Synod President: The Nominees
It can be confusing to keep track of all the moving parts of how things work regarding the synodical convention. This information is a quick guide to the election of the next President of Synod.
Congregations were able to submit nominations for various leadership positions in synod, including president, 1st vice-president, and a vice-president specific for their region. Those nominations were due in mid-February. From there, the 5 highest vote-getters for president were asked if they would consent to let their name stand for the election, and in this case, each said they would, giving us a slate of 5 candidates:
- Matthew C. Harrison (current president)
- Joel D. Biermann
- Benjamin T. (Ben) Ball
- Brady L. Finnern
- Peter K. Lange
Each congregation of synod had the opportunity to register an installed pastor voter and one lay voter. That is the registration window that closed March 8. On June 6, those registered voters will cast their votes for president, with any run-offs that may be necessary concluding by the end of June. Election results will be published by July 4. The synod president will be installed September 18, 2026 in St. Louis, and will serve a 3-year term.
As you can see, each parish has several opportunities along the way where it can be involved. Each has an right and responsibility to make its voice heard and play an active role in the life of our church. The more your know, the easier it is to make informed choices and feel like a true member of our church body. We encourage all Indiana District congregations to take steps to better understand how things happen, and to actively participate throughout the process!