Reporter (St. Louis, MO)

LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford By Cheryl Magness During the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), held July 18–23 in Phoenix, the Rev. Jared Melius, ordained voting delegate from the LCMS Rocky Mountain District, was asked what he loves about the LCMS.

Worshipers participate in the opening Divine Service at the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Phoenix on July 18. The theme of the 2026–2029 National Offering is “Christ Is Risen Indeed! Tell the Next Generation.” (LCMS/Erik M.

Zachary and Jennifer Hansen, lay members of the church planting team at Word of Life Lutheran Church in Syracuse, Neb., speak during a July 20 presentation on church planting at the 2026 LCMS convention in Phoenix. (LCMS/Frank Kohn) By Mary Henrichs “We often hear that the LCMS is 20 years behind,” said the Rev. Dr. Quintin Cundiff, kicking off a roundtable discussion during a June 23–24 gathering in St. Louis of 10 mission executives from districts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).

(LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford) By Stacey Eising During its work at the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Phoenix, Floor Committee 9 (FC9, Structure and Administration) presented several resolutions, now adopted, that will have an impact on the Synod’s structure and life together. Due to shifting demographics across the LCMS, it has become increasingly difficult in recent convention cycles for visitation circuits to meet the parameters for an electoral circuit.

Participants in the 2026 International Church Relations Conference, held in Phoenix in conjunction with the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, sing during during the convention on Tuesday, July 21. (LCMS/Erik M.

Attendees of the International Church Relations Conference are welcomed by the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS president, during the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Phoenix on Tuesday, July 21. (LCMS/Erik M.

By James Baneck Many cultural observers have noted that today’s young men seem to be talking more about Jesus, faith, vocation, manhood and sacrifice than those in previous generations. In The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), more young men are also talking about becoming pastors or other church workers. As executive director of the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education, I am blessed to meet and speak with many of these young men.

(Getty) AI. Artificial intelligence. It was nothing more than a sci-fi gimmick in an Isaac Asimov novel or a Terminator movie — until it wasn’t. Has there been a day in 2026 that AI hasn’t been in the news? How many among us, within just a few short years, have already come to rely on this rapidly advancing set of technologies to create our spreadsheets, book our travel, amuse us in our free time or even keep us company when we’re feeling lonely?

The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Naumann prays during Matins in Palmar Arriba, Dominican Republic, in 2022. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford) Earlier this year, the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Naumann and Deaconess Cheryl D. Naumann announced their decision to retire from the mission field after serving in the LCMS Latin America and the Caribbean region for 10 years. The following letter from the Naumanns was included in their April newsletter and is slightly edited for this space.

Concordia University Irvine alum Christian Guebert (’10) conducts his original composition, Inscriptions, on May 9 at Carnegie Hall. (CUI) The monthly “Campus Clips” column includes brief reports from LCMS day schools, campus ministries, universities and seminaries. On May 9, Concordia University Irvine (CUI), Irvine, Calif., made its Carnegie Hall debut in New York City with more than 130 musicians performing a one-hour set on America’s most famous concert stage.