ON-SITE REGISTRATION

Delegates and representatives should register upon arrival. Registration will be held in the Phoenix Convention Center (3rd floor) as follows:

Friday, July 17, 1–4 p.m.

Saturday, July 18, 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 19, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.

Monday–Wednesday, July 20–22, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.

Thursday, July 23 8 a.m.–noon

Visitors to the convention are welcome and are not required to register. Members of the working press are asked to register with LCMS Communications, located in the North Building, 2nd floor.

DELEGATE ORIENTATION

An orientation session will be held from 1:30–3 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at the convention center (3rd floor). All voting delegates, advisory delegates and advisory representatives are expected to attend to receive instructions and information for participating in convention business and activities.

TODAY’S BUSINESS SUBMISSIONS

Materials for publication in a daily edition of Today’s Business should be submitted to the Today’s Business office, North Building, 2nd floor, by 3:30 p.m. on the day prior to the desired publication date. All submitters must return by 6:30 p.m. to approve their submissions for inclusion in the next issue of Today’s Business. Personal notices are not published in Today’s Business. The Today’s Business office will be open:

Saturday, July 18, 9 a.m.–6:45 p.m.

Sunday, July 19–Wednesday, July 22, 7:30 a.m.–6:45 p.m.

Thursday, July 23, 7:30–11:30 a.m.

PRAYER AT THE CONVENTION

A prayer chapel will be available in the convention center beginning Saturday, July 18. The chapel will be staffed by convention chaplain Rev. Sean Daenzer, assistant chaplain Rev. Brian Crane and Deaconess Cara Patton, who are available to pray with anyone who desires it. Please note that staff may not always be present. Prayer requests can be submitted in person at the chapel or by email: chaplain@lcms.orgg. Please indicate whether the concern is for private or public prayer. Due to the volume of requests and respect for privacy, not all requests may be addressed publicly during worship.

INDIVIDUAL CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Anyone desiring to confess sins individually to a pastor and receive absolution may do so during the convention. A room adjacent to the chapel will be set aside for this purpose and hours posted — especially Saturday prior to the opening Divine Service and during the noon hour between convention sessions. Confessions can also be made by appointment. Further instructions will be provided.

CONVENTION NATIONAL OFFERING

Contributions for the National Offering will be received during the opening service Saturday, July 18. Delegates with congregational or individual National Offering gifts are encouraged to submit them during this service. Gifts may also be delivered to the Synod’s booth in the Exhibit Hall; however, the opening service is the preferred and more secure option.

INTERNET ACCESS

The Phoenix Convention Center has 1Mbps complimentary Wi-Fi available on the first-floor lobby of each building, in the food court and in the meeting rooms only. The complimentary service is not available in the convention or exhibitor halls, ballrooms or pre-function spaces. It is best suited for light use. Upgraded service is available for your purchase at orders.smartcitynetworks.com.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Voting delegates, advisory delegates and advisory representatives are prohibited from using any form of electronic communication — including email, text, social media or other messaging services — on any device (e.g., laptops, tablets, pagers, laser pointers, personal electronic devices, smartphones or wearable technology such as smartwatches, activity trackers and similar devices). Voting delegates, advisory delegates and advisory representatives may use their laptop computers, tablets and smartphones within the convention hall (Halls AB) only if all communications are disabled (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular and infrared communications must be turned off or devices must be set to airplane mode).

For more information, visit lcms.org/convention.

Rev. Dr. John W. Sias, Secretary
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Posted April 30, 2026