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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 108

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

108

joined the Northern and Southern Illinois Districts in hosting the
summer Illinois Lutheran School Administrative Conference.
Deaf Ministry in CID is in a time of transition. In late 2024, the
district’s longtime missionary to the deaf, the Rev. Thomas Phillips,
accepted a call to Michigan. CID probably cannot afford a full-time
replacement, so the search is on to call a sign language–capable
pastor who can serve our districtwide deaf parish on a part-time
basis. Also, since most of the work with the deaf is now handled
through this multipoint parish, with a deaconess in training, the district is attempting to sell the Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf
building in Jacksonville.
Funding the Lord’s work as carried out corporately by the district has been a recurring concern for CID. Overall, while offerings
received by our congregations have been increasing through the
last 25 or so years, what the churches have remitted to the Synod
and district has been declining.
In addition to noting this ongoing concern, the 2025 CID convention took two actions in the area of finances. In one of these,
the district authorized a $3 million funding campaign, to provide
for repairs and upgrades at district-owned facilities, most of which
are mission sites, and to continue building endowments for district
missions. It also reaffirmed “A Dollar for Missions,” which CID
first adopted in 2022 pursuant to the Synod’s 2019 Res. 8-02. Our
2025 district convention reaffirmation seems to have been taken seriously. By the end of 2025, CID received more than twice as much
in “Dollar for Missions” contributions for that year as the total it
had received in either 2023 or 2024.
Since CID’s last Synod convention report, Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Peru disbanded, and Trinity Lutheran Church, LaRose
merged with St. Paul Lutheran Church, Varna. Through the Small
Church Summit and other means, our district continues trying to
counsel very small congregations about their options.
The challenges of ministry sometimes seem overwhelming. The
limitations of us all often frustrate. The perils of our own sins always threaten. Yet, like St. Paul, we can be “as dying, and behold,
we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet
possessing everything” (2 Cor. 6:9–10). For Christ is risen indeed!
Mark R. Eddy, Acting President
R24

Eastern District
The 101st Convention of the Eastern District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was held June 20–21, 2025, on the
campus of First Trinity Lutheran Church in Tonawanda, N.Y. The
convention theme was “Born Again to a Living Hope” drawn from
1 Peter 1:3. The Rev. John L. Pingel, district president, presided.
The Rev. Jason Christ served as convention chaplain, the Rev. Ron
Breight as election committee chair, the Rev. Sean Walters as credentials committee chair, and Mr. Gordon Tresch, Esq. as convention manager.
The Rev. Christopher Esget, East-Southeast Region vice-president, served as Synod’s representative and presented to the convention at several junctures in the convention proceedings. Among
those who addressed the convention were Mr. Jon Allen, who
chairs the Eastern District board of directors; Dee Gyb, president of
the Eastern District LWML; the Rev. Nycholas Grieg, who brought
2026 Convention Workbook

greetings from Pioneer on the Lake; Deaconess Susan Knowles,
who represented Ambassadors of Reconciliation and spoke of her
call to serve as director of deaconess formation at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne; and the Rev. Robert Marshall, who
spoke on behalf of Lutheran Heritage Foundation.
The Rev. Dr. Chris Wicher and the Rev. Dr. John Brunner, former district presidents, brought greetings to the convention. Rev.
Dr. Brunner in his address paid tribute to the late Rev. Dr. David
Belasic, who preceded him in the district presidency.
The Rev. Dan Galchutt served as keynote speaker for the convention and presented several times on the subject of invincible
hope, based on the convention theme. The Rev. Stephen Gewecke,
New Jersey district president, served as banquet speaker. The Servant of Christ award, recognizing exceptional service to Christ
and His people, was presented to three recipients: the Rev. Barry
Keurulainen; DCE Sue Steege; and Mr. Rick Porter.
The Rev. John L. Pingel was elected to a second term as Eastern
district president. The Rev. Jeff Nickel of Buffalo was elected first
vice-president; the Rev. Dr. Ed Grimenstein, Pittsburgh Region,
was elected second vice-president; the Rev. Robert Wiedmayer of
Rochester was elected third vice-president (he subsequently took a
call to the Southeastern District and the Rev. William Dorow was
appointed to the vacancy); and the Rev. John Zimmerman, Philadelphia Region, was elected fourth vice-president. Circuit visitors
for the 11 circuits were elected in circuit caucuses.
The major focus of the convention was the invincible hope
(1 Peter 1:3) we have as Christians, based on the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead. President Pingel in his sermon at the
opening service spoke to the fact that the church has experienced
many a so-called cultural shift across 20 centuries and has not only
survived but prospered. God’s Word is still true and His Holy Spirit
attends the Means of Grace. Congregations large and small have
every reason to be confident and hopeful about the future. Rev. Esget affirmed this message in his closing sermon and then presided
over the installation of elected officers.
LCEF regional vice-president A.J. Sinisgalli was introduced
to the delegates and appreciation was extended to Mr. Rick Porter
who held that position for 17 years.
A number of overtures were approved at the convention, among
them (the first four being addressed to this Synod convention):
•

To Appoint a Task Force to Improve District Representation
on Synod Boards, Boards of Regents, and Commissions

•

To Address Uses of Artificial Intelligence

•

To Bring Resolutions with Strong District Support to the
Convention Floor

•

Thanksgiving for the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene
Creed

•

To Approve a Circuit Realignment (Niagara Circuit and Niagara South Circuit)

In his convention address, President Pingel spoke to the accomplishments of the past three years and also cast a vision for the
future. Among the accomplishments: Small Church Clarity, facilitated by Revs. Billy Brath and John Glover, has been conducted in
all four regions of the district; Regional Listening Sessions, hosted
by district staff, conducted in all four regions; increased assistance
to small churches and church workers; initiatives aimed at revitalization and rebirthing of existing congregations; increased op-