The 2026 Biennial Convention Overview
Outlined for us in this biennial convention theme is the ongoing cycle of discipleship into leadership that is the sustaining and refining backbone of God’s Church. On Saturday morning, President Paul Larson opened with a message of focused intent on the collaborative, generational effort of disciple making, and over the course of the convention weekend, we were encouraged and challenged in this calling.
President Larson quoted a missionary friend, saying, “You’ll know you have a spiritual movement when you see 4th generation discipleship.” A statement invoking a vision of “spiritual great-grandchildren” who have been mentored and will mentor. Recruitment is not a quota, he said wisely, but a lifestyle. “That’s why we’re here.”
With prayer and recognition of God’s goodness, the 2026 convention convened. The pressing matter of the presidential election commenced. We thank God for the gift of President Paul Larson and his years of dedication to the ministry of the CLB. After hearing from our two nominees, Mike Edwards and Mark Nienow, the vote was held and we were privileged to elect Mark Nienow to the position of CLB President. We pray together with President Nienow for many years of empowered service to the advancement of God’s kingdom through the CLB!
Our first session began under the teaching of guest speaker David Zahl, a gifted communicator and thinker. He spoke of our culture of acceleration, noting the increase in urgency, distraction, optimization, and statistical value. When everything is measured and valued based on perceived usefulness, it dehumanizes and depresses, Zahl correlated. His following question lingered: “Are we unleashing leaders into this world, or something different?” Church ministry can become the “numbers game” quota that Larson touched on earlier that morning. Pressuring new leaders to win against the world in the contest for young peoples’ attention is a battle lost before it begins. Instead, Zahl spoke of a counter-cultural message, not of metrics, but of grace! “All that is required is need,” he said, contrasting against the culturally expected and lauded message of American self-sufficiency. Here he pointed out how a modern worldview of hopeless effort can be boldly decried by a gospel message of God’s free grace and divine control.
The commonly assumed thought today, Zahl posited, is not if we need relief, but where do we look for it? The Church is poised in the perfect position to answer with the gospel. When our future young leaders are faced with the messages of burden in their daily lives and of those they lead, they need the message of grace. “Are we unleashing leaders into more pressure?” Zahl asked, comparing the working world to a religion, in that it provides an answer for the human need for “enoughness.” But the world does this by heaping more law on the workers, not grace, by pressuring more, better, faster, and never allowing mercy or pause. Grace finds us before we are worthy of such a reward, “While we were still sinners…” Christianity then becomes more to them than “just one more thing to do on my phone.” Fortunately, the Church is built on service and community, two things the culture of our country desperately needs.
In celebration of the CLB’s 125th anniversary, we were gifted with the viewing of the documentary video series presented by Dr. Joel Christenson. The video series was a great undertaking by Christenson and the team of the Communication Department. The videos outlined the history of each Synodical ministry and then the speakers presented an encouraging word on where those ministries are today.
Our President-elect Mark Nienow closed the afternoon session, citing a story of his experience visiting an old church on the CLB history tour. There they sang “It is Well with My Soul.” Nienow expressed, in reflection of our long and blessed history, “How many can say ‘It is well with my soul’ because of God’s work through the CLB? And how many more in the next 125 years?” We praise God for the longstanding ministry of our denomination, and pray God’s will to bless our future!
Dr. Troy Tysdal spoke to the evening gathering after a celebration of worship in song by the ministry of the worship team. Dr. Tysdal’s message was a challenge to remain pure, to guard the heart, and not let even the small sin remain as it will separate from God and hinder an individual’s ministry and message.
The Sunday morning service at Good Shepherd Lutheran Brethren Church, Fergus Falls, MN, brought a time of focus on the posture of a faithful servant. Presented by Rev. Roger Viksnes, the sermon wove a lifestyle of intention in building on the youth of our congregations to discover the latent talents and passions God chooses to instill―the blessings given to young leaders ready to be encouraged and developed. Viksnes outlined two messages that need to be heard by disciples depending on where they stand: one of encouragement, and one of humility. Viksnes explained we are “not looking for finished products.” He reiterated that it’s “not about aptitude. We are looking for posture.”
The afternoon was a time of sun-blessed fellowship on the Hillcrest Academy football field, including a meal, games and activities for kids, and a 24-team Kubb tournament. Four days will never be enough to satisfy the shared joy of connecting, sharing, and reminiscing among our body of believers.
As we worshiped again together that evening with one heart for God, we were encouraged by a message from Rev. Drew Skog. His words were wrought with experience, knowledge of learned lessons of his own growth and the trials of training others, stirring fervency for the crucial work of discipleship. Skog reflected that morning’s teaching, pointing to the early Church being blessed with Apollos: a passionate, though inexperienced, believer and witness. Skog urged church leaders to step up to shape the potential leaders who aren’t ready yet, seeing the need for willing and proactive disciple-makers before we complain about lack of disciples.
Not insignificant was the discussion Monday morning on the proposed amendments to the Statement of Faith and Position Paper on End Times theology. The wording, as voted and passed by the attending delegates, broadens the church’s stance on Eschatology to not exclude, but to include varying understandings of the biblical revelation. This will allow the CLB’s Statement of Faith and position paper to better communicate what the CLB believes. As the written rationale states, “We hold that it is not proper to insist on this position in view of the way eschatology is taught in the Scripture. The removal of the phrase ‘and to establish his millennial kingdom’ does not mean that the premillennial position can no longer be held but that it is no longer constitutionally required.”
Retiring missionary Paul Szobody referred to a very real benefit this change will have. Opening our work in the African mission field to partnerships with missions organizations that differ with the CLB only in our traditional standing on “millennial kingdom” theology. The change opens a potential partnership that will undoubtedly further the gospel in Africa. Paul and Teresa Szbody were also honored for their long and faithful ministry in missions.
Also recognized were our Japanese Church partners, represented by Pastor Yosefu Kaneta (Seminary President) and Pastor Haruya Ito (Church planter). Pastor Ito greeted the CLB and spoke to the great benefit of support and prayer. A gift was given of a painting (by Pastor Ito’s own father) of the Vine and the Branches, as well as monetary funds given with a heart of God’s goodness in multiplying by his will in the ministry of a proposed high school in Chad.
A panel session began the afternoon, composed of pastors and leaders in our North American churches, presided over by NAM Associate Director Jordan Spina, which aptly presented a series of snapshots into the wonderful work of disciple making in which these individuals and their churches are engaged. What does discipleship look like in the practical daily exchange of shared moments, intentional seeking, and lifelong nurturing? Each of these individuals offered unique perspectives and approaches, all intermingled into the far-reaching significance of pathways toward heart-level change in the lives of our young people.
Former CLB President Joel Egge opened the evening worship service, reading from the hymn “O Zion Haste.” “Give of thy sons to bear the message glorious; give of thy wealth to speed them on their way; pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious; O Zion, haste to bring the brighter day.”
Mark Nienow was installed as president and gave a word of respect to past presidents. “They were willing to make a stand for what was right and good and godly at personal cost. They sought to be faithful to God’s Word. And they were dedicated to seeing living Lutheran faith thrive.”
Outgoing President Paul Larson brought a sermon of devotion to the Church and Lutheran Brethren family. He spoke of the word “offspring” and its etymological meaning literally “of spring!” To unleash is to spring those we train to go off and out. Only one thing matters, Larson explained, and that one thing is that our children have faith in Christ―and their children, and theirs. The Church produces offspring, and it is our God-given charge to “nurture the seeds planted into life.”
The final day of convention included a listening session of the position paper on “Women in the Life and Ministry of the Church.” With care and consideration, we pondered in thought and voice how we might be led by God to approach our gracious involvement in his ministry and in this ongoing conversation. This session opened a two-year process of further discussion and input into the paper through reading groups, with email messages to the committee, and at regional conventions in 2027, as it is revised and updated in preparation for a final discussion and vote at the 2028 Biennial Convention.
The convention appropriately closed in communion: in joined reverence and quiet of soul in the presence of our great God. It is always our prayer that everything we do be to God’s glory. In the business and administration of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren’s ministry, God is glorified; he provides the means and multiplies the harvest by our hands and feet. Bethel Church in Fergus Falls, MN, became the setting for a treasured time of gathering together from all across the US, Canada, and across seas, to fellowship and plan for what God is preparing us to do next.
Dan Juliot is Copy Editor for Faith & Fellowship magazine. He attends and volunteers at Oak Hill Church, Bloomington, MN.