# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1989_S171 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) LATE REPORTS AND OVERTURES Bylaw 3.19 b provides that reports and overtures must be submitted not later than 16 weeks prior to the opening day of the convention. March 17, 1989, was therefore the deadline date for this information. The same Bylaw goes on to state: “No report or overture received subsequent to that date shall be accepted for convention consideration unless a committee consisting of the President, the First Vice-President, and the Secretary adjudge it to be a matter of overriding importance and urgency which is not adequately covered by documents already before the convention.” After a careful evaluation of these documents the committee referred to in the Bylaw decided to approve the following for consideration by the convention (the text of each of these is printed on these pages): L1-61 L4-63 To Reestablish an Indian Ministry To Clarify Procedures for District Training Center and Synodical Financial Disclosure Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at its WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon Christian leaders and 1979 convention resolved to train 50 Indian people for min- pastors to set good examples; and istry in the Indian community; and Wuereas, Letting everything in the church “be done Wuereas, The Synod currently has no plan for how to decently and in good order” certainly should include having train these people since the closure of its training center _ the people informed about all aspects of the operation of in Seward, NE; and the church; and Wuereas, This closure has had a damaging impact on Wuereas, Congregations which voluntarily contribute the Indian community; and from their offerings ought to be given the consideration of WuHereas, Such a training center is essential if there is knowing exactly how these offerings are spent; and to be any future training of Indian pastors; therefore be it Wuereas, The Synod has dealt with this issue in con- Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod _ vention, and has taken no action (Convention Proceedings, reestablish an Indian Ministry Training Center at the ear- 1986, Res. 4-14, p. 157); and liest possible date; and be it further Wuereas, The Synod has a sacred trust in regard to Resolved, That leaders of the Indian community be con- manner in which it expends funds which have been solic- sulted about the location of the center and the program to ited from the synodical membership for the sake of the be implemented. Gospel of Christ and the promotion of His kingdom; there- Faith Lutheran Church _ fore be it Spencer Marcy, President Resolved, That the Nebraska District clearly states that information regarding the amount of pay for each District official and administrative assistant be made available to ° ° congregations upon written request by the chairman of the To Pursue Fellowship Ties congregation; and be it further Resolved, That this procedure for disclosure of infor- mation be published annually in an official periodical or another mailing to congregations; and be it finally Resolved, That the Nebraska District memorialize Synod to also follow a similar practice of financial disclosure. L3-124 Wuereas, The Lord Jesus desires that the members of His church express outwardly the fellowship they have with Him and with one another as a part of the Holy Chris- tian Church (John 17:11, 20); and Wuereas, Christians are to be united in what they be- lieve and teach as they serve and worship together in Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:42; 1 Peter 2:9-10); and Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has long been involved in fellowship discussions with other Christians; therefore be it Resolved, That the Nebraska District memorialize the Synod to pursue more diligently discussions with official L4-65 representatives of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Nebraska District Convention Eldor W. Meyer, President Eugene Gierke, Secretary Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, the Lutheran To Remove Bylaws 9.11, 9.13, and 9.15 Church of the Reformation, and independent Lutheran Relative to Collections Beyond District church bodies, as well as the new Evangelical Lutheran and Congregation Church in America, with the goal of reaching mutual un- Wuereas, Bylaws now contained in the Handbook re- derstanding of the authority of the Scriptures and adher- _flect the situation at the time when synodical entities, par- ence to the Lutheran Confessions. ticularly colleges and seminaries, were not involved in Nebraska District Convention development and fund-raising, when “controls” were pos- Eldor W. Meyer, President sible, and when the Synod desired centralization, while Eugene Gierke, Secretary the opposite is true today; and 173