One Delegate's Impression of the Convention

 

By David S. Luecke    

Most delegates to the 2007 LCMS Convention in Houston July14-19 went home with the feeling that those days were well spent and the outcome was very good.  That is my impression as a pastoral delegate.

While the efforts to make the sessions inspirational and uplifting were well done, the nature of this every-three-years gathering is to make hundreds of decisions about who will be leaders and what policies will be in effect.  That means long hours, including a Tuesday evening session, sitting at the assigned table and chair with an electronic box to register votes.

Elections

The first order of business was to elect the president of Synod for the next three years.  Rev. Gerald Kieschnick was reelected on the first ballot.  All the incumbent vice presidents willing to continue were also reelected.  Their past leadership was apparently satisfactory.  The newcomer is Rev. John Wohlrabe, an active-duty Navy chaplain.  His supporters gave him the second highest number of votes for president.

All together 102 positions as officers and on boards and commissions needed to be filled.  Jesus First put out the One List of recommended nominees.  It was apparently widely used.  The results give confidence that Synod’s leadership will be mission driven and future oriented.

Resolutions

The nine floor committees offered in print 100 resolutions.  Almost all reached the floor.  75 were passed, most by majority of 65-80%.  The floor committees were chaired by District Presidents.  They and the delegates were well in tune with each other, another reflection of good leadership.

The vote with perhaps the greatest future impact on Synod was to replace the current DELTO program with the Specific Ministry Pastor program, which is still in development.  Even without many of the specifics in place, the lengthy, detailed resolution passed by a three-quarter vote.

The mood of the delegates was clearly to have issues well discussed, for the sake of greater acceptance of the result.  Time and again motions to call the question were defeated.  Yet few amendments were accepted and the final votes were usually by a large majority. 

Bible Study

The daily Bible studies were presented by the elected vice presidents of Synod rather than professors.  Their emphasis was on application to issues at hand, and each allowed time for delegate discussion in small groups.

Second Vice President Paul Maier used the first chapter of First Corinthians to present his challenge to the delegates:  “I understand your concerns about Communion, church, ministry, worship, the roles of women and men, and your outreach to the world, but in the name of the sovereign God who created the universe, get over your quarrels and be about your Father’s business!!”

Third Vice President Dean Nadasdy presented the Apostle Paul on Mars Hill in Athens, who took great risks in adapting his message to that university-equivalent Greek culture that considered itself so superior.  He did so because he wanted to be a player in that culture.  So should we take risks to reach our unchurched culture of today.