Credit: phanlop88, freedigitalphotos.net
This week marks a new process approved by the 2010 Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for the election of LCMS president. In previous years the president was elected by 1,200 delegates during the convention. That process will not be used this year.
This year the ballots will be cast by the pastoral and lay delegates who actually attended last year’s convention of the district in which their congregation holds its LCMS membership. The number of thusly qualified delegates is approximately 8,000. The new process provides a broader representation and brings the election much closer to individual LCMS congregations.
This year’s election will be held June 22-25. Electronic password protected ballots will be sent to all certified pastoral and lay district convention delegates, who will cast their electronic ballot within the stipulated period. If a majority vote is received by one of the three candidates nominated months ago by congregations of the Synod, the election is completed.
If no majority is achieved, a second ballot will be sent. It will contain the names of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes on the first ballot. One of those two candidates will very likely receive a majority vote and the results will be announced a few weeks prior to the national convention in St. Louis July 20-25.
As most of us who have had the privilege of voting in any kind of election will readily testify, it’s not easy to know for sure which candidate in any election is most qualified. That’s the case with national, state and municipal elections. It’s also true of church body elections, especially at the district level and most especially at the national level.
Voters faced with casting a ballot want and need information about the candidates. Especially in this case, LCMS voters need to know if the candidates represent the perspectives, values, hopes and dreams the voters have for the future of the LCMS. Do they have the personal integrity, pastoral heart and professional experience necessary for the task? It’s not always easy to know.
Here’s my suggestion, humbly and respectfully offered. Ask your district president for his counsel. Unless the pastoral and lay delegates from your congregation did not attend last year’s triennial district convention, your congregation participated in your district president’s election. He is a trusted leader in your midst. And he knows all three nominees for LCMS president.
So, if you are one of last year’s district convention delegates who will be electing the LCMS president this week, why not seek the counsel of your district president regarding the candidates on the ballot? And if you are a delegate to the national Synod convention in July, why not seek that same counsel regarding candidates for the other officers and board members to be elected?
To assist you in that process, I’ve attached below my signature at the end of this article a list of all 35 district presidents, their office phone number and email address. I’m sure your district president would appreciate hearing from you and will be happy to respond.
If you will not be participating in either the pre-convention presidential election or the elections during the convention, feel free to forward this article to someone who will be involved in those elections. Perhaps that someone will be eternally or, at least, momentarily grateful. J
And don’t forget to pray for the blessing of our Lord on this important ecclesiastical election!
LCMS District Presidents – Spring 2013
Atlantic District
Dr. David H. Benke
914-337-5700 x2 (O)
E-MAIL: dhbad@aol.com
California-Nevada-Hawaii District
Dr. Robert D. Newton
925-245-4000/866-264-6079 (O)
E-MAIL: prescnh@cnh-lcms.org
Central Illinois District
Rev. Mark A. Miller
217-793-1802 x1 (O)
E-MAIL: mmiller@cidlcms.org; president@cidlcms.org
Eastern District
Dr. Chris C. Wicher
716-634-5111 x12 (O)
E-MAIL: chris.wicher@lcmsed.org
English District
Dr. David P. Stechholz
248-476-0039/800-755-9335 x20 (O)
E-MAIL: DStechholz@EnglishDistrict.org
Florida-Georgia District
Rev. Gregory S. Walton
407-857-5556/877-457-5556 x8 (O)
E-MAIL: gwalton@flga-lcms.org
Indiana District
Rev. Daniel P. May
260-423-1511/800-837-1145 x2204 (O)
E-MAIL: dan.may@in.lcms.org
Iowa District East
Dr. Brian S. Saunders
319-373-2112 (O)
E-MAIL: bsaunders@lcmside.org
Iowa District West
Dr. Paul G. Sieveking
515-576-7666 (O)
E-MAIL: paul.sieveking@idwlcms.org
Kansas District
Rev. Keith E. Kohlmeier
785-357-4441/800-357-4421 x200 (O)
E-MAIL: kekohl@kslcms.org
Michigan District
The Reverend David P. E. Maier
734-665-4248/888-225-2111 x233 (O)
E-MAIL: david.maier@michigandistrict.org
Mid-South District
Dr. Roger C. Paavola
901-373-1343/866-373-1343 (O)
E-MAIL: rpaavola@mid-southlcms.com
Minnesota North District
Rev. Donald J. Fondow
218-829-1781 (O)
E-MAIL: don.fondow@mnnlcms.org
Minnesota South District
Dr. Dean W. Nadasdy
952-223-2150 (O)
E-MAIL: dean.nadasdy@mnsdistrict.org
Missouri District
Dr. Ray G. Mirly
314-590-6200 (O)
E-MAIL: ray.mirly@mo.lcms.org
Montana District
Rev. Terry R. Forke
406-259-2908 (O)
E-MAIL: forke@mtdistlcms.org
Nebraska District
Rev. Russell L. Sommerfeld
402-643-2961/888-643-2961 x1004 (O)
E-MAIL: russs@ndlcms.org
New England District
Rev. Timothy Yeadon
413-783-0131 x11 (O)
E-MAIL: tyeadon@ned-lcms.org
New Jersey District
Dr. Anthony J. Steinbronn
908-233-8111 x11 (O)
E-MAIL: steinbronna@njdistrict.org
North Dakota District
Dr. James A. Baneck
701-751-3424 (O)
E-MAIL: ndlcmspres@midconetwork.com
North Wisconsin District
Rev. Dwayne M. Lueck
715-845-8241/x17 (O)
E-MAIL: Dwayne@nwdlcms.org
Northern Illinois District
Rev. Dan P. Gilbert
708-449-3020/888-708-5267 (O)
E-MAIL: dan.gilbert@ni.lcms.org
Northwest District
Rev. Paul A. Linnemann
503-288-8383/888-693-5267 x127 (O)
E-MAIL: paull@nowlcms.org
Ohio District
Rev. Terry L. Cripe
440-235-2297/800-901-2297 (O)
E-MAIL: cripet@oh.lcms.org
Oklahoma District
Rev. Barrie E. Henke
405-348-7600 (O)
E-MAIL: bhenke@htlcok.org
Pacific Southwest District
Dr. Larry A. Stoterau
949-854-3232/888-PSD-LCMS x201 (O)
E-MAIL: larry.stoterau@psd-lcms.org
Rocky Mountain District
Rev. Allen D. Anderson
303-695-8001 x102 (O)
E-MAIL: rmdpresidentanderson@gmail.com
SELC District
Dr. Carl H. Krueger, Jr.
414-698-7208 (O)
E-MAIL: selcpres@wi.rr.com
South Dakota District
Dr. Dale L. Sattgast
605-361-1514 (O)
E-MAIL: sdpres@midco.net
South Wisconsin District
Rev. John C. Wille
414-464-8100 x14 (O)
E-MAIL: wille@swd.lcms.org
Southeastern District
Dr. John R. Denninger
703-971-9371/800-637-5723 x202 (O)
E-MAIL: jdenninger@se.lcms.org
Southern District
Rev. Kurtis D. Schultz
504-282-2632 (O)
E-MAIL: president@southernlcms.org
Southern Illinois District
Rev. Timothy J. Scharr
618-234-4767 (O)
E-MAIL: sidpresident@sidlcms.org
Texas District
Rev. Kenneth M. Hennings
512-926-4272/800-951-3478 x250 (O)
E-MAIL: hennings@txdistlcms.org
Wyoming District
Rev. Richard O. Boche
307-265-9000 (O)
E-MAIL: wypres@aol.com
Perspectives 