# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1995_S111 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 112 ‘RESOLUTIONS 204 representative from the practical department -.. of each seminary appointed by the seminary president : 20 faculty representatives from the colleges /uni- versities appointed by the Concordia University ; System Board of Directors- 11. synodically elected Board for Congregational Services. members 6 one national staff representative (or designee) ‘from the Board for Black Ministry Services; two from the Asian ministry area (rotating between Asian communities); one Hispanic and two at- large ethnic ministry areas to be identified by . each group in cooperation with the Congrega- ‘tional Services service area director assigned to the area. of ethnic ministries . 10 . executive director of Board for Congregational Services and director (or designee) for each ser- vice area and the executive director of the Com- mission on Worship 74 Term of office for District representatives, youth rep- resentatives, District staff, seminary and college /uni- versity representatives, and ethnic representatives shall be three years. All representatives may be appointed to no more than three successive three-year terms except for . youth representatives. Youth representatives serve one term of three years. ; Functions The Conference of Congregational Services meets at least annually to provide future-oriented, shared vision in congregational services and communicates the same to its respective constituencies. The conference will 1. gather information and feedback from Districts and congregations.on needs, expectations, and trends; 2. review board activities and submit appropriate recommendations to the board; 3. help integrate the operations of the Congregational Services service areas to meet the expressed needs of Dis- tricts and congregations; 4. receive communications from the Districts regard- ing their plans and those of their congregations and share synodical plans with them. ° Resolved, That during the next and future triennia the Board for and Conference of Congregational Services con- tinue to determine whether further refinements need to be made in view of continuing structural revisions at the Dis- trict and national levels. Resolved, That the functions and duties of all areas (child ministry, youth ministry, adult ministry, family min- istry, singles ministry, school ministry, outreach ministry, leadership ministry, and stewardship ministry) that have been identified with Congregational Services be referred to the Board for Congregational Services for review and inte- gration which are consistent with its responsibilities. Resolved, That election to the Board for Congregational Services take place as follows: . 1995—eleven (11) at large members elected by the con- vention with two persons elected in each category (or- dained, commissioned, and lay) receiving the highest num- ber of votes serving a six-year term and the remaining five serving a three-year term; and 1998—five (5) members elected for a six-year term. _ Resolved, That the CCM make any other changes in the Bylaws required to conform with this resolution. Action: Adopted as amended (7). “ (The motion was amended by. the addition of singles ministry in the third resolve. An amendment to add Four laypeople, elected by random draw, from the lay delegates to the convention for a three-year term to the membership of the Conference of Congre- gational Services was declined. ) To Commend for Study the CTCR Document Racism and the Church RESOLUTION 2-05A Overture 2-39 (CW, p. 147) WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Re- lations has prepared a study document on Racism and the Church; and WHEREAS, There is great good when in the unity of the Spirit in the body of Christ we discuss issues which divide us and use the power of the Gospel which reconciles us; therefore be it Resolved, That the CTCR majority and minority reports ‘on Racism and the Church (CW, pp. 272-91 and pp. 62-64 respectively) be commended for study and conversation among our brothers and sisters in Christ, and be it further Resolved, That we utilize the rich gifts of our ethnic di- versity through representation on boards and commissions of the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That we use the means of grace, applying the proper distinction between Law and Gospel to expose, con- demn, remove, and heal divisions caused by sin; and be it finally Resolved, That the President of the Synod and the CTCR receive the responses from the church’s study and conver- sation on the majority and minority reports on Racism and the Church that they may integrate such responses into fu- ture discussion and action. Action: Adopted (2). (The title was changed by the committee, substituting the words Commend for for Receive and.) To Address Concerns Relating to Congregational Worship RESOLUTION 2-06 Overtures 2-15-23 (CW, pp. 140-43) Rationale: The worship life of the congregation stands at the heart of the Lutheran faith, tradition, and hope and expresses publicly our theology of the cross. Article III of Synod’s Con- stitution states: “The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, shall—7 Encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church practice, but also to de- velop an appreciation of a variety of responsible practices and customs which are in harmony with our common pro- fession of faith.” In 1992 the Pittsburgh convention in Res. 2-02 and 3-16 addressed worship needs in the Synod. Worship matters continue to be a matter of increasing urgency. Concern has been raised in a number of overtures regarding the diver- gency of services and music used throughout the Synod. In an effort to supply theological guidelines for responsible practices in worship in our midst, be it