LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 1

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
R1

President
“We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly
to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:23–24).
In the same letter Paul says, “If Christ be not risen then our
preaching is worthless and so is your faith” (1 Cor. 15:14). The
risen Christ, having borne the sins of the world in His body unto
death, and having justified the world by His resurrection (Rom.
4:25), forever remains the crucified one we preach so that this crucified and risen Christ be believed for eternal life. Luther describes
this life wondrously:
For Christ crucifies the devil, kills death, damns sin, and
binds the Law. As one who believes this, I am liberated from
the Law, etc. Therefore the Law is deaf, bound, dead and crucified to me; and I, in turn, am deaf, bound, dead and crucified
to it. Thus I live by this very death and crucifixion, that is, by
this grace or liberty. (LW 26:165)
God’s wisdom is not found in pomp and circumstance, worldly
splendor, passing vainglory, great demonstrations of lawful progress or human glory, political decisions, huge numbers or popular
entertainment. God’s ways, God’s wisdom, God’s heart, God’s love,
God’s purpose, God’s salvation is demonstrated in an offensive and
hidden way in the crucifixion and death of the Lord of Glory. “He
who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). This truth scandalizes the human
mind because it precludes any human morality, any alleged human
goodness, any human ability, any human choice from playing a role
in salvation. There is no human path to God. There is only Christ’s
path to us. The scandal is that Christ “became sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness of God.”
Therefore, until the Day of Christ’s return, as long as He blesses
us with this church body, “we preach Christ crucified.” In times
comfortable or challenging, in prosperity or persecution, come
what may, we preach Christ crucified.

The COVID-19 Crisis
At the beginning of the pandemic, none of us could have anticipated how long it would last or what trials we would have to
endure. Everyone was flying blind. Despite the First Amendment,
established constitutional law gives government broad powers to
act in times of pandemic. While our congregations were coping
with various laws and jurisdictions, often making different decisions based upon local context, we in St. Louis assisted districts
and congregations with legal consultation and connection with
legal advocates so that they could push back against government
overreach. I, for one, in retrospect, believe the government has no
business forcing its way into the sanctuary, much less dictating the
sacramental life of the Church. We must reserve the right to say no
to the government, no matter the law. “We must obey God rather
than men” (Acts 5:29).

Online Communion
The Council of Presidents (COP) met twice a month by Zoom
during the pandemic and worked through the difficult issue of “online” Communion, as well as other important matters and needs
of our people and congregations. Regarding online Communion, I
also sought opinions from our seminaries and the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations. The COP agreed with those opin-

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ions and unanimously rejected the practice of online Communion.
We’ll discuss this at the convention.

Soldiers of the Cross
The LCMS was able to assist over 1,000 church workers—including both professional church workers and many others on staff
in congregations—with grants during the pandemic. We’ve also
been able to provide some 45 DOXOLOGY retreats for many more
pastors and commissioned workers.

Concordia Universities
The Resolution 7-03 Task Force proposals to revamp the governance of the universities continue to change in light of conversations with the presidents of our treasured schools. I’m hopeful
that something agreeable to the major parties involved—which
provides the schools the flexibility they need and the congregations
of the Synod the accountability they need—will be ready prior to
convention time and brought to the convention floor. I am delighted
with the final outcome of the presidential search at Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor (CUWAA). CUWAA is a great
school with a great future. See my visitation report below (Report
R63). Visitation of Concordia University Texas (Austin, TX, CTX),
and its board of regents’ attempted removal of the university from
the Synod’s governance, confirmed concerns about a number of issues (Report R64). The Synod Board of Directors (BOD) sent a
team to meet with the CTX regents and leadership. Conversations
remain hopeful for a return of the school to Synod governance.
The closures of Concordia University, Portland and Concordia
College—New York (Bronxville) by their regents were sad. The
students and dollars simply were not sufficient for the schools to
remain open. Millions loaned and granted by the Lutheran Church
Extension Fund (LCEF) and the Synod allowed them to operate far
longer than would have otherwise been possible.
New presidents this triennium include Dr. Russell Dawn at Concordia University Chicago; Dr. Michael Thomas at Concordia University, Irvine; Dr. Bernard Bull at Concordia University, Nebraska,
(Seward); the Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich at Concordia University, St.
Paul; and Dr. Erik Ankerberg at CUWAA. We have the strongest
group of Concordia presidents in a long time. My staff are working
with President Dawn in Chicago on a biblical approach or alternative to secular Diversity-Equity-Inclusion philosophy, since such
philosophy is, at a number of points, antithetical to the Scriptures.

Synod Seminaries
The Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger was appointed president at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, over a year ago. What a great choice!
Our seminaries are working together at the vital task of educating
our future pastors. We must remain flexible in providing options for
seminary education (and we provide many), while not diminishing residential education but growing it. Many people have no idea
how vital residential education is, not only for the LCMS but for
the world. Without our strong faculties, confessional Lutheranism
would be horribly crippled globally. Hundreds of students come to
our seminaries and return to their home countries making vital contributions to their churches in doctrine and life. Our faculty travel
the globe, bringing the solid biblical teaching of the LCMS and
strengthening the mission of the Gospel exponentially. The Synod
has been able to provide over $4 million per year to our two seminaries, to continue to assist them in remaining financially solid.
2023 Convention Workbook