John Wollenburg Sias

Three-year term. A full-time position, the Secretary is an officer of the Synod and serves as secretary of the LCMS Board of Directors and the Commission on Constitutional Matters; he supervises the maintenance of rosters, administers the Synod’s dispute resolution and expulsion processes, edits The Lutheran Annual, and has extensive convention responsibilities. (2023 Handbook, pp. 16, 116–17; convention duties, 17, 20, 34, 102, 103, 105, 107, 114–15)

The Secretary must be an ordained minister with the skills necessary to perform the customary duties of a corporate secretary; to carry out the required responsibilities relating to conventions of the Synod; to perform such other work as pertains to his office by bylaw or by assignment by conventions, the President, or the Board of Directors; and to provide counsel from the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod to the members of the Synod on a daily basis. Administrative responsibilities include administration of the Synod’s dispute resolution and expulsion processes and supervision of the official rosters of the Synod. Membership on numerous boards, commissions, and committees includes

service as secretary of the Commission on Constitutional Matters

and of the Board of Directors. A high degree of integrity is essential, and a range of prior experience in the Synod will be helpful.

MINISTERS OF RELIGION—ORDAINED

Elect 1 minister of religion—ordained (3-year term)

John Wollenburg Sias+, St. Louis, MO; Good Shepherd, Arnold MO (MO); LCMS 50; Secy. of the Synod 10 S: Com. on Const. Matters 14, CCN VP , Conv. Deleg., D: Parliamentarian Dist. Conv. 9, 2nd VP MT , CV MT 2, Secy. Pastor’s Conf. & Special Fl. Com.7 C: Pastor 8. O: Author for The Lutheran Witness, for Synod, and of 5 Things You Can Do to Witness Christ (CPH), KFUO Guest, Writer for CPR 16, Founding Dir. Tech. Adv. and Ed. Luth. Legacy Publishing 19, Ctr.

for Reliable and High-Performance Computing Univ. of IL 10, Jefferson County, MO, Sheriff’s Alumni Vol. Echelon 5.

After 10 humbling years gone like a flash, there’s not been a slow day. In addition to the above, we’ve, to meet Synod’s changing needs, steadily adapted processes and technology and, each triennium, supported major efforts (including, this time, the circuit requirements task force, evaluation and revision of higher education governing documents, and study of parish service). More importantly, we’ve tried to hold constantly before everyone the common commitments and aims adopted by the convention, and to prepare the convention wisely to adjust them, that we may ever more hold our confession not only in word but in truth and doing. This is a demanding and essential post, near the front for many challenges. It has been an honor to serve.

IV. Report on Candidates for

Secretary of the Synod Elect 1 minister of religion—ordained (3-year term)