Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 143

2026 Convention Workbook
108 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
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 Theo-
logical 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, for-
mer 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 con-
vention 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 Ser -
vant 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, Phila-
delphia 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. Es-
get 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 Ni-
agara South Circuit)
In his convention address, President Pingel spoke to the accom-
plishments of the past three years and also cast a vision for the 
future. Among the accomplishments: Small Church Clarity, facili -
tated 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 revi-
talization and rebirthing of existing congregations; increased op-
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 dis-
trict 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 dis-
trict 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 con-
vention 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 se-
riously. 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 al-
ways 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 Luther -
an 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 cre-
dentials committee chair, and Mr. Gordon Tresch, Esq. as conven-
tion manager.
The Rev. Christopher Esget, East-Southeast Region vice-pres-
ident, served as Synod’s representative and presented to the con-
vention 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