District Convention

The 42^nd Convention of the Iowa District East will be held June 27-28, 2025 at the Cedar Rapids Radisson.  Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann will present on the convention theme “The Authority of the Word: The Word Walks Us Through Life, Psalm 119:105.”

Each voting parish (an individual congregation or multiple congregations served by one called and ordained pastor) is entitled to have one pastoral delegate and one lay delegate. A congregation that is part of a multi-congregation parish, other than the congregation supplying the voting lay delegate, may elect and depute an advisory lay delegate with voice but no vote. The delegates’ names (as well as the alternates and advisory) should be selected and submitted prior to the January 31, 2025 deadline.  The business of the Convention will include elections and actions on overtures.  The following offices will be filled by the Convention:

• President (3-year term)*
• First Vice-President (3-year term)*
• Second Vice President (3-year term)*
• Secretary (3-year term)*
• Treasurer (3-year term)*

• Board of Directors 
  • One commissioned (6-year term)*
  • One layperson (6-year term)*
• Constitution Review Committee
  • One ordained (6-year term)
• District Nominations Committee
  • Two ordained (3-year term)
  • Two laypersons (3-year term)
  • One commissioned (3-year term)
• Synod Committee for Convention Nominations
  • One layperson (2026 Synod Convention)
  • One alternate layperson (2026 Synod Convention)

*Incumbents are eligible for re-election.

Each congregation may nominate individuals for these various positions, submit overtures concerning district or Synod business and ideas for Synod mission and ministry emphases for consideration at the convention.

The District Convention packet to be mailed by October 1, 2024 will contain information, deadlines, forms and pertinent information.  This information will also be made available on the Convention page of the IDE website.

In Christ,

Rev. Peter D. Hoft, District Secretary

Registration for the 42nd Convention of the Iowa District East – LCMS is now open for Voting Delegates, Advisory Delegates, and Guests. While registration will remain open until the convention, please plan to complete your registration no later than June 13, 2025. Hotel reservations at the Radisson Hotel Cedar Rapids will also need to be placed before June 13, 2025. Due to the impacts of construction, we recommend making your reservation as soon as possible and a room cannot be guaranteed past June 13.

For exhibitors, please complete the separate exhibitor registration form. If you plan to have more than one individual exhibiting, they will need to register as a guest. Exhibiting organizations are required to be organizations in good standing with the LCMS. There is limited availability for exhibitor tables due to an on-going construction project at the hotel. Exhibitors will be primarily placed in public atrium area, meaning the exhibits will not be locked overnight. Please plan your table content accordingly. This also means that there is limited space compared to past exhibits. Exhibitor registration will close after the first 20 tables are claimed, and any additional requests will need to call on availability.

The LCMS District Convention is an obligatory event for pastors and rostered church-workers serving in congregations, parishes, schools, and organizations. Any non-voting ordained and all commissioned ministers shall serve as advisory delegates unless they present a valid excuse. Registration fees should be paid by the attendees congregation, school, or organization. If you are unable to attend, you must submit an official excuse. (LCMS Bylaw 4.2.3)