Christ’s message of Gospel forgiveness was apparent in ways big and small as more than 1,300 delegates — and hundreds more guests, both national and international — descended on downtown Phoenix July 18–23 for the 2026 LCMS convention under the theme “Christ Is Risen Indeed.”

The deadline for the first application window is Sept. 15.

LCMS Church Planting’s locally driven, lay-focused approach to church planting was affirmed at the 2026 LCMS convention in Phoenix with the adoption of Resolution 1-07A: “To Increase Church Planting at the Parish Level.”