LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 101

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Introduction

Committee 2 — Congregational Ministries — dealing
with the general area of congregational services, addressed
a potpourri of reports and overtures on Workbook, pages
26-55 covering work of

e the Board for Parish Services,

e the Board for Youth Services,

@ the Commission on Worship,

@ the President’s Commission on Women,
@ the Committee on Continuing Education,
e Concordia Publishing House, and

@ the Concordia Historical Institute.

In addition, the committee wrestled with over 60 over-
tures submitted by congregations, boards, commissions,
committees, faculties, Districts, Circuits and other eligible
entities of the Synod.

The largest entity with which we dealt was the Board
for Parish Services, headed by its executive, Dr. H. James
Boldt. We marveled at all of the services covered by this
board and all of its facets—schools, Sunday schools, high
schools, directors of Christian education, teachers, edu-
cation, curricular materials, confirmation materials, etc.
It’s overwhelming! We thank God for all of the people—
too numerous to mention—who work for us and our par-
ishes providing personnel and programs and for the board
that oversees this massive operation.

Who can measure, likewise, all of the things done by
our Board for Youth Services and its executive, Dr. Richard
Bimler, and his capable staff and huge network of volun-
teers across the Synod? After a synodwide successful youth
gathering in Washington, DC, a couple of years ago they
came back with an even bigger event with over 17,000
registered to participate from August 5-9, in Denver; Colo.
We thank God for the thousands of youth and adults who
work at youth ministry throughout the year in all parts of
our church.

Week in and week out our members are affected by the
work of our Commission on Worship, headed by its exec-
utive, Dr. James Brauer. It’s difficult to be objective about
worship materials, especially in a day and age of pluralism,
and inclusivity and exclusivity. Our heritage favors cath-
olic and liturgical worship, yet we are living in times of
change when less formal styles of worship appeal to newer
people whom we want to attract to our churches as we
attempt to carry out the great commission in our Sunday
and holiday offerings. So we must address concerns which
serve all who come under our ministries.

One of the most significant and challenging issues of
our day concerns the role of women in the church. Since
a higher percentage of our members are female than male,
there is a call for a more significant role and involvement
of women in the life of the church. We commend Dr. Jean
Garton and the Commission on Women for the outstanding
work they have done in this vital area of our church.

It’s important that our professional workers continue
to improve themselves for their contemporary ministries

101

2. Congregational Ministries

Committee 2 Chairman Arnold Kromphardt

through continuing education. We commend Dr. Stephen
Carter and Dr. David Zersen and all others working in this
emerging area of concern in our church.

Concordia Publishing House is celebrating its 120th an-
niversary at this time. CPH has been an outstanding ser-
vant of our church in providing particularly the printed
resources which our church has needed throughout its his-
tory, and in more recent years ecclesiastical arts, media,
computer services, etc. We commend Mr. Jack Gerber,
president, his staff, and the managing board for the con-
tinuing high standards which they have maintained in the
quality products which they produce for our congregations,
schools, and other agencies.

Finally, we commend Concordia Historical Institute
and its directors, especially its executive director, Dr. Au-
gust Suelflow, who is completing 41 years of service in
leading the development of CHI to become one of the finest
archives in the world.

We wish to assure all those who submitted overtures to
the Synod within the purview of Committee 2 that we gave
your concerns careful review and attention, and we pray
that our Lord’s will is done with respect to your concerns
and those of the church and its people as we consider now
the disposition of those concerns by our committee.

Thanks to Committee 2 especially Linda Stoterau, sec-
retary and President Arleigh Lutz, vice-chairman.

Committee 2 has given careful review and consideration
to all of the reports and overtures submitted to us so that
we may tell everyone what He has done. We pray that we
have responded appropriately to your concerns and that
this convention will give them the attention which they
deserve. It has been our pleasure to serve this convention.

Arnold Kromphardt, Chairman