National Convention is the ELCIC’s highest legislative authority of the church (ELCIC Constitution, Article XII, Section 1). This year’s convention will include a number of elections as part of the convention business, including elections for: National Bishop, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer, National Church Council and Court of Appeal.
National Bishop
First Ballot – Results of the first ballot. There is no election. 32 names move forward to the second ballot.
Second Ballot – Results of the second ballot. There is no election. All names from the results of the second ballot move forward to the third ballot. Those individuals will be invited to provide biographical information. The third ballot is scheduled for the morning of Friday, July 11.
Third Ballot – Results of the third ballot. There is no election. Five names move forward to the fourth ballot. Prior to the next vote, these five individuals will each have five minutes to address delegates.
Fourth Ballot – There is no election. Three names move forward.
Fifth Ballot – There is no election. Two names move forward.
Sixth Ballot – Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer elected National Bishop of the ELCIC.
Officers
| Secretary | – Linda Grainger, acclaimed |
| Treasurer | – Stephen Holmes, acclaimed |
| Vice Chair | – Bruce Cook, re-elected on the second ballot |
National Church Council
| BC Synod (Lay) | Ben Lukenchuk |
| BC Synod (Rostered) | Rev. Aneeta Saroop |
| ABT Synod (Lay) | Tammy Kirkwood |
| ABT Synod (Rostered) | Rev. Kate Zaiser |
| SK Synod (Lay) | Jeff Barber |
| SK Synod (Rostered) | Rev. Victoria Mwamasika |
| MNO Synod (Lay) | Sarah Harrington |
| MNO Synod (Rostered) | Rev. Chris Bishopp |
| Eastern Synod (Lay – 1) | Cath Wilke |
| Eastern Synod (Lay – 2) | Heidi Van Schaik |
| Eastern Synod (Rostered) | Rev. Dr. Kimber McNabb |
Court of Appeal
| Lay (1) | Brent Latimer |
| Lay (2) | Kristi Burns |
| Lay (3) | Boston Laferte |
| Rostered (1) | Rev. Karen Stepko |
| Rostered (2) | Rev. Prema Samuel |
Background on Elections:
To begin the process for elections, National Church Council appoints six (6) members, one (1) from each synod, as well as the secretary of the church, to serve on the Committee on Nominations. This committee prepares a slate of nominations for election by the convention to fill vacancies in the membership of the National Church Council and Court of Appeal. Further information on this process can be found in the ELCIC Administrative Bylaws, Part VII.
Electing a New National Bishop
At this year’s convention, delegates will be electing a new National Bishop. Following 18 years of dedicated service to the church in this call, National Bishop Susan Johnson has indicated her desire to retire. In the fall of 2024, National Church Council approved a process for discernment leading up to the election proceedings at convention. This process does not impact the ELCIC Adminstrative Bylaws for electing a new national bishop (ELCIC Administrative Bylaws (Part VIII, Section 3), rather, the discernment process is about an intentional process leading up to the election, including prayer, discussion, and the pre-identification of individuals who are felt to have the skills and gifts for the call to serve as National Bishop. You can read more about the discernment process here.
Through the discernment process leading up to convention, the names of six individuals have come forward. You can read the bios and watch introductory videos for these individuals on our website.
As per ELCIC Administrative Bylaws (Part VIII, Section 3), the process for electing a new National Bishop could take as many as six separate ballots. It will begin ecclesiastically, with all delegates writing a name of a rostered pastor of the church on a blank piece of paper. To be elected on the first ballot, three-quarters of all votes cast must contain the same name. Should that not occur, a second ballot will take place with all eligible submitted names listed from the first ballot. Two-thirds of all votes cast would be needed to elect a National Bishop on the second ballot. On the third vote, all names from the second ballot that received at least one vote are included. Following the second ballot, each eligible person is invited to provide a brief biography. Election on the third ballot would only occur if one individual received the majority of all votes cast. If there is no election on the third ballot, the names of the five highest votes are brought forward. These five individuals are invited to address the convention prior to the fourth vote. Election on the fourth ballot would only occur if one individual received the majority of all votes cast. If there is no election following this vote, the three persons who received the highest vote form the fifth ballot. These three people are invited to respond to questions submitted in writing from the convention delegates and selected by the Committee on Conduct of Elections. As each responds, the others are sequestered. Election on the fifth ballot would only occur if one individual received the majority of all votes cast. A sixth and final ballot would include the names of the two people who received the highest vote on the 5th ballot. The individual with the majority of votes cast would be declared elected.
Electing a Vice Chair
The election of Vice Chair will also be an ecclesiastical ballot. This process will follow a similar structure to that of the process for electing a national bishop.
Secretary and Treasurer Elections
The processes for electing a Secretary and Treasurer, as set out in Part VIII of the Administrative Bylaws, will see two ballots. The first ballot will contain nominations from National Church Council and from the floor. The two names with the highest number of votes will move on the second ballot, to which a majority will determine the positions of Treasurer and Secretary.
National Church Council and Court of Appeal
The election of members of National Church Council and the Court of Appeal will follow a similar pattern to that of Secretary and Treasurer. Names on the first ballot will come from the Committee on Nominations and from the floor. The two individuals receiving the highest number of votes will move on to the second ballot, to which a majority will determine the members of National Church Council and the Court of Appeal.
For further information on the elections that will come to National Convention this year, and for information on the nominations for these vacancies, you are encouraged to read through the 2025 ELCIC National Convention Bulletin of Reports.
