# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S134
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

134 TASK FORCE

Resolved, That these limits be applicable to those elected in
the 1981 convention of the Synod.

Redeemer Lutheran Church
Albuquerque, N.M.

Charles Borgman, President
F. A. Ringle, Secretary

2-16
To Limit Terms

WHEREAS, Presently according to Bylaw 2.07 a of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod the offices of President,
First Vice-President, and Secretary of the Synod shall be
without limitation; and

WHEREAS, The Lord of the church provides gifts of leader-
ship and ministry in abundant supply; and

WHEREAS. The burdens and responsibilities of such high
offices are most demanding and changing, requiring new and
fresh leadership; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 2.07 a be changed to read:

a. The offices of the President, First Vice-
President, and Secretary of the Synod shall be terms
of four vears. not to exceed two consecutive terms in
office.

St. Michael Lutheran Church
Portage, Mich.

2-17

To Decline to Reduce
Number of Boards

WHEREAS, The present structure of synodical boards and
commissions responsible for coordinating activity in rather
broad but still fairly well-defined areas has several distinct
advantages. to wit:

1. The potential to constitute boards of relative specialists,
who yet retain very close contact to ‘‘the field” as pastors,
teachers, or laymen;

2. The ability to place into the hands of such boards real
decision-making authority, not merely advisory powers;

3. The built-in decentralization that such organization
involves, while maintaining overall coordination within the
synodical structure: and

WHEREAS, The proposal of Task Force II regarding ‘‘Reduc-
tion in Number of Boards” will result in very little lessening in
manpower needs (since many existing boards will become
“resource committees’) but will result in a great loss of
decentralized authority; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention respectfully decline
Task Force II’s recommendation regarding ‘Reduction in
Number of Boards.”

Memorial Lutheran Church
Houston, Tex.
Geo. Knudson, Pastor

2-18

To Retain the Commission on Worship
as a Self-Standing Commission

WHEREAS, The worship forms employed by the congrega-
tions of the Synod are to be theologically sound and be a
faithful expression of our Lutheran heritage; and

WHEREAS, These requirements mandate personnel with
both theological and liturgical competencies; and

WHEREAS, The work is of such importance that those
charged with the task should have direct access to the Synod
itself; and

WHEREAS, Task Force II’s recommendation that the work of
the Commission on Worship be subsumed as a committee
under the proposed new Board for Congregational Services

would circumscribe and inhibit the work of the commission in
its important task; therefore be it

Resolved. That should the Synod adopt the restructuring of
the Synod proposed by Task Force I] the Commission on
Worship be retained as a self-standing commission as presently
constituted.

Faculty

Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Ind.

Norbert H. Mueller, Secretary

To Retain Present Structure
and Functions of Board
of Social Ministry and World Relief

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
experienced benefits for the past 30 vears from the Board of
Social Ministry and World Relief, its members and staff, which
has served as the administrative, programmatic, and evalua-
tive agency for the social-ministry interest of, within, and in
behalf of the Synod, both within the United States and abroad:
and

WHEREAS, The inclusion of the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief as a resource committee of the Board for Missions,
as outlined in the proposal for restructuring, may limit the
opportunities for, the continuation of, and the visibility of, the
church's ministry to the whole person; and

WHEREAS, The duties and functions of the Board of Social
Ministry and World Relief as currently defined complement the
duties and functions of the Board for Missions but are unique
in their focus; therefore be it

Resolved, That the duties and functions of the Board of

Social Ministry and World Relief be retained; and be it further

Resolved, That we give God thanks for the talents and

vision of social ministry that have come to the Synod from the
Board of Social Ministry and World Relief.

University Lutheran Chapel

Minneapolis, Minn.

Carol Hoffman, Secretary

2-20

To Continue Present Structure
for Social Ministry

WHEREAS, For 50 years (1900—S0) institutional chaplain-
cies, social ministries, and world relief functioned indepen-
dently and carried out their services for the spiritual and
material benefit of many individuals; and

WHEREAS, For 30 years (since 1950) the Board for Social
Ministry and World Relief has been an integral part of the
Synod’s work, successfully reaching individuals through the
Word and the Sacraments and in social services; and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Task Force is recommending that a
portion of social ministry be included in a Department of
Missions, a portion in a Department of Congregational Life,
and an appointed Board of Social Ministry, thereby causing
fragmentation and minimizing the role of the latter; therefore
be it

Resolved, That world relief and social ministries continue to
function as a separate board as in the recent past.

Concordia Lutheran Church
Kirkwood, Mo.

Theodore E. Schuessler, President
Walter M. Schoedel, Pastor

2-21

To Correlate Internal
and External Communications

WHEREAS, The 1979 convention in Res. 7-01 asked the Board