Nominee section

Board for National Mission

Candidates for the Board for National Mission.

This reader is built from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees. It is provided as a source-navigation and reading aid. Verify all elections, candidate eligibility, convention procedures, and official ballots against official LCMS convention materials.

Source pages: pp. 44-47

Nominee study-aid caution

This Nominees reader is an AI-assisted, file-extracted study aid. It is not the official ballot, not an official LCMS nominee resource, and not a voting recommendation. Extraction tools can miss names, misplace candidates, omit cross-listed offices, mismatch photos, or format details incorrectly. Always verify every nominee name, office, region, board, commission, page number, and ballot detail against the official LCMS nominee publication and final convention ballot before making voting judgments.

Before comparing candidates, verify this section against the official LCMS nominee publication and final ballot. If a name, office, region, or board assignment appears missing or wrong, report a correction.

Browse Publication Sections

Find nominees by office, board, commission, seminary, university, region, appendix, or index.

Browse Publication Sections

Section source introduction

44 | Board for National Mission

a. Central Region Ordained/Commissioned

Candidates for the Board for National Mission

ORDAINED OR COMMISSIONED MINISTERS

Elect 1 ordained or commissioned minister (Central Region)

(6-year term)

Nominee biographies

11 records

Photo of Michael Paul Schuermann from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 44

Michael Paul Schuermann

Board for National Mission

Also candidate for: Regional Vice-President (Central Reg.) VI. Report on Candidates for the Board for National Mission Elect 1 ordained or commissioned minister (Central Region), 1 ordained or commissioned minister (Great Lakes Region), 1 ordained or commissioned minister (West-Southwest Region), 1 layperson (East-Southeast Region), 1 layperson (Great Plains Region) (6-year term) Duties: Six-year term. Three two-day in-person meetings (in St. Louis) and one one-day internet conference meeting per year. Significant work is done between meetings, especially in communication with the districts of the Synod as to how the Office of National Mission (ONM) can serve effectively and consistently in “coordination and support of district ministries which support congregations and schools.” The board is charged with developing and determining policies and with overseeing ONM implementation of these policies. The board assists in identification of specific goals for the

Open biography

Photo of Kevin W. Austin from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 45

Kevin W. Austin

Board for National Mission

Open biography

Photo of Thomas E. Chryst from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 45

Thomas E. Chryst

Board for National Mission

Open biography

Photo of Peter C. Bender from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 45

Peter C. Bender

Board for National Mission

Open biography

Photo of Miriam Ruth Yakimow from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 45

Miriam Ruth Yakimow

Board for National Mission

Open biography

Photo of David Lee Daniels from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 46

David Lee Daniels

Board for National Mission

Open biography

Photo of Karen A. Dowbnia from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 46

Karen A. Dowbnia

Board for National Mission

Open biography

Photo of Neil Spencer Vanderbush from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 46

Neil Spencer Vanderbush

Board for National Mission

Also candidate for: Board of Regents, Austin d. East-Southeast Region Lay Candidates for the Board for National Mission LAYPERSONS Elect 1 layperson (East-Southeast Region) (6-year term)

Open biography

Photo of Rande T. Casaday from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 46

Rande T. Casaday

Board for National Mission

Also candidate for: Board of Regents, Mequon

Open biography

Photo of Vernon W. Kettelhake from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 47

Vernon W. Kettelhake

Board for National Mission

Open biography

Photo of Sarah Rausch from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

p. 47

Sarah Rausch

Board for National Mission

Also candidate for: Concordia Publishing House

Open biography

Pause and Pray at 3:07 p.m.

At 3:07 each day, remember John 15:7 and pray for Christ's Church, the convention, our leaders, and the work of the Gospel among us.

Prayer page