Synod Shows Jesus-First Leadership

By David S. Luecke

When Jesus First was originally organized, it issued a formal, frequently printed Call to Affirm Jesus-First Leadership.  Specifically, “We call on all church leaders to make sure Jesus’ way of love and mission to others remains the highest priority in the life and ministries of the whole LCMS.”

That Call also listed some then “disturbing displays” of synodical leadership associated with diminished mission urgency, increasing legalism, misplaced uniformity, and a growing spirit of fear and intimidation, among other concerns.

Seven years later there is good evidence that indeed the synodical leadership now in place is well focused on Jesus’ way of love and mission to others.

National Circuit Counselors Conference

The most recent display was the carefully organized and well led National Circuit Counselors Conference in Milwaukee, September 12–14, attended by 800 LCMS pastors.

It became a time of experiencing and celebrating a spirit of unity unwitnessed for many years.  A conference like this of all the pastors elected to the institutional structure beyond individual congregations had not been organized since 1991.

The work at hand was the introduction of the Circuit Counselor’s Manual, recently revised and simplified by a team of District Presidents.

Strengthening the Spirit

At first glance, the introduction of any kind of manual shouts “boring.”  Three things happened that delivered on the conference theme of “Strengthening the Spirit.”

One was recognition that it is not possible or necessary to cover a 96-page manual in detail.  Instead individual District Presidents made well organized presentations on the general areas of concern.  A clear emphasis was on the circuit counselor’s role of encouraging fellow pastors.

The second key planning component was assigning participants to round tables to promote discussion of questions assigned by the presenter. 

My favorite was the discussion of North Dakota President Larry Harvala’s presentation on Unity and Circuit Counselor Skills.  His questions had each group actually discussing the very controversial issues of communion practice and traditional vs contemporary worship.  It became a time of recognizing unity even in the presence of strong differing convictions.

Comic Relief

The best part of the conference was an innovation never before seen in our circles.  It was the “Dale and Dean Show.”  Seminary Presidents Dale Meyer and Dean Wenthe  were on for a long presentation and then frequent 10-minute segments.  Why would we need to hear so much about the seminaries?

Their role quickly became apparent.  They were the comic relief.  They bantered and kidded each other, mostly about the stereotypes of the two seminaries, their sports teams, and their ongoing fund raising chores.  Of the two Dean Wenthe seemed to deliver more laughs through his surprising dry wit.

As valuable as some comedy was in an agenda that had no morning or afternoon breaks, the best part of their repeated exchanges was the unity in diversity that the conference participants could witness again and again.  A church body that can laugh together about realities they face is a church that is well along in healing.

A synodical leadership that can fund and organize this productive celebration of unity is also well along in providing the kind Jesus-first leadership we so desperately needed.