LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 47

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REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

| Part |

“With Great Boldness Tell Everyone What He Has
Done!” What a magnificent theme for the 58th regular con-
vention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and for
the mission and ministry of the Synod and its congrega-
tions in these challenging but difficult times! For the last
three years, we have described our synodical mission in
terms of the post-Communion canticle based on the open-
ing verses of Psalm 105: “Tell Everyone What He Has
Done.” These words have helped many in the Synod focus
on the task of proclaiming the Good News to all the world
as the central mission of the church of Jesus Christ. As
we have done 80, we have become increasingly aware of
the urgency and vitality of-our telling. With the problems
of sin and suffering al! around us, and with more than
three-fourths of this world’s population unaware of God’s
gift for them in Jesus Christ, we need the boldness of the
early Christian church as we go about our task.

In Acts 4, after they saw the boldness of Peter and John,
these early Christians prayed: “Lord, consider their
threats and enable your servants to speak your word with
great boldness” (v. 29). St. Luke reports: “They were ‘all
filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God
boldly” (v. 31).

It is my prayer that these words will guide the 1992
convention of our great church body and its congregations
as we face the many challenges and opportunities of our
day. For, we, too, like those early Christians, need to cease
being timid and fearful people behind closed doors, con-
cerned primarily about ourselves. We, too, need the power
of the Holy Spirit to give us the boldness to look out at the
world, which needs to hear of Jesus Christ, and to get on
with our work “with great boldness!” i

My report on the administration of the Synod isin three

parts. In this first part, I will summarize and comment on
several organizational and administrative matters. Part If
will be presented at the floor committee meetings on May
29-June 1, and mailed to the delegates shortly thereafter.
The third and final part will be presented at the opening
session of the convention on July 11. While this first part
properly reports on past activities and emphases, Parts|II
and III will focus on actions of the convention intended|to
help the Synod meet the issues and challenges God has
placed before us in this last decade of the 20th century.

Summary of Administrative Activities,

In Memoriam i

During this past triennium, it has pleased the Lord to
take to Himself into heaven two former District Presidents:
Carl H. Bensene (Northwest District) and Walter D. Oet-
ting (Iowa District East). We give thanks and praise to
God for the lives and ministries of these beloved brethren,
who.served our church body with dedication and
faithfulness.

Council of Presidents

The Presidents of our 35 Districts, together with the
synodical President and five Vice-Presidents, serve as the
Synod’s Council of Presidents. The council has continued
to provide excellent leadership, counsel, and support in a
number of important areas.

Dr. John L. Heins has served as chairman of the council
since Dr. Glenn .O’Shoney’s acceptance in 1990 of the call
to serve as the executive director of the Synod’s Board for
Mission Services. The council serves as the Synod’s Board
of Assignments for our professional church workers and
supervises our official rosters. The council has also un-
dertaken a number of studies, including the Office of the
Ministry and Doctrine of the Call, the Synod’s close Com-
munion practice, the role and function of women in the life
of the church, and the personal conduct of professional
church workers. The council also gathered data through
the “Toward a More Excellent Ministry” project to assist
the Synod’s development of a suitable instrument for as-
sisting congregations in the calling process. In August
1991, the Council met with the seminary faculties, focusing
on the shape of theology as we move toward the year 2000,
as well as mutual collaboration to shape and nurture pas-
toral ministry in the Synod.

In the District conventions held in 1991, 13 District
Presidents were elected to that office for the first time.
They are David H. Benke (Atlantic), Walter C. Tietjen (Cal-
ifornia-Nevada-Hawaii), David S. Belasic (Eastern), Tim-
othy E. Sims (Indiana), David W. Callies (Mid South), Lane
R. Seitz (Minnesota South), James W. Kalthoff (Missouri),
Eugene V. Gierke (Nebraska), Osmar Lehenbauer (New
England), Norman C. Sincebaugh (North Dakota), William
R. Diekelman (Oklahoma), Gerald B. Kieschnick (Texas),
and Robert C. Oberheu (Wyoming).

In early 1992, President Richard Kiessling of the Mon-
tana District announced his resignation, because the Dis-
trict Board of Directors determined that the office should
be full-time. He was succeeded by the District's First Vice-

President, Dr. George F. Wollenburg.

The 1991 District conventions, of which I attended 13
as the synodical representative, were characterized by an
excitement and focus on the Lord’s mission to reach the
unchurched with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In my article
in the August 1991 Lutheran Witness, I characterized the
picture of the Synod emerging from District conventions
as follows: ‘

1. The Synod wants to move ahead.

2. The Synod desires pastoral and evangelical leaders.

3. The doctrinal position of the Synod is honored and
upheld by its members.

4. The Synod wants a peaceful and caring spirit to
prevail. .