LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 78

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78 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

agreement by the LCUSA church body presidents to
begin planning future inter-Lutheran cooperation as
soon as possible (attached as Appendix E). To date,
Lutheran bodies outside of LCUSA have displayed little
or no interest in forming such a new agency.

Meanwhile, the work of the Lutheran Council (see

Report in CW, pp. 303—308) has continued to receive
careful monitoring by the Board of Directors, the CTCR,
and the President’s office. Because of inadequate finan-
cial resources in the Synod, we were again forced to
reduce our annual membership contribution to the
council. A special ad hoc committee was then appointed
by the presidents of LCUSA church bodies in order to
determine which council programs will receive priority
in future funding. In late June, this committee was
asked to undertake a similar review of the programs of
LS/3, an inter-Lutheran social ministry agency. Ihave
consistently reported to other Lutheran leaders that
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod remains com-
mitted to inter-Lutheran cooperative activity that can
be carried out in a manner consistent with our church
body’s confessional position, but I have also explained
that the precise structural form such cooperation takes
may vary from time to time. Because of the highly
uncertain nature of such inter-Lutheran cooperative
activity at the present time and for the foreseeable
future, I ask this convention to.accord synodical leader-
ship considerable flexibility in restructuring inter-
Lutheran cooperative activity prior to our next synodi-
cal convention, should that be necessary or desirable.

During the past biennium, I gave strong encourage-
ment to the Council of Presidents, Board of Directors,
CTCR, and other synodical leaders for a major Synod-
wide, in-depth study of our church relations principles
and their application to our contemporary needs (see
document attached as Appendix F). In the meantime,
the need to provide guidance on the application of the
Synod’s position on joint worship services led to the
preparation of theses and questions for discussion that
were considered with the Council of Presidents and
published in the Reporter (attached as Appendix G).

Strengthening and deepening relationships with our
partner churches around the world remains a matter of
the highest priority for the Synod. We hosted 20 world.
wide churches at the International Lutheran Confer-
ence in St. Louis in August 1981 (see CW, p. 92). April
5—8, 1983, the President met with other members of the
steering committee of that organization in Munich to
plan the November 1984 ILC meeting in Obot Idim,
Nigeria, and to consider ways of increasing the effective-
ness and visibility of this association of confessional
Lutheran churches.

There have been several contacts with church bodies
formerly in fellowship with the Synod (see CW, pp. 94
and 97—98). In general, these contacts have been very
positive and friendly, but they do not encourage us to
feel that the resumption of fellowship may be near at
hand.

Personal contacts with non-Lutheran church bodies
have been minimal. In April 1982 and April 1983 the

President participated with the heads of other denomi-
nations in the U.S. Church Leaders Conferences and in
1983 served as the comoderator of that annual gather-
ing. In 1982 he also met with other national religious
leaders in a White House Conference on the Voluntary
Sector of American Society.

10. Commission on Higher Education. It has become
increasingly apparent that our Synod needs a profes-
sional feasibility study on the future direction of our
colleges and seminaries. Encouraged by the Board of
Directors and other synodical leaders, I recently
appointed a special President’s Commission on Higher
Education to that end. Information on the responsibili-
ties and membership of that commission is provided in
Appendix H.

11. Dedication of International Center. One of the
most exciting ventures of the past biennium has been
the construction and dedication of the Synod’s new
International Center. More than 300 persons serve the
Synod in this buiding, which also houses a very worship-
ful chapel and excellent conference facilities for the
boards, councils, commissions, and committees of the
Synod. Because the official periodicals of the Synod
have carried extensive reports on this significant
project, I will not repeat the details at this time.
However, I invite the members and friends of the Synod
to visit the center during the convention or at other
times throughout the year. I know you will agree that
this beautiful and cost-efficient building is indeed a
striking symbol of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod today—a church body in mission for her Lord.

12. Office of Secretary. On June 20, 1983, Dr. Herbert
Mueller, Secretary of the Synod for 18 years, announced’
his decision to retire at the end of his present term. I ask’
this convention to express its gratitude to this good and:
honorable man for his faithful service to the Synod. fF
also recommend that the Synod take this occasion to:
review the responsibilities of the Secretary’s office and;
to make any modifications which it deems appropriate}:
to that end, I have asked Floor Committee 4 to dra
appropriate resolutions.

13. Structural Changes. The 1981 synodical conve
tion adopted a number of changes in the synod.
structure. During the past biennium considerable effort
has gone into the implementation of those chang
which in most instances have proved to be very positi'
In other cases, various adjustments have been reconlg
mended to this convention. Through the Commissio®
on Structure, we will need to monitor structural que
tions very closely in an effort to achieve the mo
efficient and effective administration of our mal
church-wide programs. Z

14. Synodical Publicity. During the past two yeal
the Synod has received favorable national attention
a number of occasions. In December of 1982 the Syn
received an award from the National Kidney Foun
tion for our efforts to promote organ transplants amo!
our members. That project also received national a
tion through CBS-TV. A major article on the Syn