June 12, 2026

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

The LCMS presidential election is heading to a runoff — and the numbers are impossible to ignore.

President Matthew Harrison received 43.8% on the first ballot. Dr. Joel Biermann received 39.0%. For the first time in this election cycle, the Synod is now moving into a second round of voting, and the future direction of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is very much in the balance.

In this special joint episode of Lead Time and Red Letter Living, Tim Ahlman and Zach Zehnder unpack what this moment reveals about the LCMS: pastoral formation, vacant pulpits, trust, leadership, the Eighth Commandment, church growth, unity, and the urgent need for honest conversation.

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IN THIS EPISODE

Matthew Harrison

Joel Biermann

Tim Ahlman

Zach Zehnder

leadership

development

church

Lutheran

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