A Message from President Paul Larson

Dear CLB Friends,

I have decided in consideration of my tenure, to not offer my name to stand as nominee for the office of president at the upcoming biennial convention in June of 2026.  It has been the humble privilege of my life to serve and to lead in this role for these past eleven years.  I have never presumed myself qualified for this role, but I do trust that I have been called by the Lord and His church.  Thank you so immensely for the honor of being your president and pastor.  I seek to finish strong and well.

I believe so greatly at my core in the distinct calling and mission of the CLB.  You likely have heard me say that I believe we are entrusted as stewards of a gift which intersects biblical truth and calling – we are indeed a people restful in grace, and restless in mission.  I believe the CLB is, and is becoming renewed again, in our identity and calling as a Disciple-Making Church.  May this reality and aspiration continue to shape the CLB and bear the fruit of generations of disciples who make disciples.

I am so very grateful for the team of leaders we have in departmental directors, associates and staff.  They will continue to ably fulfill their leadership callings moving forward.  And, I am confident that our Council of Directors and our BC26 convention will raise up and unleash the next CLB president with the needed gifts and vision to lead and serve into the future.

Perhaps it is a test or at least an evidence of a person being blessed to serve in a role like mine, and to be surrounded by a host of people who made that serving so rich; that I can so readily say that I love the Church more now than when I began.

Grace & Peace,

President, Church of the Lutheran Brethren