# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S193
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION 193

dictates that these Districts be treated as sister churches
rather than administrative units of the church in the U.S.A.

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Amherst, Mass.

Charles Coe. President

Mrs. James Terrill, Secretary

4-19

To Dissolve English District

Whereas, The English District of the LCMS was formed
to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the United States in
the English language; and

Wuereas, All Districts of the Synod now perform this no
longer unique task; and

Wuereas, The SELC, which is a District spread through-

out the Synod like the English District, will soon be dis-
solved into the constituent Districts: and

Wuereas, The existence of a District spread throughout
the other Districts of the nation creates problems of stew-
ardship, travel, and identity: therefore be it

Resolved, That we petition the Synod in convention at
New Orleans that the English District of the LCMS be dis-
solved and that the constitue it congregations be transferred
to the other Districts within which they are located.

Trinity LUTHERAN CHURCH
Navasota, Tex.

Herbert C. Eickenhorst. President
Edwin Thane, Secretary

4-20

To Suggest a Solution to Problem
of English District

Wuereas, The English District is nongeographical: and

Wuereas, The English District because of its doctrinal
stance and permissiveness is quickly becoming a synod
within a synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the congregations of the English District
be assimilated into the geographical District in which they
reside.

Trixity LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sturgis, Mich.

Bruce Schaeffer, Chairman
Albert Bumann, Secretary
H. M. Heidenreich. Pastor

To Assimilate English District

Wuereas, The English Synod of Missouri was received
into the Missouri Synod as a special District in 1911 due to
the language differences at that time: and

Wuereas, This difference no longer exists: and

Wuereas, We have in effect a District within the entire
body which has no geographical boundaries and can com-
pete with Districts and establishes two bodies operating
a dual effort with dual expenses, and dual slates of officers.
and dual conventions and still having a voice in the general
body, which would appear to be not in the best interests of
economy and efficiency in the work of the kingdom: there-
fore be it

Resolved, That we beg the convention assembled in New
Orleans to take steps to resolve this long-standing inequality
and duplication by assimilating the English District work
into the present geographical Districts.

Ziox LUTHERAN CHURCH
Surrey, B.C.

A. Bucholtz, President
T. C. Forde, Secretary

4-22

To Merge the English into
Our Geographical Districts

Wuereas. The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod_ has
divided our nation into Districts in order to bring Christ
to the people in an efficient manner, but at the same time
we have a portion of the English District working in the
very same locales doing the very same ministry; and

Wuereas, It is vitally important that all pastors, teachers,
and congregations of the Synod work closely with neigh-
boring members of the Synod in unity for the ministry of
the church: and

Wuereas, It is quite expensive, in these days of rising
costs. to provide two separate administrations to do the
same work: and

Wuereas. The administration of the English District over-
laps that of the geographical Districts: and

Wuereas. The costs of travel for such a District for cir-
cuit counselors, District secretaries. District officers, and
other workers are much higher because of greater distances,
and the costs of bringing pastors and laymen to conferences
and conventions could be used more directly for the minis-
try of the Word; and

Wuerras. Many districts could use more Missouri Synod
congregations to help them in serving Christ in their geo-
graphical area: and

Wuereas. We have already asked two merging synods to
give up their structure and administration in favor of the
efficiency of working in geographical Districts; and

Wuereas, The purpose of the English District, to provide
a ministry tor English speaking Lutherans. has long since
ended with the change from German to English; therefore
be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention thank the English
District for their past work for Jesus Christ and for fulfilling
a special need in our early Synod: and be it further

Resolved. That the English District be merged into the
geographical Districts of the Synod; and be it further

Resolved. That this merger be completed in time for
delegate election to the 1975 synodical convention; and be
it finally

Resolved. That this merging be directed and carried out
by a committee appointed by the President of the Synod
and headed by one of the Vice-Presidents of the Synod.

Saint Paui's LUTHERAN CHURCH
Millington, Mich.

Arno E. Keinath, Chairman
Donald L. Pulse, Secretary

To Incorporate English District
into Existing Districts

Wuereas. The English District does not and has not for
many years conformed to the criteria set forth in our Hand-
book; and

Wuereas. There is no present need for the English Dis-
trict under its present alignment: an

Wuereas, The SELC District and its pastors, teachers, and
congregations have been incorporated in the geographical
Districts of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the congregations, pastors, and teachers
of the English District be assigned, merged, and incorporated
into the respective geographical Districts of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod, wherein they may be situated in
the same manner in which these congregations, pastors, and
teachers of the SELC were received; and that the Board of
Directors of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, be em-