Prepare for your 2003 District Convention

The thirty-five districts of the LCMS will have their conventions in the months ahead.  Prepare yourself and your congregation.

Resolutions to Synod

In a significant change from past practices President Kieschnick has indicated to the district presidents that he plans to encourage the floor committees of the synodical convention to give primary attention to resolutions that come from district boards of directors, district conventions, pastoral conferences, etc.

You can prepare resolutions to synod that your congregation can forward to your district convention.  Know the deadlines for your district.  Prepare resolutions that are challenging, visionary, Gospel-centered, mission-focused, affirming the best of who we are and who God has called us to be. 

Nominate

Nominate people with a great vision of what our church might be, with courage to stand boldly for the Gospel, and with a commitment to stay with it.  Prayerfully consider whether you might qualify as such a candidate. 

Elections   

Elect Gospel-centered, mission-driven, future-oriented people for the offices in your district.  If your district will be electing a new president, get to know as much as you can about the candidates. 

Some districts will be electing members of the synodical Nomination Committee, which calls for and nominates candidates for almost all elected commissions, boards, and ministries.  Get to know your district candidates for this synodical committee.

Electoral Circuits

If you think that your electoral circuit is not representative of your congregation, note that the synodical Handbook gives the responsibility and authority to the synodical president, upon recommendation of your district board of directors, to approve an exception to the Handbook stipulation regarding how many congregations and confirmed members are required to constitute an electoral circuit.

Identify Like-Minded Colleagues

There are those in every District who are Gospel-centered, mission-driven, future-focused. Get to know them.  Contact www.jesusfirst.net for Jesus First supporters in your district. 

Communicate

Talk with one another about your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your prayers for our Synod.  Share accurate and good information.  Challenge every rumor.  Be careful about breaking the 8th commandment.  There are many good people among us with different ideas about what is best for the Synod.  Good communication means listening to them. There are some among us who seem bent on division and character assassination.  Challenge them. 

Pray