LCMS Announces Candidates for Synod President and Vice-Presidents

Nominations are complete for the offices of president, first vice-president and regional vice-presidents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). The candidates were announced by the LCMS Office of the Secretary. The officers are to be elected at or in conjunction with the 2026 Synod convention.

Five candidates received the highest number of nominating votes for president and have consented to serve if elected. For first vice-president, 21 candidates have consented, a number larger than 20 because ties are included. The names for regional vice-presidents, who will be ranked by the convention as second through sixth vice-presidents, were also announced with their consent to serve. Except for president and first vice-president, these names will make up the ballots for elections at the 2026 Synod convention.

The presidential election will begin six weeks before the convention through internet balloting, and no names can be added to the slate of five. Pastoral and lay voters validly registered by the Synod’s congregations and parishes under Bylaw 3.12.2.3 will vote, along with their substitutes. Registration had to reach the Office of the Secretary by March 8, 2026, and substitutes had to be validly submitted before May 29, 2026. Because a majority is required, the balloting may take more than one round. Results are to be announced at least two weeks before the convention, a clear and orderly process for choosing leaders (Proverbs 11:1).

For first vice-president, the president-elect will select five candidates from the announced list to form the ballot, and at least two of them must be among the top five nominees. That election will take place early in the convention, and no additional nominations may be made from the floor. Regional vice-president elections will follow the order and process set out in Bylaw 3.12.2.7, with no floor nominations allowed.

The May issues of *Reporter* and *The Lutheran Witness* will include questions and answers from each of the five presidential candidates. The 69th Regular Convention of the LCMS will take place July 18–23 in downtown Phoenix under the theme “Christ Is Risen Indeed,” based on 1 Corinthians 15:20–22.

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