In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman welcomes back Jim Sanft, former President and CEO of Concordia Plans, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, trust, Lutheran education, lay leadership, LCMS bureaucracy, and what it means to steward faithfully in a changing church.

This conversation is honest, hopeful, and deeply practical for pastors, school leaders, commissioned ministers, lay leaders, and anyone who loves the church enough to want her to flourish.

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

The LCMS presidential election is heading to a runoff — and the numbers are impossible to ignore.

President Matthew Harrison received 43.8% on the first ballot. Dr. Joel Biermann received 39.0%. For the first time in this election cycle, the Synod is now moving into a second round of voting, and the future direction of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is very much in the balance.

In this special joint episode of Lead Time and Red Letter Living, Tim Ahlman and Zach Zehnder unpack what this moment reveals about the LCMS: pastoral formation, vacant pulpits, trust, leadership, the Eighth Commandment, church growth, unity, and the urgent need for honest conversation.

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Philip Meinzen, a longtime LCMS educator and creator of The Grace Formula, for a powerful conversation about stewardship, generosity, tithing, debt, vocation, and the mission of the local church.

Philip argues that the church has often allowed the culture to disciple Christians in money, resources, debt, and scarcity — while Scripture gives us a much richer vision of life under grace. The question is not, “How much does the church need?” The better question is, “What does God’s grace mean to us, and how does it shape the way we live?”

Learn more about Philip’s work at https://graceflows.org

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman talks with Jim Simpson, a retired higher education leader with decades of experience in curriculum development, administration, accreditation, and student success. Together, they explore what higher education has learned about adult learners, hybrid models, mentorship, internships, and competency-based formation — and what those lessons might mean for Concordia seminaries and pastoral training in the LCMS.

This conversation touches on residential seminary, SMP, hybrid learning, accreditation, prior approval, faculty development, and the need for local churches to identify, develop, and deploy leaders for mission.

This is not about cutting corners. It is about asking whether the LCMS can adapt faithfully so more people are formed, equipped, and sent to proclaim the Gospel.

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman sits down with Coach Patrick Daberkow, head football coach at Concordia University, Nebraska. Together, they talk about what makes a healthy team culture, why football still matters in an age of individualism, how young men are formed through accountability and hardship, and why faith cannot simply be one priority among many — it has to shape the whole life.

This conversation is about more than football. It is about discipleship, culture, character, and the kind of leaders the church and world desperately need.

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod loves its history. But what if we have forgotten one of the most important parts of it?

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman talks with Pastor Mark Brandt about the story of St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Michigan, the missionary vision of Wilhelm Loehe, the early tensions between mission and doctrine, and what today’s LCMS can learn from its own complicated beginnings. Are we willing to learn from history before we repeat it?

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller returns to Lead Time for a conversation that begins with the Prodigal Son… and ends up exposing something much closer to home.

Most Christians know the story of the younger son who runs away, wastes everything, and comes home in shame. But what if Jesus’ sharpest warning is actually aimed at the older brother — the faithful, obedient, religious one who cannot rejoice when mercy is given to someone else?

Check out Bryan's New Book Here:
https://www.amazon.com/Finally-Free-Bryan-Wolfmueller/dp/0758681569

In this episode, Tim Ahlman, Jack Kalleberg, and Bryan Wolfmueller dig into pride, despair, passive faith, Lutheran worship, church systems, contemporary vs. liturgical tensions, and what the LCMS can learn from the Father’s joy.

This is a conversation for every Lutheran who cares about doctrine, mission, worship, and the future of the church — especially if you’ve ever wondered whether we are better at defending the feast than actually rejoicing in it.

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

A major LCMS convention overture could reshape the way the Concordia University System functions — but many everyday Lutherans may not understand what is being proposed, why it matters, or what questions still need to be answered.

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Dr. Bernard Bull, President of Concordia University, Nebraska, to discuss Overture 7-01, the future of the Concordia University System, and why this technical governance issue may have very real implications for trust, collaboration, church worker formation, and the future of Lutheran higher education.

Dr. Bull explains why he believes the Concordias are not trying to “go rogue,” why visitation and relationship matter, and why major structural changes should happen with broad conversation, due diligence, and transparency. The conversation also explores the difference between churchly visitation and corporate oversight, the importance of local Concordia boards, possible financial questions around grants and planned gifts, and how delegates should think carefully before convention.

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

Most Lutherans do not get excited about bylaws — but sometimes a bylaw change can have real consequences for local ministry.

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Jim Saalfeld, CEO of the Church Extension Fund, to discuss LCMS Overture 9-06 and proposed changes related to Bylaw 1.5. While part of the overture appears to create new structures for entities like LCEF and Concordia Plans to partner with for-profit entities, Jim raises concerns that the broader rewrite may be far more sweeping than many delegates realize.

Could this affect local ministries, RSOs, church-related organizations, CEFs, governance documents, property, audits, donations, and legal liability? And should delegates vote on something this complex if they do not fully understand what it means?

This conversation is not about assigning motive. It is about asking for clarity before the 2026 LCMS Convention in Phoenix.

If you are an LCMS pastor, lay delegate, congregational leader, school leader, RSO leader, or simply a Lutheran who cares about the future of the Synod, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

What happens when public accusations of heresy are made without clear evidence?

In this urgent Lead Time conversation, Rev. Dr. Jim Voelz and Rev. Dr. Mark Hoehner join Tim Ahlman to discuss ethics, truth, the Eighth Commandment, public criticism, and the responsibility Christians have when making serious accusations inside the church.

The conversation centers on recent criticisms of Dr. Voelz’s work, including claims tied to Seminex 2.0, Christian News, and debates around biblical interpretation, postmodernism, and confessional Lutheran theology. But the deeper question is bigger than one person:

Can the LCMS recover a more faithful way to disagree?

References discussed in this episode include James W. Voelz’s What Does This Mean?, Principles of Biblical Interpretation for Everyone, Christian News, the Seminex 2.0 document, Matthew 18, Proverbs 6, Galatians 2, Acts 15, and Alan Kreider’s The Patient Ferment of the Early Church.

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is heading into a significant season. With convention conversations ahead, questions around pastoral formation, membership decline, congregational vitality, and the future of Lutheran mission are all on the table.

Today, We sit down with presidential nominee Rev. Brady Finnern for a wide-ranging conversation about Lutheran identity, the heart of the Gospel, congregational decline, convention priorities, and what faithful leadership looks like in a changing church landscape.

If you care about the future of the LCMS, pastoral formation, Lutheran mission, or the health of local congregations, this is a conversation worth sharing.

Support the show

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Care about the future of the LCMS?
Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org