Frequently Asked Questions
LCMS National Convention • July 18–23, 2026 • Phoenix, Ariz.
In preparation for the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, which will be held July 18–23, 2026, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, the LCMS provides answers to Frequently Answered Questions.
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Why is this the “69th Regular Convention” if the LCMS has existed since 1847?
The Synod met annually during its first eight years (1847–1854). Since then, except for years when the church convened every two years from 1965 to 1983, and during COVID when the convention was postponed a year, the Synod has met triennially.
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Can anyone attend the convention?
Yes. The convention is open to the public, and public seating will be available in the hall behind the convention delegates. Large screens will be available to view convention proceedings. Guests may visit exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall, attend opening worship, and enjoy the many evening events. There is no fee for visitors or guests.
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Do I need to register for the convention?
Visitors and guests do not need to register for the convention. Registration is needed only if you have an official convention role (delegate or representative) or responsibility. If you have any questions about registration, you can email convention@lcms.org.
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I can’t come to Phoenix. Can I watch the convention online?
Yes. Convention proceedings will be livestreamed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at lcms.org/convention.
Results of convention elections will be published at lcms.org/convention/national/elections as they are available. Status of resolutions presented and actions taken will be updated frequently throughout each day at lcms.org/convention/national/resolutions.
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Should I make my own hotel reservation?
Individuals attending the convention in an official convention role as a district voting or advisory delegate should have already received information about their hotel from their district office. Individuals attending the convention as an advisory representative of a university, seminary, board, Synod entity, etc., should receive information about their hotel reservations from their organization. Individuals directed to make their own housing arrangements, exhibitors, or any other visitor can contact area hotels directly to make reservations.
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Is there an airport shuttle to/from my hotel?
The hotels used for convention do not offer a complimentary shuttle service to/from the airport. A taxi, Uber, Lyft or the Valley Metro Light Rail are options for getting from the airport to downtown Phoenix. You can access the Valley Metro Light Rail to downtown Phoenix by using the complimentary Airport Sky Train, getting off at the 44th Street/Washington Valley Metro Station. The Valley Metro Light Rail provides several stops in downtown Phoenix. Check the Valley Metro Light Rail map found on their website to determine the rail stop closest to your hotel. Consider downloading the Valley Metro app to your phone for easy directions using the light rail to and from any location on the light rail system throughout Phoenix.
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Is downtown Phoenix safe?
Yes. Downtown Phoenix is generally safe, but is a major urban center, so normal precautions are appropriate. While downtown, you will encounter the Downtown Phoenix (DTPHX) Ambassadors, who serve to make your experience in downtown Phoenix safe and enjoyable. Provided by the Phoenix municipal services, the Ambassadors are a roving hospitality team on duty seven days a week, 365 days a year to help you — whether that means walking you to your car, handing out sunscreen, giving restaurant information, offering directions, or directing you to a shaded bench where you can sit and rest for a moment. Look for the folks wearing orange shirts with “ASK ME” on the back.
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How can I get around Phoenix and in the downtown area?
Valley Metro Rail provides 35 miles of light rail service across Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. Download the Valley Metro app for free to make exploring Phoenix a bit easier.
Downtown Phoenix also offers Waymo, an autonomous ride-hailing system (meaning it is a driverless “taxi” system) available 24/7. Download the Waymo app for free. Note: You can download the Waymo app even when you’re outside the Phoenix service area, but your ability to use it is limited until you’re in a city where Waymo operates.
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What should I bring to the convention?
If you are a delegate or representative, please bring all the convention publications you received, including the Convention Workbook, Biographical Synopses and the first issue of Today’s Business. Delegates and representatives will refer to these books while considering the business presented to the assembly for action. It is strongly recommended to dress in layers to accommodate both the heat of Phoenix and the cool air conditioning. You may want to bring a shawl or jacket with you so you are comfortable in the convention hall and meeting rooms, as these spaces will be cooler.
Attendees may also want to bring a Bible, pen, paper, walking shoes, umbrella, sunglasses or hat. You can bring your tablet or laptop. However, know there are limitations on Wi-Fi access in the convention hall. Depending on your convention role, your cell phone, tablet and laptop may have to be set so electronic communications are disabled (airplane mode).
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What is Phoenix weather normally like in July?
It is not unusual for Phoenix daytime temperatures to be near 115°F. As the city concrete and buildings tend to trap the daytime heat, Phoenix often does not cool down in the evening and experiences very high temperatures into the nighttime hours.
The monsoon season is June 15–Sept. 30; storms peak mid-July to mid-August. While monsoon storms can last all day, storms during monsoon season are famous for being short and unpredictable. Monsoon storms are usually very powerful thunderstorms that build rapidly in the afternoon or evening, with very strong winds, heavy rain falling intensely for a short period of time, frequent lightning and loud thunder, and sudden temperature drops.
Blowing dust, which can create a massive wall of dust called a haboob, may also occur, dropping visibility to near zero within minutes.
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Will there be a chaplain available during convention?
Chaplain Rev. Sean Daenzer and Assistant Chaplain Rev. Brian Crane will be present throughout the convention to provide spiritual care and support. You can reach the chaplains at chaplain@lcms.org. Deaconess Cara Patton will also be available onsite and can be reached at cara.patton@lcms.org.
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Will there be a quiet place for prayer in the convention hall?
Yes. The chapel will be in the Phoenix Convention Center (West Building, 1st floor, Room 106BC), and will be open Saturday, July 18, at 1 p.m., and Sunday through Wednesday, 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m. A chaplain may not always be present at the chapel while open. Please feel free to come into the chapel for private prayer and meditation.
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Can I submit prayer requests to be included in worship services?
If you have specific prayer requests, you can submit them by sending an email to Chaplain Daenzer at chaplain@lcms.org. Please indicate in your prayer request whether it is a public or private prayer. You can also write your prayer requests down and place them in the prayer baskets marked “public” and “private” on the table in the chapel.
Prayer requests marked “public” may be included in the daily services of the convention. Due to the volume of public prayers received and the sensitivity of the concerns, we cannot promise each public prayer will be offered during public worship. The chaplains and deaconess will lift each concern in private prayer.
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Will the convention chaplains offer an opportunity for individual confession and absolution during convention?
Individual confession and absolution will be offered from 3–5 p.m. on Saturday in Room 106C prior to the Opening Divine Service, during lunch breaks Sunday through Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m., and by appointment. If the door is open, enter the chapel, and the pastor will lead you through the service. If the door is closed, please wait outside the chapel until the door is opened again. For an individual appointment or to arrange an opportunity with your own pastor to use the chapel space for confession, contact chaplain@lcms.org.
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Where do I go when I arrive?
Convention delegates and representatives are asked to please visit the registration desk as soon as possible after checking into their hotel. The registration desk will be in the Phoenix Convention Center, North Building, 3rd floor.
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When does convention registration open?
The registration desk will be in the Phoenix Convention Center, North Building, 3rd floor. The desk will be open at the following times::
- Friday, July 17 — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Saturday, July 18 — 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, July 19 — 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday, July 20 — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 21 — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 22 — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday, July 23 — 8 a.m. to noon
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What is the convention schedule?
The tentative convention schedule has been published in the first issue of Today’s Business and posted to lcms.org/convention/national/schedule. It is considered tentative until the convention schedule is adopted — which is one of the first items of business taken up on Sunday, July 19. The convention schedule includes business and elections to be conducted, as well as opportunities for worship, essays and other presentations.
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Where do I sit in the convention hall?
Voting delegates are seated in sections A–J. Your assigned seat number is attached to the table where your seat is located and is also on your name badge. Open seating for advisory delegates and representatives is located directly behind the voting delegate section. Public seating is available at the back of the hall.
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What will be the primary business during the convention?
Attendees may review the Convention Workbook and the first issue of Today’s Business to learn about the issues scheduled to be addressed. These two publications (as well as other publications in the future) will be available online at lcms.org/convention/national/publications.
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How do I get a copy of the Today’s Business and the Convention Workbook?
The Convention Workbook and the Biographical Synopses and Statements of Nominees are now available online for download at lcms.org/convention/national/publications. All voting and advisory delegates and advisory representatives have been mailed the Convention Workbook and Biographical Synopses. The first issue of Today’s Business will be mailed out by June 23 from St. Louis. Additional copies of the Convention Workbook may be purchased from Concordia Publishing House.
The daily issues of Today’s Business will be posted online, and will be distributed to the delegates and representatives in the convention hall beginning at 7:30 a.m. A limited number of daily issues will be available for visitors attending the convention. Each daily Today’s Business issue will include the day’s schedule, substitute or revised resolutions, minutes of the prior day’s session, wording for proposed amendments, and other official announcements and information.
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What happens at the Floor Committee Open Hearings on Saturday morning?
Floor committees will have open hearings on Saturday, July 18, in the Phoenix Convention Center, West Building, 1st floor. See schedule below. Anyone can attend the open hearings and speak to the committee — delegates, representatives, staff, guests or the public.
Often it is difficult to get to the microphone on the convention floor to offer input to a floor committee regarding a specific resolution. That is why the open hearings are so important. The hearings provide an opportunity for any individual to provide input, opinion and suggestions to the floor committee.
The open hearings are not a time for debate with members of the floor committee but are the time to share information or your opinion with them. Usually the committee will listen; they may ask clarifying questions. But the floor committee will not engage in debate.
The floor committee’s focus for the open hearing is to make sure everyone who desires has an opportunity to speak to the committee. Therefore, do not feel offended if the chairman quickly moves to the next speaker, as the chairman is responsible for being a good steward of the available time given for the open hearing.
After the hearings, the committees will meet in closed sessions to review the information received and make any necessary changes to the initial resolutions or submit additional resolutions (which will be published in the Sunday issue of Today’s Business).
1. National Witness — 8:30–10:00 a.m. (104A)
2. International Witness — 8:30–10:00 a.m. (101C)
3. Mercy — 10:30 a.m.–noon (104A)
4. Life Together — 8:30 a.m.–noon (101A)
5. Theology and Church Relations — 8:30 a.m.–noon (105B)
6. Pastoral Ministry and Seminaries — 8:30 a.m.–noon (102A)
7. University Education — 8:30 a.m.–noon (102B)
8. Finance — 10:30 a.m.–noon (101C)
9. Structure and Administration — 8:30 a.m.–noon (102C)
10. Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution — 8:30 a.m.–noon (103A)
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What material will be covered at Delegate Orientation on Saturday?
All convention delegates and representatives are expected to attend Delegate Orientation from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, in the Phoenix Convention Center, 3rd floor, Halls AB.
The Delegate Orientation will review parliamentarian procedures, voting and microphone queue technology and go over highlights and instructions for the week. We will conduct live practice using the microphone queue kiosk, so everyone understands how to enter the microphone queue and speak at the microphone.
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What is planned for the Opening Worship Service on Saturday?
Pre-service music is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, and a Divine Service with Holy Communion will be held from 7:30 to approximately 9 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.
The host congregation for this service is Calvary Lutheran Church, Yuma, Ariz. We will have just over 50 children from around the country participating in opening worship — in the children’s choir, as acolytes assisting pastors in the chancel during the processions and service, and as altar guild servers assisting with preparations for Holy Communion before and after the service.
The children will also sing Sunday, July 18, in the morning service of Matins at 8 a.m. These children and their chaperones are part of the program Nurturing Young Faith in Worship, which is made possible through a grant received in 2025 from Lilly Endowment, Inc.
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Do I attend the Delegate Dinner on Saturday, July 18?
The Delegate Dinner will take place Saturday, July 18, at 5–6:30 p.m., in the Phoenix Convention Center, Ballrooms (1st floor). All individuals with a royal blue lanyard are expected to attend the dinner (unless you have specifically declined attendance in advance). Everyone who does not have a royal blue lanyard requires a ticket to attend the dinner. You will have needed to purchase this ticket in advance of the convention as Delegate Dinner tickets are not sold onsite.
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Are meals provided for convention attendees?
On Saturday, July 18, the Delegate Dinner will be held, and all voting and advisory delegates are expected to attend. Some advisory representatives are also expected to attend and should already have received information about attending the Delegate Dinner. All other visitors, exhibitors and attendees are encouraged to have dinner at any of the local downtown restaurants.
Daily lunch recess will be from noon to 1:30 p.m., which should be ample time to visit nearby local restaurants. Delegates should check with their district president as to whether there are planned meals with their district delegation.
Attendees are welcome to sign up for the several complimentary luncheon opportunities offered throughout the week. Luncheon opportunities can be found at lcms.org/convention/national and are listed on the “Things to Do” page in the registration folder you received when you picked up your name badge at the Registration Desk. You can also stop by the Information Desk (near the Registration Desk, 3rd floor) for the list of available luncheons.
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What kind of exhibitors will be at the convention and when is the Exhibit Hall open?
We have about 100 convention exhibitors scheduled to be at the convention, such as Concordia Publishing House, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation, Concordia Historical Institute, Concordia Plan Services, Lutheran Federal Credit Union, LWML, Lutheran Hour Ministries, the Concordia universities, both of our seminaries, many LCMS Recognized Service Organizations, mission organizations and various business services.
Exhibitors will be in the Phoenix Convention Center (3rd floor, Hall D) during the following hours:
- Saturday, July 18 — 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday, July 19 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m to 7 p.m.
- Monday, July 20 — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 21 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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What is the National Offering, and how does it relate to the convention?
Every three years — in collaboration with the national convention — LCMS households, congregations and organizations are invited and encouraged to participate in a Synodwide thank offering of financial gifts called the National Offering. .
The 2026–2029 National Offering, under the theme “Christ is Risen! Tell the Next Generation,” is an opportunity to support ongoing domestic mission work carried out at the local level by LCMS congregations, districts, circuits and others to spread the Gospel. Gifts to the 2026–2029 National Offering will directly benefit ongoing domestic work carried out at the local level and supported by LCMS Family Ministry, Youth Ministry, Campus Ministry and School Ministry.
National Offering gifts will be collected during the opening service at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. Delegates are encouraged to submit their congregation’s National Offering collection envelopes during this service. National Offering gifts will also be accepted at the LCMS booth in the Exhibit Hall during the convention. Please be sure all National Offering gifts brought to convention are given prior to the close of the Exhibit Hall at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 21. Gifts to the National Offering will be accepted through 2029.
To learn more about the National Offering, obtain instructions for sending in gifts, or print off bulletin inserts and prayers, go to lcms.org/convention/national/offering.
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How can my family or congregation participate in the National Offering?
LCMS congregations and clergy may download special bulletin inserts and informational resources to help promote the 2026–2029 National Offering. Individual households and congregations wishing to make a National Offering gift can do so in several ways:
- Phone: 888-930-4438 (credit or debit card)
If you would like to contribute in any other way (using IRAs, donor advised funds and family foundations, appreciated securities, real property or other assets), please contact Sara Scungio, coordinator of LCMS Gift Planning, at giftplanning@lcms.org or 314-996-1680.
To learn more about the 2026 National Offering, or for answers to other related questions, please call Mission Advancement’s Donor Care Line at 888-930-4438 or email mission.advancement@lcms.org.
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What are the rules regarding the use of electronic devices in the convention hall?
Use of electronic devices depends on your convention position and role. Rules regarding the use of electronic devices are part of the Standing Rules that will be adopted by the delegates the morning of Sunday, July 19. The proposed Standing Rules are printed on page 14 in the first issue of Today’s Business.
Convention guests, who may sit in the back of the convention hall, are permitted to use electronic devices unobtrusively for internet use and other communications. Printer equipment or machines, tables or signage are not allowed to be brought into the convention hall.
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What is the dress code for convention events?
Business casual dress is appropriate while attending the convention during the day. Comfortable shoes are suggested. The convention hall will be cool, so please consider bringing a sweater or light jacket or wearing warmer clothing for indoor air conditioning. You will also need to have a light layer of clothing for when you need to be outside in the heat.
Attendees may want to dress differently for various evening activities. Casual clothing is appropriate for evening events.
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Will there be internet access in the convention hall?
The Phoenix Convention Center has complimentary internet offered free of charge, which is available in all public spaces. It is not available in Halls AB where convention business takes place. To access the complimentary internet, open Wi-Fi settings on your device and select “Complimentary.” First-time users will be asked to create an account and verify their email address to get connected. The complimentary service is best suited for checking email and light web browsing (no streaming).
There is an option to purchase “Exhibitor Internet,” which is an upgrade to a pay-per-day Wi-Fi service, available facility-wide on a 5GHz network with speeds of 3Mbps and recommended for light web browsing and checking email. The Exhibitor Internet upgrade can be accessed through your device; in the Wi-Fi settings, select “Exhibitor Internet.” You will be taken to a splash page to create or log in to your wireless account. You will need to create an account if it is your first time using the service. Next, select “Create an account” and follow the prompts. Please note that the service will time out after 10 minutes of being idle. Prices are $79.99/device for 1 day, $227.97/device for 3 days, and $359.95/device for 5 days. Please note: All devices must be equipped with a 5GHz wireless card to see the network. See instruction sheet.
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Where can I get lunch each day during recess?
Please consider signing up for complimentary lunches as listed here and on the “Things to Do” sheet included in your registration folder. Besides the restaurants in nearby hotels, there are several restaurants in the vicinity of the Phoenix Convention Center. Stop at the Information Desk, near the Registration Desk, 3rd floor, to obtain information about local restaurants.
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Where can I find a map of downtown Phoenix?
Click here to view a Downtown Phoenix map. The Phoenix Convention Center is listed as number 20 on the map.
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Is parking available at the Phoenix Convention Center?
Information regarding parking at the Phoenix Convention Center can be found here. Check with your hotel regarding the availability and cost of parking at the hotel.
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Is there an emergency contact number to reach convention attendees during business hours?
We will provide an emergency number to you at Delegate Orientation. If needed, call the LCMS Church Information Center at 888-843-5267, and a representative can contact onsite convention staff to relay emergency information.
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Where will the Lost and Found be located?
The Lost and Found will be located in the Convention Office, Phoenix Convention Center, 2nd floor, Room 221A.
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