CNE Releases Initial Slate for 2026 Convention

NATIONAL — Following a synod-wide nomination process conducted over the past nine months by the Commission on Nominations and Elections (CNE) for Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s 2026 Convention, the CNE has announced the initial slate of nominees for LCC boards and commissions, as well as for the boards of regents of both seminaries. 

At this time, the recommended slates for some boards or commissions remain incomplete, with an insufficient number of nominees in certain lay or rostered worker categories, or a lack of representation from specific circuits. 

To address these gaps, the CNE will be contacting some individuals who have allowed their names to stand for boards or commissions where there is an excess of nominations, to ask whether they would be willing to be considered for service on a different board or commission. 

The CNE also notes that nominations will continue to be accepted up to the time of convention, in order to present a complete slate of nominees for all boards and commissions. 

Nominations may also be made from the floor during the convention. Delegates wishing to make a nomination from the floor are reminded that all prerequisites must be met, including written consent of the nominee, submission of biographical and other information relevant to the position, and confirmation that appropriate vetting has been completed. The CNE must be notified in advance of any floor nominations. Intentions to nominate should be forwarded to convention@lutheranchurch.ca. 

Additional information regarding the 2026 Synod Convention will be shared through Lutheran Church–Canada communication channels, including the Convention Webpage and InfoDigest.

2026 Slate of Nominees

Board of Directors (BOD): To be elected: 5 lay persons; 3 pastors; and 1 deacon (with at least 1 individual from each region)

• James Frey (Central)
• David Patrick (Central)
• Lois Griffin (East)
• Darryll Holland (East)
• Reg Tiegs (East)
• Delton Zehr (East)
• d’Arcy Gamble (West)
• Doug Petersen (West)
• Shann Visser (West)
• Rev. Arron Gust (Central)
• Rev. Alex Klages (Central)
• Rev. Aaron Astley (East)
• Rev. Kurt Lantz (East)
• Rev. David Dressler (West)
• Rev. Mark Hennig (West)
• Rev. Tom Kruesel (West)
• Dcn. Amanda Hastings (Central)
• Dcn. Lenora Simpson (East)

Commission on Nominations and Elections (CNE): To be elected: 4 rostered workers, at least 3 of whom shall be pastors and 1 may be a deacon; and 3 laypersons (each region is to be represented, if possible, by at least 1 member)

• Rod Johnson (Central)
• Wendy Chant (East)
• Rhonda Abando (West)
• Josh Bentley (West)
• Karen Hildebrandt (West)
• A. Elizabeth Schieman (West)
• Rev. Dr. Richard Beinert (Central)
• Rev. Aaron Gust (Central)
• Rev. Alex Klages (Central)
• Rev. Glenn Worcester (Central)
• Rev. Kurt Lantz (East)
• Rev. Kurt Reinhardt (East)
• Rev. Scott Brayall (West)
• Dcn. Amanda Hastings (West)
• Rev. Phillip Washeim (West)

Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR): To be elected: 2 rostered workers serving congregations, at least 1 of whom must be a pastor or pastor emeriti; and 2 lay persons

• Mathew Block (Central)
• Shane Kelly (East)
• Daniel Smilek (East)
• Archie Richardson (West)
• Rev. Theodore Giese (Central)
• Rev. Jack Hetzel (East)
• Rev. Joel Kuhl (East)
• Rev. Mike Keith (West)

Commission on Adjudication (COA): To be elected: 2 rostered workers (the other members of the COA are 3 lay persons appointed by each regional pastor, at least 1 of whom must be a lawyer)

• Timothy Lach (lawyer) (Central)
• Howard Slater (Central)
• Wendy Chant (East)
• Valerie Edward (East)
• Delton Zehr (East)
• Dennis Woolsey (West)
• Rev. Aarron Gust (Central)
• Rev. Murray Keith  (Central)
• Rev. Adrian Kramer (Central)
• Rev. Dr. Kevin Fast (East)
• Rev. John Rapp (East)
• Rev. Paul Roggow (East)
• Rev. Don Hennig (West)
• Rev. Vincent Moore (West)
• Rev. Darren Siegle (West)

Commission on Constitution Matters and Structure (CCMS): To be elected: 3 rostered workers, 1 of whom may be a deacon; and 3 laypersons, 1 of whom must be a lawyer 

• Timothy Lach (lawyer) (Central)
• Cam Pelzer (Central)
• Valerie Edward (East)
• Lois Griffin (East)
• Delton Zehr (East)
• Barbara Darrah (West)
• Ronald Faulkner (West)
• Rev. Theodore Giese (Central)
• Rev. Aaron Gust (Central)
• Rev. Alex Klages (Central)
• Rev. Daryl Solie (Central)
• Rev. Aaron Astley (East)
• Rev. Joel Kuhl (East)
• Rev. Ken Maher (East)
• Rev. Kurt Reinhardt (East)
• Rev. Jeffery Dul (West)
• Rev. Brian Falkenholt (West)
• Rev. Andrew McDonald (West)

Regional Mission and Ministry Council (RMMC): To be elected: 1 lay person from each circuit (the RMMC consists of a lay person and the circuit counsellor from each circuit in the region)

Central Region

• James Frey (Assiniboine Circuit)
• Gloria Rathgeber (Assiniboine Circuit)
• Larry Durand (Northland Circuit)
• Kirsten Guggenmos (Northland Circuit)
• Howard Fiskar (Ontario Circuit)
• Gelane Bahiru (Red River Circuit)
• Denise Timm (Saskatoon Circuit)
• Barb Schentag (Wascana Circuit)

East Region

• Mark Rohfrietsch (Stratford Circuit)
• Kim Kuhl (Hanover Circuit)
• Anna Fierling (Kitchener Circuit)
• Peter Dobias (Ottawa Circuit)
• David Chant (Toronto Circuit)
• Matthew Zvric (Windsor Circuit)
• Scott Allan (Niagara Circuit)

West Region

• Tiffany Playter (Stony Plain Circuit)
• Josh Bentley (Edmonton Circuit)
• Darla Hennig (Edmonton Circuit)
• Rick Slater (Peace River Circuit)
• Hope Mendes (Okanagan Circuit)
• Michael Gillingham (Greater Vancouver Circuit)
• Braydan Pastucha (Greater Vancouver Circuit)
• Sonja Bland (Vancouver Island Circuit)
• Charles von Hahn (Cariboo Circuit)

Board of Directors (Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines): To be selected: 1 pastor; and 1 lay person from each region

• Jamie Muir (Central)
• Peter Dobias (East)
• Philip Prozenko (East)
• Daniel Smilek (East)
• Reg Tiegs (East)
• Ivan Boles (West)
• Rev. Kai Buck (Central)
• Rev. Timothy Schneider (Central)
• Rev. Paul Williams (East)
• Rev. Jeffery Dul  (West)
• Rev. Kenneth Eifert (West)
• Rev. Brian Falkenholt (West)

Board of Regents (Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton): To be selected: 1 pastor; and 1 lay person from each region

• Jamie Muir (Central)
• Sandra Timm (Central)
• Barry Walter (Central)
• Peter Dobias (East)
• Rev. Clint Magnus (Central)
• Rev. Chris McLean (Central)
• Rev. Aaron Astley (East)
• Rev. Paul Williams (East)
• Rev. Kenneth Eifert (West)
• Rev. Mark Hennig (West)

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