Official nominee source text
- Section
- President of the Synod
- Office/position
- President of the Synod
- Candidate category
- ordained
- Source page
- p. 9
- Election line
- Elect 1 minister of religion—ordained (3-year term)
- Also candidate for
- Regional Vice-President (Central Reg.)
Formatted from official nominee source text for readability.
Basic Details
- Name
- Benjamin Thomas (Ben) Ball
- Locale
- Worden, IL
- Congregation
- St. Paul, Hamel, IL (SI)
- Birth Year
- 1972
- Birthplace
- Madison Heights, MI
- Wife’s Maiden Name
- Serena Prongua
- Number of Children
- 5
- College
- Concordia University Chicago (1995)
- Seminary
- Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO (1999)
- Member of Synod Congregations (years)
- 54
- Rostered Member of Synod (years)
- 27 Elect 1 minister of religion—ordained (3-year term)
Nomination Process
A total of 2,122 nominating votes were cast by 1,518 congregations of the Synod (compared to 2,526 congregations in 2023; 2,114 in 2019; 1,338 in 2016; 1,479 in 2013; 2,007 in 2010; 2,075 in 2007; and 2,581 in 2004). As required by Bylaw 3.12.2 (d), here following are the names and tallies of all ordained ministers who received nominating votes:
Matthew C. Harrison 900
Joel D. Biermann 334
Benjamin T. (Ben) Ball 311
Brady L. Finnern 148
Peter K. Lange 65
Allan R. Buss 40
Richard L. Snow 37
Christopher S. Esget 28
Jeffrey P. Cloeter 24
Patrick T. (Pat) Ferry 17
Jamison J. Hardy 17
David A. Davis 13
Lawrence R. Rast Jr 13
David P. E. Maier 10
Heath R. Curtis 8
7 votes:
Robert L. (Lee) Hagan; John E. Hill; Michael W. (Mike) Newman
6 votes:
Don R. (Richard) Stuckwisch Jr.; Lucas V. Woodford
5 votes:
Timothy P. (Tim) Ahlman; William A. (Bill) Harmon; Dale A. Meyer
4 votes:
Michael E. (Mike) Gibson; Peter A. Lange; Scott R. Murray;
Waldemar R. (Wally) Vinovskis; C. Bryan Wolfmueller
3 votes:
J. Bart (Bart) Day; Daniel M. (Dan) Galchutt; John C. Wohlrabe Jr.
2 votes:
Larry A. Alb; David H. Benke; Kent J. Burreson; Thomas J. Egger;
Alfonso O. Espinosa; Eric T. Lange; Michael R. (Mike) Lange; Joel D. Lehenbauer; Nabil S. Nour; Justin A. Panzer; David H. Petersen;
Ryan R. Peterson; Timothy E. Saleska; Dien A. Taylor; Michael T. (Mike) Von Behren
1 vote:
Donald P. Beaumont; Victor J. Belton; Jess R. Biermann; Todd A. Biermann; Jason M. Braaten; Erik K. Cloeter; Larry G. Courson;
Dean M. Davenport; Jon T. Diefenthaler; Alfonso J. (AJ) Espinosa;
Lloyd D. Gaines Sr.; Gifford A. Grobien; John C. Heffelfinger Jr.;
Jeffrey B. Hemmer; Mark R. Hoehner; Gerald B. Kieschnick; Timothy M. Klinkenberg; Jeffrey J. Kloha; Adam C. Koontz; Theodore M. R. (Ted) Krey; Brent W. Kuhlman; Chad D. Lakies; Robert R. (Reed) Lessing; Ulmer Marshall Jr.; James B. Maxwell; John L. Mehl; William M. (Max) Mons; Steven P. Mueller; James H. Neubauer; Robert D. Newton; Martin R. Noland; David R. Preus;
Stephen K. Preus; David P. Ramirez; Matthew R. Richard; James H. Rockey; Leopoldo A. Sanchez; Brian S. Saunders; Peter J. Scaer;
Jeremy J.A. Schultz; Timothy L. Seals; Gregory P. Seltz; Harold L. Senkbeil; John W. Sias; Donaldo Sonntag; Randy R. Sturzenbecher; Gregory N. Todd; Stephen A. Wiggins Sr.; Kevin A. Wilson;
Zachary A. Zehnder
Personal Statement
It is an honor to be nominated for President of the Synod; it is in fact humbling. I was taught at seminary to assent when asked to serve the church. However, I believe my duties in parsonage, pulpit, and school are such that if I were to continue to serve the Synod in an elected capacity, doing so as a vice-president would be more prudent. It is my prayer that this statement of President Friedrich Pfotenhauer will always be true: “The preaching of the Gospel— that is the proper business of the Missouri Synod.”
Also candidate for
Regional Vice-President (Central Reg.)
Additional official source text
I. Report on Nominations/Candidates for President of the Synod
Founding Member, The Evangelical Lutheran Hunting Club of Saline, Montgomery, and Other Counties 2006–present
Regent, Concordia University, Nebraska 2023–present
10 | President of the Synod
