LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 53

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT 53

and Church Relations expressed its concern in February
1989 about certain doctrinal positions of this group, which
consists largely of pastors in The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod who are supportive of charismatic renewal. In
keeping with the request of the 1989 synodical convention
(Res. 3-15), a number of discussions were held between
synodical leaders and the leaders of RIM during this trien-
nium, A complete report of those discussions, adopted
unanimously by all participants, has been distributed to
the pastors of the Synod and is attached to this report as
Appendix B.

As we thank God for the agreements that are noted i in
this report, we also pray for His continued blessings as
disagreements continue to be addressed.

Inthe meantime, we continue to commend to the church
the excellent reports of the CTCR on the issue of charis-
matic renewal, as well as the position of the Synod on
certain problems in the movement as adopted in 1977. The
great deal of variation in theological emphasis one finds
within this movement calls for a highly individualized ap-
proach, which our District Presidents and others involved
in doctrinal supervision are seeking to follow consistently
throughout the church.

. International Dogmatics Project

Assisted by four associate 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 theological issues on the basis of
the Word of God, but it will demonstrate the worldwide
confessional! fellowship of which we are a part. Although
this important effort has been slowed considerably by the
lack of full-time assistance, the project is finally nearing
completion and should be ready for use in the church by
late 1993. |

160th Anniversary Planning

In 1997, the Synod will observe its 150th anniversary,
At the request of the 1989 convention, early planning has
already begun. After considerable staff study, the Board
of Directors is recommending that the 100th anniversary
of our world mission program in 1995 also be noted as a
part of this celebration. In the same year, we will also mark
100 years of ministry among the deaf and hearing im!
paired. Our Fort Wayne seminary and Concordia College
in Seward are also noting significant anniversaries. All of
these occasions provide us with splendid opportunities to
reflect on the great heritage of our Synod and the impor
tance of continuing to maintain our doctrine and mission
as we move toward the next century. :

|
Preus Cases

Because of his disagreement with the July 1989 decision
of the Fort Wayne Seminary’s Board of Regents to hon:
orably retire him from the seminary presidency, Dr. Robert
Preus initiated three civil actions, including one suit
against the Synod, the President, and several synodical
officials. He also filed a complaint against the Board of
Regents and a second count against the President and First

Vice-President. A political network within the Synod, of
which Dr. Preus has been a leader for many years, has
attempted to generate a great dea! of support for Dr. Rob-
ert Preus in these actions, often on the basis of reports
disseminated through its own publications and frequently
reflecting a limited understanding of the facts involved.
Because of Dr. Preus’ perceived misconduct in the way he
responded to the Board of Regent's action, the President
and five Vice-Presidents of the Synod filed an official com-
plaint against him in early 1991, after several months of
earlier attempts to reach him in more personal ways were
unsuccessful (see Praesidium report).

When these cases, currently in the appeals process,
have been concluded, the church will receive a more com-
plete report than is possible at this time. In the meantime,
informal efforts at reconciliation continue to be attempted.
The earnest prayers of the church are requested on behalf
of Dr. Preus and his family, the Fort Wayne seminary, and
the Synod and its officers that these matters will be
brought to an early and God-pleasing solution.

Entered into Rest

; Attached as Appendix C is a list of the professional
church workers of the Synod whom the Lord called home
to Himself in heaven during this past triennium. The con-
vention will praise God for His many blessings towards
these departed servants during a special convention wor-
ship service.

Vision, Goals, and Priorities

The Synod’s Vision: Gospel, Mission,
Congregations, and People

Our 1989 synodical convention made it very clear that
the Synod wants ‘all of our members to be united in our
conviction “that telling everyone what He has done is our
highest priority and deserving of our ongoing commitment
and constant prayers” (Res. 1-01). Throughout the trien-
nium, as the boards, commissions, task forces, Districts,
and other entities of the Synod developed their plans and
priorities, the 1989 convention theme emerged as a short,
but powerful, mission statement for the entire Synod. “Tell
Everyone What He Has Done” focuses simply, but directly,
on the task of telling, reminds us that the subject matter
of our telling is God’s action in redeeming the world
through Jesus Christ, and emphasizes that the audience
of our telling is nothing less than the entire world. As the
various components of the Synod have focused on this mis-
sion statement, they have also endeavored to develop what
the 1989 convention called “a renewed and clear mission

- vision” (Res. 1-01). Res. 8-02 reminded us that developing

such a common vision will enable “congregations to view
al] their activities and planning in light of Christ’s Great
Commission.” As such vision planning impacted the work
of the Synod during the past triennium, we developed four
summary concepts to describe key components of that vi-
sion and to serve: as criteria for planning and related ac-
tivities of the various components of the Synod. As the
Synod is increasingly focused on its mission of telling ev-
eryone what He has done, we will be increasingly Gospel-
based, mission-driven, congregation-centered, and people-