LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 53

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Worldwide Radio Programs
As KFUO continues to develop its current broadcast offerings,
we have added several new programs to our lineup since 2013. These
new programs include “Thy Strong Word,” “The Student Union,”
“Cross Defense,” “Concord Matters,” a joint effort with the LCMS
Communications Department titled “Free to be Faithful,” and our first
foreign language program, “Cristo para Todos,” in Portuguese. This
program is a KFUO-produced program in partnership with the radio
station of the Brazilian Lutheran Church.
Worldwide KFUO continues to be the “Messenger of Good
News,” a voice in the wilderness.
Gary Duncan, Executive Director
R2

First Vice-President
The vice-presidents of the Synod are elected to advise the
President of the Synod, to serve on the Council of Presidents, and
to form, under the President, the Praesidium of the Synod. Upon
his request or as provided by the Synod, the vice-presidents assist
the President in carrying out his responsibilities and represent him
as needed.
The First Vice-President serves as a full-time executive and a nonvoting member of the Synod’s Board of Directors. He is responsible
at all times to the President of the Synod for the performance of his
duties.
During the triennium the undersigned has been blessed with the
opportunity to work with many individuals and groups throughout the
Synod. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

President of the Synod and his staff as a member of the President’s
team
Secretary of the Synod
Council of Presidents
Board of Directors of the Synod
Commission on Theology and Church Relations
Chair the Colloquy Committees of the Synod
Member of the Task Force responding to 2013 Resolution 4-06A on
Licensed Lay Deacons
Chairman of the Task Force responding to 2013 Resolution 5-14A on
Routes to Ministry
Convener of the planning group preparing for the Fiscal Conference
in September 2015
Participated in meetings with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran
Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Convention Planning Committee
Continued to lead the Koinonia Project, including facilitating a
Koinonia retreat for the Council of Presidents
Led several pastors’ retreats for the Koinonia Project
Facilitated ongoing meetings between the pastors of the Atlantic and
Wyoming districts for the Koinonia Project
Board for National Mission
Presidents and faculties of both seminaries
Function as secretary of the Praesidium
Work with the editor of the circuit winkel Bible study series sponsored
by the Praesidium
Spoke at several pastoral conferences
Represented the President at 15 district conventions
Represented the President in 18 district visitations
Gave counsel to many district presidents
Regional meetings of the district presidents
PALS Steering Committee

2016 Convention Workbook

•
•
•
•
•

53

Synod Prison Ministry Conference
Preaching in various congregations around the Synod
Conducted various installations at the International Center
Attended Mega Church Conference
Attended Doxology Conference

The Praesidium, which includes the President and First VicePresident of the Synod, together with the five regional vice-presidents,
met regularly for prayer, Bible study, and discussion of Synod matters,
usually in conjunction with a meeting of the Council of Presidents.
The Praesidium gave counsel on a variety of matters as requested by
the President of the Synod, district presidents and others.
The First Vice-President serves as chairman of both the Colloquy
Committee for the Pastoral Ministry and the Colloquy Committee
for Commissioned Ministry, the reports of which follow in this
Convention Workbook. By means of colloquy, the Lord of the Church
provides for the congregations of the Synod many qualified commissioned ministers and ordained pastors.
The President and his staff often consult with me or ask me to
work with individuals or groups requesting information regarding
ecclesiastical supervision issues in the districts. We always seek to
help and support the district presidents in their necessary work. The
undersigned managed the process of providing for circuit exceptions
in the preparations for the 2016 Synod Convention.
During the triennium, the First Vice-President visited with members of the faculties of both seminaries, spoke at various professional
church worker conferences, preached at a number of congregations
across the Synod, and addressed a variety of groups within the Synod.
He attended the LCEF Fall Leadership Conferences and 15 district
conventions and wrote various pieces for the Witness, Mercy, Life
Together blog sponsored by the President’s Office (WMLTblog.org).
The undersigned continues to lead the Koinonia Project, information
for which can be found at www.lcms.org/koinoniaproject.
To speak personally, it is both a privilege and a joy to serve with
President Matthew Harrison, together with the Praesidium, other
Synod officers, and the Council of Presidents. I have worked with a
number of ministry teams in my service in the Synod. All have been
good, but this team is the best. The President and all the members of
his staff, especially my executive assistant, Mrs. Brenda Schreder, are
all gifts of God and a pleasure to work with. I look forward to each day
to serve the Lord with them and for you, the members of the Synod,
in this capacity. The Lord Jesus blesses our beloved Synod with rich
resources and faithful servants.
Herbert C. Mueller Jr., First Vice-President
R2.1

Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry
The Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry includes the
First Vice-President of the Synod as chairman ex officio (the undersigned), the presidents of the two seminaries (or their representatives),
and one district president elected by the Council of Presidents.
Committee membership was stable this triennium: Dr. Lawrence
Rast, President of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne; Dr.
Dale Meyer, President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; President
Timothy Scharr of the Southern Illinois District, re-elected by the
Council of Presidents. All three served faithfully the entire triennium.
The Bylaws of the Synod (Bylaw section 3.10.2) provide the general outline of the Pastoral Colloquy Program. Most of the policy
details are included in a policy manual, however, accessible on the
Synod website at http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=1106. An electronic version of the colloquy application is available at the same
location.
2016 Convention Workbook