Convention
Update
Wednesday, July 14
The
Synod Has Made Great Strides
Tuesday saw
some blessed results of various Convention actions.
Resolution
8-01A
The
Convention passed Resolution 8-01A, greatly improving
Synod’s dispute resolution process.
Wisely, the delegates
made Matthew 18 and face-to-face resolution high
priorities once again. The Gospel-centered focus on relationships has been
greatly strengthened. This was a great victory for biblical
reconciliation and will bless our Synod.
Resolution 7-02A
The Convention passed
Resolution 7-02A, clearly defining the roles of the Board of
Directors (BOD) and the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM).
Thereby, the historic view of the Constitution and Bylaws as
Synod’s prevailing governing documents was upheld.
Furthermore, questions about State of Missouri law in
relational to our Constitution and Bylaws were answered. The
CCM retained its historic right to render decisions between
Conventions without interference by the BOD. In fact, the
BOD’S interference with the CCM’S rulings in 2003,
declaring eight positions of the CCM “of no effect,’ was
ruled out of order by the Convention. This was a great victory
for the Synod’s structure of governance.
Election results
In elections, the so-called
“minority” members of the BOD (who were steadfast in the
face of the BOD majority’s ill-chosen behavior) increased in
number, sending a clear signal that the Convention does not
want the BOD to cause more turmoil in the future. This was a
victory for our commitment to walk together
The delegates
are sending clear messages that they are wearied of delaying
tactics and repetitive discussion and want to get the business
of the Synod completed. They are also showing great
understanding of the pressing issues before them. Let’s keep
those victories coming!
_______________________________________
Reconciliation—Let’s
Invest the Time
Some
members of our Synod will want to continue discussing the
decisions reached by this Convention. That’s certainly
proper. Sincere dialogue can help bring each of us to a deeper
understanding of God’s Word and how it applies to our lives
as individual believers as well as members of the church.
(Even our seemingly fruitless controversy over “civic events
and other religions” has resulted in documents from the CTCR
and the St. Louis Seminary that President Kieschnick praised
for their “proper caution and evangelical encouragement.”)
Sincere
dialog can also lead to reconciliation. President
Kieschnick’s list of items that do not divide us and
the Scriptural faith in Jesus Christ that does unite us
(pp.235-37) can be a start. Kieschnick quoted Luther and
Walther, that “Where there is no lover, doctrine cannot
remain pure.” This is not a call to change our doctrine, but
to open our hearts. Let’s not give up on each other.
Don’t
Lose Hold of Each Other
Some
pastors are old enough, or fortunate enough, to have been in
circuits or other groups where every question was debated on
the basis of the Gospel and the Scriptures—never losing hold
of either—but every discussion was then continued over
dinner or over a beer. This was a way not to lose hold of each
other.
It’s
certainly clear that the vast majority of the Synod wants to
unite around the mission that the Lord has given us. This
Convention has made it clear that the Synod needs to be ABLAZE!
with the fervor of God’s Mission, which is our mission,
which is urgent. The work of reconciliation and the work of
uniting in god’s Mission can be one combined, God-pleasing
work.
_______________________________________
THE
BOD’S BEHAVIOR—ACCOUNTABILITY?
The good news
is that the convention adopted 7-02A on Tuesday!
At the request of the BOD and Floor Committee 7, we
declared the controversial actions of the board to be “of no
effect.”
That is very
important action. We hope it results in these promises for the future:
-
Never
again will a convention have to overturn the actions of
the BOD for procedural reasons!
-
No
more “stonewalling” a floor committee or a convention!
-
No
more spending of large sums of money seeking legal
opinions that ignore the CCM
-
No
more appealing to Missouri Corporate Law at the expense of
the separation of church and state rights, already
guaranteed by our United States constitution.
-
No
more silencing its “minority” members or disallowing
the recording of negative votes in minutes
We applaud
this action of the convention, confident that the BOD has
every intention to be on its best behavior. They should know that the whole Synod will be watching.
An
apology from the BOD would be much appreciated.
So would their assurance that they have every intention
of living under Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws.
_______________________________________
The BOD ---
Looking Ahead
The
Convention, by overruling the over-reaching resolutions of the
Board of Directors, has put an end to the standoff of the past
months. The new Board will have no question that it must abide
by the constitutional structures of the Synod. This is
essential, especially as we face increasing financial
challenges --- increasing all the more, as we respond to
God’s call to do more. We need a united Board of Directors
working wisely and together as part of One Mission, One
Message, and One People.
_______________________________________
ARE
DISTRICTS THE PROBLEM?
Some would
suggest that the 35 synodical districts have caused the
financial challenges of our national church. “Let’s take
the money the local church gives to its district and give it
to the national Board of Directors to redistribute. That will
solve the problem,” some say. Is this true?
We do not
believe that these statements are true or reflect the LCMS
majority view. Monday’s polling of the delegates indicates
that they appreciate their districts’ use of their money.
The majority’s worldview says we do not have a God of
scarcity; but rather a God of Provision. We believe that
meeting tomorrow’s challenges will require much more than
the cosmetic quick fix some would take.
The following will help us move forward:
Congregational
ABLAZE! Fire Ignited
Passage of
the Human Care resolutions will light the fire within our
congregations and encourage God’s people to
-
Continue and expand
ministries of health and healing
-
affirm the ministry of parish
nurses
-
facilitate inclusive
ministries with and to people with disabilities and
appreciate their contributions
-
be
more financially responsible for the care of our workers,
their spouses and families
_______________________________________
Keeping in Step
with the Spirit
Since we live
by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians
5:25).
Can we be
sure Convention actions are in step with the Spirit?
Testing, Vote by Vote
The biblical
counsel is to “test the spirits to see whether they are of
God” (1 John 4:1). This is happening vote by vote,
decently and in order. The Convention is reaching major
decisions to provide coherent leadership for ambitious Gospel
mission. The Lord is at work.
Fear Not
Dare
to believe this Convention is following the Spirit’s
guidance. The challenge now is to keep in step with the
Spirit. Don’t let fearful human agendas block progress on
the work the Synod is determining to do. Now is not the time
for “a spirit of timidity” (2
Timothy 1:7).
_______________________________________
Transparency
is Our Tradition
Resolutions 7-11 and 7-13
Transparency
in governance is good.
In the past the LCMS has been a transparent church body
that:
We have
started to deal with the Board of Directors mess.
Now we need to assure that:
-
all donated funds are
transparent
-
all interim appointments
stay interim
-
all future actions of the
BOD stay transparent
To do this,
we need to pass Res. 7-11, which sets a limit of 18 months for
interim appointments.
We need to
pass Res. 7-13, which sets limits for appointments by boards
and officers for periods beyond the then-current triennium.
In the past:
Let’s
reinforce the tradition by making sure that all officers and
boards of Synod follow the Constitution and Bylaws.
_______________________________________
Reconciliation,
the Possible Reality!
What is
causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn't it the whole
army of evil desires at war within you? You want what you
don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous
for what others have, and you can't possess it, so you fight
and quarrel to take it away from them.
(James 4:1-2a NLV).
Some call it
“contending for the faith,” but we are Christ’s redeemed
Church.
Some explain
that “error” must be openly and clearly denounced, but
loving correction is rarely harsh. Jesus extracted the sin, and restored the sinner.
Some simply
brush it off, saying that we have always fought and feuded, as
if our long history somehow makes sinful hostility acceptable.
Through the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, James wrote that we fight
because we are jealous of the blessings that our Lord God has
poured out. The
Holy Spirit’s solution.
Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers,
do not slander one another (James
4:10-11 NIV).
_______________________________________
Resolution 7-08
Provides Voting Fairness for All
From its
founding in 1847, Synod’s Constitution has stipulated one
vote per congregation – fair representation for that time
and setting. To
ensure fair representation for all sizes of congregations and
for all called church workers in our contemporary setting, Res
7-08 recommends appointment of a special committee to study
and provide more equitable representation at synodical
conventions.
We
recommend the adoption of Res 7-08 because no one loses a vote
and everyone wins!
_______________________________________
Thank
a District President Today
District
Presidents are servant leaders who have earned the trust and
affection of their people.
In addition to serving their Districts, DPs serve the
Synod at large by
- placing
candidates into calls
- representing
at the local level the President and Vice-Presidents of
Synod
- coordinating
District and synodical efforts.
Thank
your District President for serving on your behalf!
_______________________________________
We
Can Live Together
We pride
ourselves in our ability to define.
We define others by their teachings.
We define others by their actions.
We define others, in groups, denominations, sects and
sub-sets.
(But) We
define ourselves by our impetus to forgive.
Our
pastors must, in public, offer grace.
Our
parents, in quiet, wiped tears and pardon.
Our
spouse, still angry, dismisses our words and takes our apology
to heart.
Of all
peoples, Lutherans understand the import of absolution.
If
wounds are to be healed, then the beatings must stop.
If wounds
are to be healed, then the condemning must stop.
If
wounds are to be healed, then the oil of forgiveness must
flow.
If
wounds are to be healed, hatchets must be buried, brothers
attended.
We must take
apologies at face value.
To parse, while historical, serves little purpose other
than to fuel continued controversy.
We must take
apologies to heart. Trusting the sincerity of those who ask.
Hastening to embrace those who don’t!
Jesus,
hanging and bleeding, speaks to His Father, “FORGIVE…”
Stephen,
looking to heaven, begs for his slayers, “FORGIVE…”
Now,
our Lord God looks from heaven, and reminds us,
“FORGIVE…”
Help us, O
God our Savior, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and
forgive our sins for Your name’s sake. Why should the nations say, “Where is Your God?”
Psalm 79: 9-10
_______________________________________
Who’s
Around the Corner?
There is
little worse than having a mistrusting co-worker looking over
your shoulder, constantly double-checking your work.
The
temptation to shadow one’s peers is enticing. When mistrust
is mixed with jealousy, one looks at others with a critical
eye.
In President
Kieschnick’s report to the Synod, he appealed to the church
concerning the issue of trust:
“Our pastors must be allowed to be pastors,
without fear of backlash or formal charges around every
decision-making corner.”
Holy
Spirit, reach down to us with Your peace and grace. Give us
grace to repent of our jealousy and hostility. Through us
cause charitable trust to prevail among us, for Jesus’ sake.
Amen!
