LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 38

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38

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

or friends serving in Iraq and Afghanistan?” Res . 1-06 was
adopted as presented [Yes: 1,089; No: 1] .
Res . 1-04A, “To Respond to Opportunities for Outreach
to Muslins” (TB, p . 355), was introduced by the committee .
During discussion as the chair noted that the Orders of the Day
were about to be called, he asked whether the assembly was
ready to terminate debate [Yes: 1,064; No: 29] . Res . 1-04A
was adopted as presented [Yes: 1,061; No: 11] .
Closing Prayer

Convention chaplain Glen Thomas provided the closing
prayer .
Session 9
Thursday a.m.—July 15, 2010
Call to Order/Morning Devotion

President Kieschnick called the assembly to order and
asked convention chaplain Glen Thomas to introduce devotion leader Dr . Shang Ik Moon, Director of the LCMS Korean
Pastoral Colloquy Program . With 1 Peter 2:9–12a as his text
and “Our Heritage and Our Hope” as his theme, Dr . Moon
spoke of the early Christians who were caused to live in
strange environments and who were reminded by Peter in
his letter who they were and how they could glorify God .
Similarly, we are increasingly the diaspora in our own land .
Three questions remind us of how to live: (1) What is our heritage upon which to ground our hope? (2) How do we bloom
where we are planted? (3) What is the role of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod? He noted that America is changing
and we are strangers in our own land . But Peter reminds us
that we are people of hope, solidly grounded on a proud heritage, and that “saga” is sustaining us in our changing world .
And our role is to bring what we have to our society, giving
an account of the hope that is within us, blooming where we
are planted .
Recognition of Former Officers of the Synod

The chair recognized former officers present for the convention: Dr . Robert Kuhn, Rev . Daniel Preus, Mr . Brad
Hewitt, and Dr . Ralph Bohlmann . He also recognized special guests in attendance representing other church bodies in
the United States: Rev . Franklin Hays (AALC), Rev . James
Pope (WELS), and David Swartling (ELCA) . He also recognized other Lutheran and partner church leaders from around
the world .
Greetings: Thrivent

Mr . Brad Hewitt, President and CEO of Thrivent Financial
Services, brought greetings and centered his remarks around
four questions that help to understand Thrivent today: How
do we deal with widows and orphans (the question asked 100
years ago)? How do we take care of our families (50 years
ago)? How do we keep our tax exemption (25 years ago)?
And what are our challenges today? Today the elderly must
cut their budgets and their giving and young people’s lifestyles do not lend to giving . He then recognized Thrivent
2010 Convention Proceedings

board chairman Kurt Senske, a member of the LCMS Board
of Directors .
Committee 2: District and Congregational Services

The chair called on Committee 2 Chairman Keith
Kohlmeier, President of the Kansas District, for his committee’s report . Res . 2-01, “To Continue to Support Children’s
Ministry, Family Ministry, School Ministry, Singles Ministry,
Stewardship Ministry, and Youth Ministry” (TB, p . 57), was
introduced by the committee . As discussion began, an amendment was proposed to replace the existing resolve (lines
18–19) with the new resolve: “That the LCMS adequately
fund and appropriately staff children, youth, singles, family, school, and stewardship ministries at the national level
under the new Office of National Mission .” After discussion,
a motion to terminate debate on the motion to amend was carried [Yes: 931; No: 163] . The amendment was not adopted
[Yes: 178; No: 925] . Discussion continued on the main motion
until an amendment was offered to add “at the national level”
after the word “ministries” in line 18 . The committee accepted
this as friendly amendment, these words having been included
when the resolution was read . When discussion resumed on
the main motion, an amendment to add “and campus” in
line 13 after the word “stewardship” was also accepted as a
friendly amendment by the committee . A subsequent motion
to terminate debate was carried [Yes: 1,037; No: 61], and Res .
2-01 was adopted as changed [Yes: 1,082; No: 30] .
Res . 2-02, “To Assist Congregations and Support Workers
in Planning and Implementing ‘Reduction in Force’ Policies”
(TB, p . 57), was introduced by the committee . During the brief
discussion of the resolution, it was agreed by common consent to delete the word “electronically” from line 40 . Res . 2-02
was adopted as changed [Yes: 1,091; No: 19] .
Res . 2-03, “To Appoint Commission to Study
Congregational Size, Generations, and Life-Stage Ministries”
(TB, p . 58), was introduced by the committee . During discussion, a motion to amend line 21 by inserting the words
“seven-member commission” in line 21 was accepted as a
friendly amendment by the committee; so also replacing the
word “commission” with “task force” throughout the resolution; so also replacing the words “communities sometimes also
known as congregations” in line 8 with the words “Christian
congregations (Augsburg Confession VII)”; so also inserting in line 38 the words “to the Board for National Mission”
before the words “the Board of Directors” at the end of line 38 .
Discussion continued until a motion to end debate was introduced and carried [Yes: 955; No: 139], after which Res . 2-03
failed to be adopted [Yes: 527; No: 585] .
Res . 2-04, “To Encourage Daily Devotions for Individuals
and Families” (TB, pp . 58f .), was introduced by the committee . A proposed amendment to line 5, adding the words “but
not limited to” after “including,” was accepted by the committee as a friendly amendment, as was the addition of the words
“process of theological review and” before the word “development” in line 13 . A motion to end debate was approved