# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2026_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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Convention Minutes

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Opening Worship Service
Saturday, July 18, 2026

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Opening Divine Service with Holy Communion

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The opening worship service of the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)
was held in the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, under the theme, “Christ is Risen Indeed.” Presiding
was the Rev. Michael Kessler, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, Yuma, Ariz., which hosted the communion service;
the Rev. Sean Daenzer, chaplain and director of LCMS Worship, assisted. The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, Synod
President, preached on the “woes of Paul” and the sine qua non of preaching, the matters of “first importance” in 1
Corinthians 15:12–25. Crucifers, acolytes, altar guild servers, and choir (conducted by John Busarow, director of the
Fort Wayne Children’s Choir) were comprised of children from congregations of Ill., Ind., Mich., and Mo.
participating in LCMS Worship’s “Sing, Pray, and Keep His Ways” project. Dr. Jonathan Rudy, Kantor, Grace
Lutheran Church, Clarksville, Tenn., served as organist and the Red Rock Brass Quintet (Derek Sanchez, Malachy
Rodriguez, Alex Austin, Charles Hopkins, Kevin Bock), Liz Guzman, and Esther Witherell provided instrumental
music.

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[President Harrison’s sermon introduced the convention theme, “Christ is Risen Indeed.” The entire text of
President Harrison’s sermon will be printed in Today’s Business and in the 2026 Convention Proceedings.]

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Session 1
Sunday a.m., July19, 2026

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Matins

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The Rev. Peter K. Lange, First Vice-President, preached on John 20:1–18 in the Office of Matins, with Chaplain
Sean Daenzer serving as liturgist. Organist for the daily services was the Rev. Elect Matthew Machemer, St. Paul
Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.

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[The entire text of First Vice-President Lange’s sermon will be printed in the 2026 Convention Proceedings.]

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Convention Opening and Presentation of Gavel

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After the taking of a convention group photo, President Matthew C. Harrison called the assembly to order and
called on the Rev. Dr. Daniel Harmelink, executive director of Concordia Historical Institute, to present the historic
gavel used, since 1911, by the chair to call Synod conventions officially to order. In presenting the gavel, Dr.
Harmelink spoke of the unique history and inscriptions on the gavel, commissioned to be carved from a log from the
Synod’s original log cabin seminary to celebrate the centenary of C.F.W. Walther’s birth, which is ordinarily on
display at the institute’s Lutheran History Museum in the LCMS International Center. Having received the gavel, the
chairman opened the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

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The President introduced those seated at the front with particular convention roles: the Board of Directors, the
Council of Presidents; the Commissions on Handbook and Constitutional Matters; some members of the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations, executive directors and staff; First Vice-President Peter Lange, assisting the
President; Secretary John Sias and Assistant Secretary Samuel Powell; Parliamentarian Al Gage; convention
timekeeper Rev. Scot Schible; and Mr. Matt Bergholt, assisting with the microphone queue.

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Committee 11: Registration, Credentials, and Elections

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The chair called upon the Rev. James Maxwell, president of the Rocky Mountain District and chairman of
Committee 11 (Registration, Credentials, and Elections), to introduce the electronic queueing and voting systems
provided by Padgett Communications, including the new queuing kiosk system.

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Having done so, Chairman Maxwell proceeded to present the initial registration report, noting that a total of 969
voting delegates had pre-registered for the convention (a quorum requires one quarter of these to be present, or 243).
He reported the following present for the opening of the convention:

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Voting delegates

943

(464 lay and 479 pastors)

2026 Convention Minutes — Sessions 1 and 2 — Page 1