Delegate
Newsletter -- No. 1
For
Gospel-Centered, Mission Driven, Future-Oriented Leadership
in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
An Open
Letter to All Delegates of the 2004 LCMS Convention
Greetings
in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As a
delegate to the 2004 LCMS convention in St. Louis, you have
accepted the important responsibility of representing your
circuit. Synodical conventions are filled with exciting and
inspiring celebrations, thoughtful and Spirit filled Bible
study, and the important business of the church.
You
are probably beginning to wonder why your mailbox is filling
up with information from different groups within the LCMS. You
may also be wondering about the many names, like Jesus First
and what each group has to say to you as a delegate. In order
to help prepare you for the convention, Jesus First will be
sending a weekly newsletter that will highlight some of the
triumphs and some of the struggles within the LCMS today.
We believe that God will lead the 2004 convention
delegates to make strong decisions that will focus on the LCMS
the One Mission, One Message, One People vision that has been
eloquently shared by President Gerald Kieschnick.
President
Kieschnick was elected at the 2001 LCMS convention for a term
of three years. While President Kieschnick has proposed new
and exciting plans for our beloved LCMS, some pastors and
elected officials have been uncooperative and in some
situations, even insubordinate. Yet, President Kieschnick has
been a caring Shepherd to the whole church, listening to the
needs and concerns of all people. He has proven to be a
compassionate and inspiring leader during both his term of
office as Synod President and his multiple terms of office as
the President of the Texas District of the LCMS. Likewise,
President Kieschnick served in the past as the Chairman of the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations, the highest
commission of theologians, who study the Scriptures and answer
the difficult questions of life for people of the LCMS.
Jesus
First would like to see a team of people elected to support
the One Mission, One Message, One People vision that President
Kieschnick has shared with the church. We need a team of
elected officials and servant leaders who will help President
Kieschnick as the ABLAZE! program challenges us to reach 100
million souls for Christ! In summary, Jesus First would like
to see the LCMS united behind President Kieschnick, rather
than caught up in petty fights that take away from the message
of the Gospel.
During
the next fifteen weeks you will also receive our monthly
newsletter filled with articles about the LCMS convention and
important elections and issues at the convention. We encourage
you to visit our website www.jesusfirst.net
where you can find much more information about the trials and
joys within the LCMS. Out of respect for your time, we will
not be sending our information by the pound!! Next week, our
weekly newsletter will discuss fear – how this emotion can
be used in a negative way to influence your decisions.
We
at Jesus First wish you God’s peace and wisdom during the
time leading to the convention and for your work at
convention. I will personally be praying for you, as will the
members of Jesus First and the LCMS.
Rev.
Jon Coyne - Bethany Lutheran Church - Menlo Park, CA
Jesus
First Communications Leader
