LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 141

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 141

Roy Holm, Edwin Lehman, and Albin Stanfel, presidents of the three Canadian
Districts

benefit programs, parish service resources, and the status

of auxiliary organizations.

C. That “a vigorous program of presentations ... be
made to each of its local congregations before the Canadian
Districts request dissolution by the Synod, so that indi-
vidual pastors and lay people may clearly understand and
discuss strengths and weaknesses of the proposed auton-
omy.” Each congregation received bulk quantities of five
different brochures, a copy of the proposed Constitution
and Bylaws, a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement, and
was given an opportunity for a visit by a Lutheran Church—
Canada representative to provide further information and
to show a 40-minute video.

D. That the Canadian districts “by simple majority vote
in each of the three geographic district conventions ap-
prove the constitution and bylaws . . . [and]... by simple
majority vote [request] dissolution by the Synod.” The
three conventions have approved the proposed Constitu-
tion and Bylaws and passed identical resolutions request-
ing the Synod to give approval to autonomous partner
church status for Lutheran Church—Canada.

E. “That individual congregations be given opportunity
to vote whether or not they wish to join the autonomous
Lutheran Church—Canada.” Ballots were sent to all con-
gregations of geographic districts in Canada, and to con-
gregations of those nongeographic districts which chose to
participate in the voting. Results of the balloting were:

Cong. Cong. Total

Voting Voting No. of

YES NO Cong.

Alberta—British Columbia ........ 108 1 134
Manitoba and Saskatchewan ..... 76 6 91
Ontario ...........2e ee eee eens 52 26 95
Minnesota North (in Canada) ..... 14 2 16

TOTALS* 250 35 336

*The English District board chose to give its Canadian congregations the
opportunity to participate in the balloting, but none chose to do so. The
SELC District decided not to participate in the voting.

A total of 87% of the participating congregations voted to
seek membership in Lutheran Church—Canada at its con-
stituting convention. While Res. 5-14 did not require sim-
ilar ballots for professional workers, this opportunity was
nevertheless given to all pastors, including active, retired,
advisory and c.r.m., to teachers and directors of Christian
education. An affirmative answer was received from 80%
of those voting.

The Board of Directors of Lutheran Church—Canada is of
the view that the requirements set forth in Res. 5-14 have
been met, and that the overwhelming affirmative vote on
the congregational ballot indicates that the time has ar-
rived for the establishment of an autonomous Lutheran
Church—Canada, in partnership with The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. We therefore respectfully sub-
mit the following overture:

Wuereas, Lutheran Church—Canada as a federation of
the three Canadian districts of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod desires to establish an autonomous synod
to be known as Lutheran Church—Canada, so that in part-
nership with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod it
might more effectively spread the Good News of Jesus
Christ; and

Wuereas, The Synod in its 1983 Res. 5-14 requested
and authorized Lutheran Church-Canada to take certain
steps which would lead to the establishment of Lutheran
Church—Canada as an autonomous partner church; and

Wuereas, In the carrying out of these steps the follow-
ing responses have been received:

A. All three Canadian districts, in convention, have ap-
proved the proposed Constitution and Bylaws for the au-
tonomous Lutheran Church-Canada, and have declared
themselves to be in favor of the establishment of an au-
tonomous Lutheran Church-Canada;

B. The congregational vote has resulted in 87% of voting
congregations deciding to seek membership in the auton-
omous Lutheran Church—Canada at its constituting con-
vention; and

Wuereas, The proposed Constitution for the autono-
mous Lutheran Church—Canada has received the approval
of the Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Re-
lations, the Commission on Constitutional Matters, the
Board for Mission Services, and the Board of Directors;
and

Wuereas, The Boards of Directors of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod and of Lutheran Church-Can-
ada have prepared a Memorandum of Agreement which
provides mutually acceptable conditions to be incorporated
in a protocol document; and

Wuereas, Lutheran Church—Canada has committed it-
self constitutionally and confessionally to the same doc-
trinal positions held by The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod express its gratitude to God
for the manifold blessings He has showered on its pastors,
teachers, and congregations in Canada as they have pre-
pared for the formation of an autonomous partner church
in that country; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention give final ap-
proval to

A. a partner church relationship with Lutheran
Church—Canada;

B. the members of the Synod in the three Canadian
geographic districts becoming members of Lutheran
Church—Canada; and