Every three years, LCMS congregations choose our future. We do that with an election of the Synodical President and other leaders. As of right now, it is most likely other congregations will make that choice for you. To date, fewer than half of LCMS congregations registered their voters. Sunday at midnight Central Time is the deadline.
Only registered voters will choose future Synod leadership. Don’t let someone else make the choice for you. Making this choice is part of our partnership duty as members of the LCMS.
The March 19 deadline to register your pastor and a layperson to vote in this year’s election for Synod President is just hours away. Reports from several districts reveal far less than half of our congregations registered to vote.
Your congregation cannot participate in the July election unless you register your pastor and layperson as voters before midnight on March 19. Others will choose the Synod President for you.
HOW TO REGISTER
The voter registration process is detailed on the LCMS website. In addition, you can download a pdf copy of Point 4A here.
To register, you must have the letter sent by US mail to your congregation from the Synodical Secretary’s office. It will direct you to a website where you will enter your congregational code/password from the letter.
Once you are on the website, you will enter the names of the Pastoral Voter and the Lay Voter. You will need to provide an email address, physical address, and phone number for each of them. Next, you will provide the name and email addresses of those who can verify that your congregation’s designation of voters was done “in good order.”
What If We Lost The Letter?
If your congregation has lost your letter (no problem – this happens quite often), you must contact Secretary John Sias at the LCMS International Center immediately. The office phone number is 314-965-9000. Secretary Sias or his administrator will be able to help you.
WHY BOTHER TO REGISTER?
Why is it important to vote? How will this affect your congregation or your ministry?
Some nominees for Synod have plans to help serve the local congregation. They aim to strengthen church worker health and healthy congregations and circuits, restore a spirit of collaboration among us, and build a community of mutual trust. They will work to energize and equip congregations for outreach with the message of Jesus’ love. They focus on listening, sharing insights and practices, and building one another up as the Body of Christ to confess the faith and give witnesses to Christ and Him crucified.
In the coming months, you will hear more about all the nominees. You will hear about the positive changes that the LCMS can experience and the great work God has planned for us to glorify His name and build His Kingdom.
If your congregation does not register voters with the LCMS before midnight on March 19, they cannot vote for a nominee with a positive plan, not only aspirational words.
When we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done…,” we pray that His Kingdom and will is done among us, by us, and through us. Those aren’t aspirational words either.
Now is the time for action. Now is the time to register if you have not done so already.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE
The online election begins June 17, 2023. Your congregation has until Sunday midnight (CST) to register your two voters.
Even if you didn’t participate in the nomination process for Synod President, First Vice President, and Regional Vice Presidents, don’t let this opportunity pass you by.
Our congregations and our Synod are too important not to participate in this vote. Register your two voters before March 19.