LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 56

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56

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Other District Efforts

Three years ago, we reported on several other districts that had
begun or were considering Koinonia efforts. The Nebraska District
has several regional efforts under way. Northern Illinois began with
one group that met for two years and has now expanded to form
four groups. They have shared statements with their district pastoral
conferences that have proven helpful. South Wisconsin developed
two groups, one to work on worship issues and the other to discuss
admission to the Lord’s Supper. Both groups have come to greater
agreement under the Word of God. Recently, I was able to present
on the Koinonia Project to the circuit visitors of the North and South
Wisconsin Districts meeting jointly. Several circuits in Texas, Kansas,
and Ohio have engaged in ongoing discussions.
The Minnesota South District has developed several regional
groups that have, by most accounts, brought greater calm and peace
to the district. They are on hiatus at present but plan to take up the process again next year. In Minnesota North, a divided circuit has sought
to use the approach outlined in the concept paper. The North Dakota
District invited me to lead the pastoral conference in a retreat to help
each circuit develop as a Koinonia study group. I was also able to lead
a retreat with the circuit visitors and vice-presidents from the MidSouth and Oklahoma Districts so that they might bring the effort to
their circuit winkels.
In January 2016, Pastor Randy Golter and I led the pastors of
Southeastern District Circuit 18 (encompassing most of South
Carolina) in a 48-hour Koinonia Retreat. This has helped these brothers to develop a healthier approach to the concerns that they have
with one another.

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Following are some of the topics that are being discussed in the
groups, as reported by the think tank:
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Think Tank Results
On January 9–10, 2015, we brought together most of the people
who have been involved in leading Koinonia study groups across the
Synod for a think tank in St. Louis. Everywhere the Koinonia Project
has been used, we have developed approaches uniquely appropriate to
each situation. Here are some of the things we have learned through
our pilot projects (in no particular order), as reported at this event:
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Building relationships and trust is vital.
It may (probably will) take time to develop the relationships necessary. (God gives trust through study of His Word.)
Pastors do desire in-depth theological discussion and intensive theological study in a safe environment.
Pastors need to learn to study better together. Find a way to help the
group hear the Word of God together on an equal basis.
Worship and prayer helps keep everyone on an equal level.
Each person needs to tell their story and then be asked how they came
to their position, followed by a time for questions and answers.
Participants need to allow themselves to be vulnerable as they discuss
the realities of ministry.
A Code of Conduct is important—hold one another accountable.
Spend time in specific prayer.
Benefits of affirming, unifying statements.
It is helpful to have a product, showing where do we agree, what we
reject, where we disagree.
Admit faulty assumptions of one another.
Distinction between ecclesiastical supervision and Koinonia process
needs to be maintained.
Overnight two-day retreat is key to beginning. Covenant/code of conduct at retreat.
“When brothers sit down with open Scriptures, open Confessions,
open ears and minds and mouths open in prayers, we really do make
some progress.”
The spiritual must be primary. This is a spiritual, not academic,
journey.
Role of repentance is essential.

2016 Convention Workbook

Continual emphasis on what the Koinonia Project is and what it isn’t;
it will take time to drive home what it is and what the end game is or
is not.
Attraction, never coercion. Small behaviors add up.
In-depth study of the Word together is crucial.
Be vulnerable about your ministry. Have to be honest about what influences you.
Understand the context for one another’s ministry.
Facilitators are crucial to provide safe places.
What are the idols that need to be bashed behind the issues?
Deal with Internet use.
Have to be both organized and organic—some organization, but has
to grow locally.
Study focused on Scripture and Confessions.
Renewed faith in the efficacy of the Word of God.

Theology and practice of worship
Admission to the Lord’s Supper (Ancillary issue: does the Supper create oneness, or is oneness needed to celebrate the Supper together?)
How to teach preparation for the Lord’s Supper
Pastoral office and the priesthood of the baptized
Wedding policies and practices
Have to deal with AC VII—What is the Church? What is the Gospel?
The “it is enough” for the unity of the Church that the Gospel be purely
preached and the Sacraments rightly administered. What is the extent
of the agreement necessary?
Unionism and syncretism

Future Needs
What needs to happen for the future? The think tank offered the
following:
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Sample covenants and facilitator training.
Demonstrate a variety of expressions of Koinonia with a wide variety
of examples of how this might work.
Delivery systems will vary—through district, one circuit to the next.
Study of the Augsburg Confession, especially Article VII.
Confessional subscription sounds threatening to some. Need to show
how it is a joy to be committed to this way of doing ministry.
Develop a list of resources available for study.
How do we continue to make Koinonia a spiritual journey? Focus on
the Word for repentance and faith.
In facilitator training, emphasize that we need to talk from Scripture.
We need to be sure that Scripture is heard and is at the center of our
conversation.
District presidents are a resource individually—each one knows his
district. Consult with district president regarding which resources to
use.

Conclusion
Much more needs to be done to follow through on these suggestions. We pray that the Koinonia Project can grow as we broaden into
still more parts of the Synod and, where it has taken root, help it grow
deeper and stronger. We need more resources (especially Bible studies) and ways to share results and approaches across the Synod. We
have been very careful with what is reported on the Synod website
because of the generally confidential nature of the specific things discussed within the groups. The Council of Presidents has been very
engaged during this triennium. This needs to continue, but we need
to engage the seminary faculties much more as well.
In summary, the Koinonia Project cannot become a political process but must remain a spiritual effort centered in the Word of God,