# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S247
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

synod structure and governance
Whereas, A name change from “The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod” to another may indicate a shift from not only our
historical heritage but also from the first objective of the Synod, to
“[c]onserve and promote the unity of the true faith” (Constitution,
Art. III 1); therefore be it
Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District memorialize the
2010 Synod convention to retain the name “The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod.”
South Wisconsin District
8-76

To Retain Name “The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod”
Whereas, There is worldwide recognition of the name “The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod” among Lutherans and other
denominations; and
Whereas, We are known for our scriptural and confessional position under that name, and our position is a reflection of our history
under the grace of God; and
Whereas, Altering the name of the Synod would promote confusion within and outside the Synod and require much explanation; and
Whereas, The cost of changing publications, letterheads, signs,
insignia, and other media would be costly and questionable stewardship; and
Whereas, The name of a church body is neutral as far as the
Gospel is concerned, it being clear that Roman Catholics are not
found only in Rome, and Southern Baptist are found all over the
United States, and Missouri Synod Lutherans are found all over the
world; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod retain its
name.
East Region Pastoral Conference
Northern Illinois District
8-77

To Decline Further Study of LCMS Name Change
Whereas, The BRTFSSG recommends in its final report to the
2010 LCMS convention that the Synod “adopt a process leading to
the renaming of the Synod” (Congregations Walking Together in
Mission: The Final Report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force for Synod
Structure and Governance, October 2009, p. 43); and
Whereas, Overtures have been submitted to conventions of the
Synod since 1962 calling for a renaming of the Synod (ibid., p. 45);
and
Whereas, The Synod’s Board of Directors studied the matter
extensively during the 1998–2001 triennium, receiving the Name
Change Task Force’s report that while 78 percent of Synod and district leadership thought a name change would have an impact on the
ability to reach out to the unchurched, 58 percent of those serving on
the front lines of work with the unchurched in congregations indicated that “a name change would have no impact on their ability to
reach the unchurched,” (ibid., p. 46, emphasis added); and
Whereas, The 1999 report of the Name Change Task Force indicated that congregational respondents “were about evenly divided on
whether the name should be changed,” (ibid., p. 46); and
Whereas, The 2009 survey conducted by the BRTFSSG at district
conventions indicated a continued even divide (45 percent favorable,

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40 percent unfavorable, 15 percent unsure) (ibid., Appendix 7, p.
4); and
Whereas, The task of the BRTFSSG was to study and make recommendations regarding “significant fiscal implications relative to
the Synod’s current structure” (ibid., p. 10); and
Whereas, The BRTFSSG’s own estimates of the financial impact
of their recommendations is a total per year savings of about 83 dollars per congregation and about $990,000 for Synod, Inc . (ibid.,
Appendix 4, p. 4.1); and
Whereas, The cost of changing the name of the Synod was estimated in 1999 to be about $3–5 million to the Synod, Inc. (ibid., p.
46); therefore be it
Resolved, That we, the Board of Directors of the Central Illinois
District, memorialize the 2010 Synod convention to reject any proposals working toward or further studying a change in the name of
the LCMS; and be it further
Resolved, That we memorialize the 2010 Synod convention to
place a three-convention moratorium (9–12 years) on any further
study of, consideration of, or other expenditure of money toward a
name change for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Board of Directors
Central Illinois District
8-78

To Retain the Name “The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod”
Whereas, In 2005, President Gerald Kieschnick appointed the
Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance; and
Whereas, The task force’s proposals in its final report of October
15, 2009, are far-reaching in scope and significant in import; and
Whereas, Experience teaches that maximum attention must be
given to details and wording in making adjustments and/or changes
impinging on structure; and
Whereas, The Synod would do well to proceed with prayerful and
appropriate care in considering any changes; and
Whereas, “The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod” is generally
acknowledged around the world to be the name of THE confessional
Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That Our Savior Lutheran Church, Muscatine, IA,
memorialize the Synod to retain the name “The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod.”
Our Savior, Muscatine, IA;
Zion, Wilton, IA
8-79

To Reject Any Proposal to Change Pastoral
Candidate Certification
Whereas, The President of the Synod in 2005 appointed a Blue
Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance (BRTFSSG)
to “do a thorough, zero-based assessment of the entirety of the system
of governance and organizational structure of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod” and to make recommendations for improvements
that “suggest a form of structure and governance for the decades
ahead” (BRTFSSG Report, pp. 6–7); and
Whereas, The BRTFSSG has published a document for consideration and discussion, “Walking Together—The LCMS Future:
Proposals and Possibilities for Consideration and Discussion”; and
2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 247

4/15/10 2:40 PM