# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S8 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 8 SYNOD REPORTS both church bodies) to assess the current situation and the prospects for continuing working relationships in the future. On March 30, 2005, the President and LCMS representatives on the CLC shared with the ELCA representatives a statement of- fering “An LCMS Response” to the January 15, 2005, report of the ELCA’s Task Force on Sexuality. I directly addressed this and other issues and concerns in my August 12, 2005, address to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Orlando. The text of this address is included in this workbook as an addendum to my report. (See President’s Report Part I, Addendum A.) In addition, during the past triennium, the Praesidium has mon- itored and discussed “current concerns and potential directions of the ELCA (2004 Res. 3-07), including the ELCA’s response to the Task Force Report on Sexuality and the ELCA’s adoption (on Au- gust 11, 2005) of a proposal for “Interim Eucharistic Sharing” be- tween the ELCA and the United Methodist Church. In view of these developments, the Praesidium believes that the President of the LCMS and the Praesidium need to “continue to as- sess pastoral working relationships with the ELCA” (2004 Res. 3- 07) during the next triennium. Resultantly, continued conversations are being planned. At this time there are no recommendations for convention consideration regarding any changes in joint activity with the ELCA. However, before leaving this topic, I believe it is important for me to state my Ongoing impression that, at many levels, the ELCA continues to demonstrate a vastly different understanding of the au- thority of Holy Scripture and interpretation of the Lutheran Con- fessions than does The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The primary reason for continuation of “substantive [theological] dis- cussions” with the ELCA is, as articulated in Resolution 3-07, a “continuing effort to bear witness to the truth of the Scriptures and the Confessions in the hope that agreement can be reached in those areas where we disagree.” In addition and in conclusion, I believe the words of one portion of 2001 convention Resolution 3-21A “To Address Cooperative Pastoral Working Arrangements with Evangelical Lutheran Church in America” provide another valid reason to continue our discus- sions with the ELCA: “Resolved, That we of the LCMS recognize that many of our brothers and sisters of the ELCA remain faithful to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and we resolve to reach out to them in love and support ...” 4-07 To Establish Blue Ribbon Task Force for Funding the Mission Resolved: “The Synod President appoint a Blue Ribbon Task Force (with representation from the board of Directors, Council of Presidents, and other such representatives as deemed appropriate by the Presi- dent) on Funding the Mission that would report its recommenda- tions to the 2007 convention one year prior to the convention.” Action Taken: In 2004, I appointed the Blue Ribbon Task Force for Funding the Mission (BRTFFM) with representation in accord with 2004 Resolution 4-07. The BRTFFM completed its work with recom- mendations in a July 2006 report that was subsequently distributed in hard copy to all boards and commissions of the Synod, to all dis- trict boards of directors, and to all circuit counselors of the Synod. In addition, the availability of the report was communicated in an official periodical of the Synod and was made available to the Synod through its Web site. A copy of this report will be included in the Convention Workbook. 2007 Convention Workbook One of the recommendations of the task force has already been implemented, namely, a fiscal conference held February 8-10 in St. Louis. All 35 districts were represented at this conference by the district president or his representative and, in most cases, two other district representatives. A report on this conference was in- cluded in the March 2007 issue of Reporter. 7-02A To Amend Synodical Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws Regarding Officer and Board Responsibilities Resolved: “The convention . . . directs the President and the Board of Di- rectors jointly to appoint a committee to address the matter and re- port to the 2007 convention.” Action Taken: In 2004 the Board of Directors and I jointly appointed a com- mittee to address “the matter” of the Synod’s Articles of Incorpo- ration and Bylaws regarding officer and board responsibilities in accord with 2004 Resolution 7-02A. The committee has been working diligently and is in the final stages of completing its re- port with recommendations to the 2007 convention. A copy of this report will be sent to delegates prior to the convention. Action on Certain Resolutions Not Specifically Assigned to the President 2004 Synodical Convention 1-01 To Affirm Mission 21st Century Response to Great Commission and 1-02 To Promote ‘Mission Outpost” Attitude In many ways, I continued to affirm a confessional and mission- minded approach by the Synod toward fulfilling the Great Com- mission and have encouraged all congregations, schools and entities to view themselves as mission outposts and their commu- nities as mission fields. 1-04 To Commit to $100 Million Ablaze! Fund-Raising Effort Soon after the 2004 convention, this effort was titled Fan Into Flame. Since that time I have personally expended significant time and energy in participating in the promotion of this effort and in visiting prospective major gift donors in support thereof. As of this writing, advance gifts and pledges amount to $15 million, with that total increasing almost daily. An updated report will be provided at the convention. 1-05A To Establish Ablaze! National Goals World Mission Services Executive Director Bob Roegner, his staff, and I organized and participated in district Ablaze! cluster groups in 2004 and 2006 and have addressed numerous gatherings to encourage and support efforts to achieve these goals. Further in- formation will be presented at the convention. 1.07 Ethnic and Urban Ministry In 2006, I appointed a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Hispanic Ministry to study how best to assess and improve the Synod’s ca- pacity to reach out to the enormous and growing Latino population of the United States. The report and recommendations of the BRTFHM to the 2007 Convention of the LCMS address the short- term objective of helping us energize the LCMS in our goal of reaching Latinos with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and addresses longer-term objectives that will help us reach out to and integrate Latinos into the LCMS in real and meaningful ways. A copy of that report is included in the Convention Workbook. 2-03A To Accept Lutheran Service Book and Agenda as an Official Service Book and Hymnal of Synod