Lutheran Church–Canada elects a new president

Rev. Timothy Teuscher accepts his election as President of Lutheran Church–Canada.

Rev. Timothy Teuscher

KITCHENER, Ontario – On October 14, 2017 Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) elected Rev. Timothy Teuscher as synodical president. The vote came during the second day of LCC’s 2017 synodical convention being held in Kitchener, Ontario.

Rev. Teuscher currently serves as First Vice President of the East District of Lutheran Church–Canada (2012-current) and pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Stratford, Ontario (1996-current). He formerly served as Second Vice President of the East District (2000-2006), as well as on LCC’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations (1993-1999). Prior to being called to Stratford, Rev. Teuscher served parishes in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in Petawawa and Palmer Rapids, Ontario.

Rev. Teuscher was elected president on the second ballot, receiving 63 percent of the vote (60 votes). He defeats Rev. Dr. Glenn Schaeffer, who received 35 votes. Rev. Ron Mohr was also nominated for the position of President, but was eliminated after the first ballot. Of the 97 votes cast in the first ballot, Rev. Ron Mohr received 28 votes, Dr. Schaeffer received 32, and Rev. Teuscher received 37.

President Elect Teuscher will address the convention during the afternoon of October 15.

Rev. Teuscher succeeds Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee, who had announced in early 2017 that he would not be standing for reelection. Dr. Bugbee was elected President of Lutheran Church–Canada in 2008, and was acclaimed to second and third terms without opposition in 2011 and 2014. He has further served the International Lutheran Council as its Vice Chairman for several terms.

Dr. Bugbee is returning to fulltime parish ministry, having accepted a call to First Lutheran Church (Windsor, Ontario). He will continue to serve as LCC President until the incoming president is installed sometime in early 2018.

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