LCMS COP and BOD Conclude Final Meetings of Triennium

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Council of Presidents (COP) and Board of Directors (BOD) held their final meetings of the triennium on April 25. The COP’s spring meeting began with Rev. Brady Finnern, COP Chairman, welcoming Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan, Missouri District President, back to the COP following an extended leave of absence due to illness. Hagan received a warm round of applause from the group. Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson, Pacific Southwest District President, led a devotion based on Psalm 78, which is also the foundation for the 2026–2029 National Offering, “Christ Is Risen! Tell the Next Generation.”

The COP welcomed placement personnel from the two LCMS seminaries. Rev. Timothy Scharr and Rev. Joel Fritsche from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), and Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Pulse and Rev. Dr. Todd Peperkorn from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), were present. Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Pulse, who is retiring after 14 years as placement director and 21 years on the CTSFW faculty, was honored with applause for his service.

The COP approved calls and assignments, with each district president reading the names of individuals in their district. Of the 157 LCMS congregations that submitted calls for a candidate, 79 received candidates and 78 calls remained unfilled. The COP also received a vacancy report detailing the current state of pastoral and commissioned positions.

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison presented the first part of his report, beginning with an overview of preparations for the 2026 Synod convention. He provided an update on the work of the Offices of National and International Mission as well as Church Relations, highlighting the efforts of Church Relations Director Rev. Dr. Jonathan Shaw and Deputy Director Rev. Michael Frese in maintaining communication with the Synod’s international church partners. “What they’ve done is extraordinary, just extraordinary,” Harrison noted.

LCMS First Vice-President Rev. Peter Lange gave his report, which included updates on the status of pastoral and commissioned colloquy applications in process and a discussion of LCMS Bylaw 2.5.2, which outlines to whom congregations may issue a pastoral call. Lange invited discussion on the implications of the bylaw and appropriate measures for district presidents to take when discovering that a man seeking colloquy is already serving in a congregation.

Placement Committee Chairman Lange provided a report from the committee, inviting COP members to offer input on the placement process. Discussion focused on the desire to improve communication with seminary placement and vicarage offices and to achieve an appropriate balance during the process between the preferences of the congregation and the needs of the candidate.

Source: Read the original report