Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2026

Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2026 ConventionElections · senior officers

The 2026 nomination slates.

51 nominees received 3,878 total nominations across the seven senior-officer offices the 2026 convention will fill. The Synod President is elected by internet ballot of all member congregations, June 6–30; the First Vice-President is elected by floor delegates from a slate the President-elect chooses; the five Regional Vice-Presidents are elected by floor delegates from the published top nominees.

First ballot complete. Harrison led with 43.8% but fell short of a majority, ahead of Biermann at 39.0%. The race goes to a second ballot, June 13 to 16, 2026.

Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2026 ConventionInternet ballot

Synod President

Internet balloting June 6–30, 2026 (six weeks before convention). Multiple rounds allowed until a candidate receives a majority. Open to all eligible LCMS congregations.

First ballot complete

Reported 2026-06-10

A majority of valid ballots is required to elect on the first ballot. No candidate reached the threshold, sending the race to a second ballot between the two top finishers, Harrison and Biermann.

  • Matthew C. Harrison43.8% · 2,050 votes
  • Joel D. Biermann39.0%
  • Benjamin T. Ball7.9%
  • Brady L. Finnern6.9%
  • Peter K. LangeEliminated2.4%
NOMINATIONS · FEB 2026FIRST BALLOT · JUNE 10Harrison · 51.2%43.8% (−7.4)Biermann · 19.0%39.0% (+20.0)Ball · 17.7%7.9% (−9.8)Finnern · 8.4%6.9% (−1.5)Lange · 3.7%2.4% (−1.3)
Each band runs from the candidate’s share of the 1,758 congregational nominations to his share of the first-round ballots; the parenthetical is the change in share points. The Synod does not publish data linking individual congregations’ nominations to their votes, so the bands show share change by candidate, not tracked voter movement between candidates.
Ballots returned
4,676
Of registered
5,478
Participation
85.4%

Second ballot: June 13 to 16, 2026.

Analysis & commentary: Ad Crucem News: Shock Collapse for Harrison Reelection Campaign

Nominations (prior to first ballot) · 1,758 total nominations
  1. 1Matthew C. Harrison900
  2. 2Joel D. Biermann334
  3. 3Benjamin T. Ball311
  4. 4Brady L. Finnern148
  5. 5Peter K. Lange65

Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2026 ConventionPresident-elect selects slate

First Vice-President

The President-elect selects five candidates from the nominating slate (with at least two from the top five nominees) for floor election at the convention.

Nominees (21) · 1,004 total nominations
  1. 1Peter K. Lange804
  2. 2Christopher S. Esget50
  3. 3Allan R. Buss36
  4. 4Jeffrey P. Cloeter21
  5. 5Jamison J. Hardy12
  6. 6Timothy P. Ahlman10
  7. 7Lawrence R. Rast Jr.9
  8. 8Dien A. Taylor9
  9. 9David A. Davis8
  10. 10Don R. Stuckwisch Jr.7
  11. 11Jeffrey J. Kloha5
  12. 12Alfonso O. Espinosa4
  13. 13Jeffrey E. Skopak4
  14. 14Deric A. Taylor4
  15. 15Victor J. Belton3
  16. 16Jacob S. Gillard3
  17. 17Byrene K. Haney3
  18. 18Mark R. Hoehner3
  19. 19Eric T. Lange3
  20. 20Scott C. Sailer3
  21. 21Sean A. Willman3

Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2026 ConventionRegional Vice-Presidents

Five regional slates.

The five Regional Vice-Presidents are elected by all floor delegates (not only delegates from the region). Each slate comprises the top five nominees per region; no floor nominations are permitted.

Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2026 ConventionAll elections

Every seat the convention will fill.

Beyond the senior-officer slates above, the convention elects members of every standing Synod board, every commission, every Concordia board of regents, and every synodwide entity board. Counts below are computed from the published Directory of Officers, Boards, and Commissions in the 2026 Convention Workbook.

  • Seats up114across 20 bodies
  • Total elected seats236staggered three triennia
  • Slates published17of 20 ballot-bearing bodies
  • No published slate3Doctrinal Review, Handbook, Const. Matters

Senior officers

President, First Vice-President, the five Regional Vice-Presidents, and Secretary — eight seats up for election in 2026.

8 up

Sources. Senior-officer nomination tallies from lcms.org/convention/national/elections (published 2026-06-10). Board, commission, and regents candidate slates from the published Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees (May 2026 release of Today’s Business). Inventory counts computed from the Directory of Officers, Boards, and Commissions in the 2026 Convention Workbook (pp. xxv–xxx). Three commissions (Doctrinal Review, Handbook, Constitutional Matters) elect under different mechanics and do not publish a public nomination slate.

Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2026 ConventionConditions for election

What each office requires.

62 seats across 18 officer, board, and commission positions will be filled by the 2026 convention. Each has its own duties, qualifications, additional regulations, and currently-serving incumbents (96 in all).

Browse all conditions →Published slates