District Convention

Convention Summary

The 42nd Convention of the Iowa District East – LCMS took place June 27-28, 2025 at the Radisson Hotel – Cedar Rapids. Rev. Dr. Brian Saunders (Cedar Rapids) was elected on the first ballot to his 6th term as District President, with Rev. W. Max Mons, S.T.M. (Iowa City) being reelected to 1st Vice-President and Rev. Stephen Preus, S.T.M. (Vinton) elected as 2nd Vice-President, both on the first ballot. The host congregation was St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Marion with Pastor Alan Kornacki serving as Convention Chaplain. Mr. Riley Sindt (Eldridge) served as musician.

 

Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis was the Convention Essayist, who expounded on the theme of Psalm 119:105 – The Authority of the Word: The Word Walks Us Through Life. LCMS 6th Vice-President Dr. John Wohlrabe was the synod representative, and Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President of the LCMS was in attendance Saturday of the convention to deliver his report and lead a Synod question and answer time.

 

In other elections news, all Board of Directors incumbents were reelected. Rev. Peter Hoft (Eldridge) was elected as Secretary and Mr. Zach Rowley (Cedar Rapids) was elected as Treasurer. Mr. Lucas Tanney (Waterloo) was elected as the commissioned minister, while Mr. Samuel Kleiss (Dike) was elected as a layman to the IDE Board of Directors. Mr. Kleiss was first appointed to the Board of Directors following the passing of IDE Board Member Chris Balvanz in 2023.

 

For the Constitutional Review Committee, Rev. Jesse Burns (Ventura) was elected as an ordained member. For the 2028 Nominating Committee, Rev. Alex Post (Marshalltown) and Rev. Nathan Wille (Clinton) were elected as ordained members, Mr. Andy Armbrecht (Williamsburg) was elected as a commissioned member, and Mr. Jeff Elbert (Waterloo) and Mr. Paul Moritz (Atkins) were elected as lay members. Mr. Daniel Sanchez (Lisbon) was elected to the Committee for Convention Nominations for the 2026 LCMS National Convention.

 

Sherry Brendes (former IDE Business Manager) and Carole White (former LCEF District Vice-President) were recognized for their many years of service having retired this last triennium.

 

Two main resolutions were adopted: 1.01A titled, “To amend the IDE By-Laws to Align with Synod By-Laws and Reassign IDE Stewardship and Congregational Services,” and 1.03C titled, “To Affirm Residential Pastoral Education at Our Seminaries.”

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