LCMS 2026

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Nominee biography

Joel David Biermann

President of the Synod

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.

Official nominee source text from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.

Official nominee source text

Photo of Joel David Biermann from the 2026 LCMS Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees.
Section
President of the Synod
Office/position
President of the Synod
Candidate category
ordained
Source page
p. 10
Also candidate for
Regional Vice-President (Central Reg.) Year of Ordination ...............................................................................1999 Pastorates Congregation Y ears St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Dedham, MA ...............................1994–2004 St. P aul Lutheran Church, Brookfield, IL ..................................2004–2012 St. P aul Lutheran Church, Hamel, IL ..................................... 2012–present Synod Offices P osition Y ears Convention Delegate .......................................................2007, 2016, 2019

Formatted from official nominee source text for readability.

Basic Details

Name
Joel David Biermann
Locale
St. Louis, MO
Congregation
Resur rection, St. Louis, MO (MO)
Birth Year
1960
Birthplace
Waconia, MN
Wife's Maiden Name
Jeannalee Richardt
Number of Children
3
College
Concordia College, Ann Arbor, MI (1983)
Seminary
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO (1987)
Other Degrees
PhD , Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO (2002)
Member of Synod Congregations (years)
54
Rostered Member of Synod (years)
38
Year of Ordination
1987

Service History

Pastorates

Congregation
Trinity Lutheran Church, Bemidji, MN
Years
1987–1988
Congregation
St. Matthe w Lutheran Church, Holt, MI
Years
1988–1998
Congregation
Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens
Years
2000–2016
Congregation
Vacancy Pastor in St. Louis, MO
Years
2016–2026

Other Full-Time Positions

Position
Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO
Years
2002–present

Synod Offices

Position
Member, Commission on Theology and Church Relations
Years
2016–2026

Pastorates

Congregation
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Dedham, MA
Years
1994–2004
Congregation
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Brookfield, IL
Years
2004–2012
Congregation
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hamel, IL
Years
2012–present

Synod Offices

Position
Convention Delegate
Years
2007,
Position
2016, 2019 Participant, LCMS Model Theological Conference
Years
2010
Position
Doctrinal Re viewer
Years
2013–2019
Position
Assistant Chaplain, LCMS Convention
Years
2013
Position
Planning Committee Member and Presenter , LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music
Years
2014, 2017
Position
Seminary Education, Structure and Administration
Years
2016,
Position
2019 Chairman, Committee for Convention Nominations
Years
2019–2023
Position
Schools, Family, Young Adults, and Youth
Years
2023
Position
Sixth Vice-President, Central Region
Years
2019–2023
Position
Second Vice-President, Central Region
Years
2023–present

Member, Convention Floor Committees:

Chairman, Convention Floor Committee:

District Offices

Position
Member, Convention Floor Committees
Years
2000,
Position
2015 Member, New England District Worship Commission
Years
2001–2004
Position
Circuit Counselor , Northern Illinois District
Years
2006–2009
Position
Member , Northern Illinois District East Region Pastoral Conference Committee
Years
2006–2010
Position
Secretary, Northern Illinois District Nominations Committee
Years
2009
Position
Circuit Visitor, Southern Illinois District
Years
2015–2018
Position
Chairman, Southern Illinois District Commission on Convention Nominations and Elections
Years
2017–2018,
Position
2024–2025 Second Vice-President, Southern Illinois District
Years
2018–2019

Other Significant Service or Experience

Type of Service
Pastor-in-Residence, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Years
2002
Type of Service
Supervisor of Deaconess Field Workers, Concordia University Chicago
Years
2005–2012
Type of Service
Book Re viewer, Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly
Years
2016
Type of Service
Member , Board of Directors, Metro-East Lutheran High School, Edwardsville, IL
Years
2017–2019
Type of Service
Contributor , The Lutheran Witness
Years
2020,
Type of Service
2024 Contributor, The Emigration of the Saxon Lutherans in the Year 1838 and Their Settlement in Perry County, Missouri, CPH
Years
2022
Type of Service
2015–present Vicarage Supervisor, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Years
2021–2023; 2025–present
Type of Service
Head Bo ys Basketball Coach, St. Paul Lutheran Squires, Hamel, IL
Years
2022–present

Supervisor of Field Workers, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

Personal Statement

In Colossians, Paul beautifully describes the work of the church: “We preach Christ, instructing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone complete in Christ” (1:28). Three things: We cultivate faithful practices in worship and living that form people into the fullness that God intends for His creatures. We embrace our purpose to deliver God’s truth revealed in Christ to the world and shun petty disputes or fears that hinder our work together. We proclaim the Gospel to everyone, because Christ has died for everyone. This threefold emphasis should direct all who serve in the church.

Also candidate for

Regional Vice-President (Central Reg.)

Year of Ordination 1999

President of the Synod | 11

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