LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1995, Page 63

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REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT 63

ciety which continues to experience very serious problems
in the area of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and other
such issues. Under the leadership of Dr. Jean Garton and
then Mrs. Tuni Miller, the commission completed an infor-
mal survey on the issue of sexual abuse. Their report fol-
lows as an appendix.

Here I need to speak a very strong and clear word of af-
firmation for the women of our church body. As our Synod
struggles through issues concerning the service of women,
what is absolutely certain is that our synodical family has
been and will continue to be blessed richly by the service of
women who serve in a wide variety of ways. As a Synod we
need to be especially thankful for this important service
rendered by the women of our synodical family.

Resources for the Church

During the past triennium, the President’s office has
been involved in assisting to make some very significant re-
sources available to the church.

A book, titled Lutheran Worship: History and Practice,
is an incredibly important publication. For years, our syn-
odical family has needed a volume that explores worship is-
sues in a scholarly and faithful manner. This volume isa
marvelous tool for helping us understand worship issues in
a distinct confessionally Lutheran manner. The President
worked with a generous donor to secure the funding neces-
sary to make this volume available at a reasonable price.

Along the lines of encouraging a thorough exploration of
worship issues, the President's office secured funds for a se-
ries of “Real Life Worship Seminars” sponsored by our
Synod’s Commission on Worship. These seminars have
been held in various regions of our Synod and continue to
attract a great deal of interest and attention. Hopefully,
more of these seminars can be held.

Our Commission on Worship sponsored these seminars
and is to be commended and thanked by our Synod for
doing so. The Commission on Worship continues to provide
important leadership in this area.

The President’s office has been approached by interested
parties to sponsor a major new collection of essays by Her-
mann Sasse, one of the most influential confessional
Lutheran theologians in the last century. These essays,
most of which have never before appeared in English, will
be of great help to our Synod as we continue to explore im-
portant theological issues which impact our work on a local,
national, and international level. The volume is expected
to appear sometime in 1996. I appreciate Concordia Pub-
lishing House’s commitment to making this volume avail-
able to our Synod.

The President’s office sponsored a new series of Bible
Studies titled, “Touchpoint.” These studies were written by
four of our district presidents: James Kalthoff (MO), Herb
Mueller (SI), Roger Pittelko (EN), and Raymond Hartwig
(SD). These studies are designed for use at the parish level
to discuss four topics: the priesthood of all believers and the
office of the holy ministry; the service of women in the
church; worship and liturgy; and close(d) Communion.
Hopefully, many congregations in our Synod will use these
studies. By God’s blessing, our synodical family will benefit
from a careful, biblical discussion of these issues.

Shortly after arriving to serve as President, I recognized
the need to communicate directly with the church workers
of our synodical family. Thus, I began sending out the
“President’s Newsletter.” I was asked if I wanted to make
this newsletter available in the Reporter and thus reach not
only church workers, but also lay leaders of our Synod.

Thus, in April 1993 the “President’s Newsletter” was
placed within the Reporter. In November of that same year
we were able to send the “President’s Newsletter” to. the
40,000 congregation leaders who receive the Reporter. I
have found the “President’s Newsletter” to be a good way
for me to share news, information, and observations with
the leaders of our Synod in a timely and attractive format.

The Circuit Rider Video Report was a concept developed
by Rev. James Likens, our Senior Video Producer of the
Board for Communication Services. The video was sent to
every Circuit Counselor of our Synod in March. The pur-
pose of this video was to offer a format in which I could
communicate directly with the pastors of our Synod and
offer observations and news which is of particular interest
to our pastors. I plan on continuing the practice of including
other synodical officials on the video. Another important
feature of this video series is the inclusion of a segment
from the District president. A generous benefactor made
the production of these videos possible. We will continue to
send them out at least twice’a year.

Nomenclature Study Committee

At our last synodical convention, the Synod asked the
President to form a special task force to study the whole
area of “nomenclature.” That is, the way in which we as a
synodical family describe the various categories of church
workers among us. I am pleased with the progress the
Nomenclature Study Committee has made. Their progress
report is included as an appendix to this report.

Task Force on Finances

When I was elected at Pittsburgh, I stated that one of
my priorities was to make sure that our Synod practices
full financial openness and disclosure. This remains very
much of a high priority. At the beginning of 1993, I ap-
pointed a special task force to look into various questions
that had arisen in regard to our Synod’s management of its
financial affairs. ;

This committee, chaired by President Raymond Hartwig
(SD), spent a lot of time and effort meeting with various
people at the International Center. In August 1993 the
Task Force delivered its report to me. The report indicated
the strengths of our Synod’s financial management. The re-
port also indicated some weaknesses that we as a Synod
need to deal with as we move into the years ahead. The
Task Force’s report is included as an appendix to this re-
port.

Other materials will be shared with the floor committee
working on this issue. I assume that our Board of Directors
will wish to make its response to the Task Force on Fi-
nances report available at this time.

Conclusion
Finally, by way of conclusion, let me repeat my opening ~