LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 59

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tended to encourage discussion, not to set a new agenda
for the Synod. Such discussions, it is hoped, will enable us
to have a stronger measure of consensus in the application
of our Biblical and confessional church-relations
principles.

President’s Commission on Women. Appointed in 1984,
this special commission of six women continues to study
ways in which women can make a greater contribution to
the life and ministry of the church. Because of severe bud-
get restraints, the commission was unable to realize its
goal of linking various District study efforts. The commis-
sion continues to monitor responses to its various recom-
mendations as set forth in its 1986 report. Given the many
questions and concerns that exist in this general area, the
importance and potential for this commission and its ef-
forts deserves increased attention and financial support.
The report of this commission appears elsewhere in this
Workbook.

Pro-Life efforts. The Synod continues to provide a strong
voice on behalf of unborn human life. In addition to a spe-
cial task force of the Board for Social Ministry Services,
the Office of Government Information in Washington has
been particularly helpful in expressing the Synod’s posi-
tion with reference to a number of governmental programs
or proposals.

Lutherans for Life, a pan-Lutheran organization
chaired by Dr. Jean Garton, who also serves as a special
unpaid consultant to the President and other officers and
staff in this area, continues to provide excellent resources
and materials. In the state of Michigan, the Synod provided
a video statement of our position as voters prepared to vote
on the question of state funding for abortions. More re-
cently, the Synod has taken the lead in submitting an ami-
cus brief on the pending Supreme Court case, Webster v.
Reproductive Health Services. Joining in the Synod’s brief
are the National Association of Evangelicals and the Chris-
tian Life Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention.
In addition to national synodical efforts, a growing number
of District and congregational programs have been devel-
oped to help deal with this serious national ethical issue.

Meeting with charismatics. In the fall of 1986 synodical
leaders concluded a series of three meetings with several
Missouri Synod pastors who are active in the charismatic
movement. A jointly prepared report on those meetings has
been made available by the President’s office. The meet-
ings served to clarify and reinforce the Synod’s position on
charismatic teaching and practice as set forth in Res. 3-
10A of the 1977 convention. Although no formal meetings
have been held since that time, my office continues to mon-
itor developments, including a related effort called “Re-
newal in Missouri.” A theological statement from this
group, as well as related materials, were given to the CTCR
for theological analysis. The CTCR report was completed
in early 1989 and is in the process of being distributed
more widely.

International dogmatics project. Assisted by four asso-
ciate editors, I continue to serve as the general editor for
an international dogmatics project involving more than 50
theologians from the Synod and its partner churches
around the world. This two-volume effort will not only help
our seminary students and others to address contemporary

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT 59

theological issues on the basis of the Word of God, but will
demonstrate the worldwide confessional fellowship of
which we are a part. Although this important effort is
slowed by the absence of any direct staff assistance, final
manuscripts are scheduled to be submitted to the publisher
this summer.

Anniversaries. Because 1989 is the 150th anniversary
of the immigrations that led to the founding of our Synod,
as well as the 150th anniversary of the founding of Con-
cordia Seminary in St. Louis and the 125th anniversary
of the founding of Concordia Teachers College in River
Forest, special efforts to celebrate God’s blessings in these
areas will characterize the convention. Additional mate-
rials and suggestions will also be shared with the church-
at-large. Much of the leadership for these anniversary ob-
servances has come from the special heritage committee
which has met throughout the triennium. The anniversary
theme, “Forward in Faith and Freedom,” helps us to focus
on our tremendous heritage and gives special encourage-
ment to us as we move forward in carrying out our Lord’s
Great Commission.

Entered into rest. Attached as appendix III to this Work-
book is a list of the professional church workers of the
Synod whom the Lord called home to Himself during the
past triennium. The convention will praise God for His
many blessings toward these departed servants during a
special convention worship service.

General Comments

Spiritual life and growth. Although a major responsi-
bility of the President and his coworkers is to administer
and supervise the synodical organization, the focus of his
office, and indeed of the entire synodical structure, is on
the spiritual weli-being of our people.

Difficult as it is to generalize on the spiritual health of
the Synod, it is my conviction that the pastors, teachers,
and congregations of the Synod today are making strong
and encouraging efforts to carry out their responsibilities
for spiritual life and growth with faithfulness and energy.
Nothing is more vital for the well-being of our Synod than
the continued focus on the Word and Sacraments by which
God’s Holy Spirit not only forgives our sins, daily and
richly, but empowers us for service in His name.

Statistics provide some measure of the ministry of the
Gospel among us. During the past three calendar years,
for example, more than 170,000 children were baptized in
our congregations, and more than 120,000 adults were re-
ceived into communicant membership. We thank and
praise God for what He has done and is doing through His
Gospel in our congregations. At the same time, we continue
to be concerned that 492,000 communicants in our church
body did not partake of the Lord’s Supper even once during
the past year. That’s 24.2 percent of our communicant
membership—nearly one out of every four.

Again, as had been the case for several years, the num-
ber of those leaving our congregations by the back door
exceeds 50,000 per year. Another statistic that disappoints
all of us is the fact that only 39 percent of our members
are worshiping in our congregations on an average Sunday.
Although that figure is not that much different from other
large denominational groups, it is far from adequate—par-