LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1995, Page 67

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of our Synod’s vision statement, namely, that we as a
Synod be a very caring church, people-sensitive and people-
centered, not merely for.the sake of social work nor to ad-
vocate a social gospel of sorts, but instead as an extension
of the Master’s loving and caring ministry to hurting peo-
ple.

In that regard, I would commend to your committee
Overtures 6-01 to 6-07, calling for a positive reaffirmation
of our Synod’s commitment to the sanctity of life and re-
lated concerns. You may wish to note the new President’s
Commission on the sanctity of life (Workbook, p. 3) and ex-
press a word of thanks to the anonymous donor who has
now made possible this bold new initiative and has rein-
vigorated commitment to the sanctity of life among us.

There are many other people-needs expressed in the va-
riety of overtures which your committee will be working
with (Overtures 6-31 to 6-34, 6-36, 6-37). These overtures
call for a growing sensitivity on the part of the Synod to a
variety of human-care issues and concerns. In many cases,
these concerns need first to be dealt with at the level of our
congregations. It is at the parish level that the needs are
the most evident and the people of God are the most aware
of them.

Committee 7: Structure, Planning
and Administration

Committee 7, last but certainly not least, to you also I
say: Ours is a time of unprecedented opportunity and chal-
lenge in the Lord! As I page through the Workbook pages
devoted to structure, planning, and administration, I notice
some key issues here as well. I suppose the most obvious
issue which faces your committee is the whole matter of the
Commission on Constitutional Matters opinion and its af-
termath. I need to tell you that I and the Board of Direc-
tors have been working hard on these issues over the past
two days. I would encourage your committee to be cautious
in formulating any sort of a quick-fix solution to structural
issues which have developed over the years. The CCM opin-
ion pointed out certain deficiencies in our Bylaw arrange-
ments. To me there is a great need to study carefully our
Synod’s structural arrangements, recognizing the good
points of creating corporate entities and the less-than-good
aspects of these types of arrangements. I trust that what-
ever decisions need to be made in this regard are decisions
which will help us clarify issues, not merely avoid potential
problems in regard to our corporate structural arrange-
ments.

An equally important issue before your committee is the

whole matter of the Synod’s Dispute Resolution system,
adopted at our Synod’s last convention. The new process
has in many respects worked well for us during these first
few years. But having said that, it also needs to be said that
important revision and modification is necessary. There is

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT 67

no doubt in the minds of those responsible for initiating and
leading this new process that this is the case.

The overtures received on this matter cover quite a
range of concerns. Overture 7-59 wisely suggests that the
new synodical Dispute Resolution system really does need a
provision for an appeal of a Dispute Resolution Panel deci-
sion. It is clear to me that this is absolutely necessary. It
must be kept in mind that a Dispute Resolution Panel
serves as an adjudication panel in this process. Overture 7-
50 points out the need for adequate, standard procedures
which should be followed by each Dispute Resolution Panel.
Overture 7-58 suggests a far-reaching reevaluation of the
new process. I am not convinced that at this time this
would be a wise decision. This convention could however es-
tablish a process for systematic evaluation to take place in
the future, after the 1995 modifications have had a chance
to work for a while.

But there are other important matters for your consid-
eration as well. There are a number of overtures expressing
concern in regard to how our District Presidents handle the
whole area of call lists. Perhaps a word of cautious concern
is in order as suggested, but it also needs to be said that
our present system of calling pastors makes good sense. A
vacant congregation must consult with its District Presi-
dent, who may suggest names for its consideration. But a
calling congregation does have the right to call any pastor
who is a member of the Missouri Synod in good standing.
There are other matters before your committee which you
may have time to consider, but it seems the items men-
tioned here will require your utmost study and considera-
tion for the good of our beloved Synod.

Concluding Observations

I told you as I began this presentation that you would
hear from me, over and over, the phrase, “Ours is a time of
unprecedented opportunity and challenge in the Lord.” I
have a suspicion that by now some of you may be saying,
“This is just a pious platitude, a truism. After all, haven’t
we all heard this kind of claim before?” My response is, “Of
course, each generation which has gone before us was able
to make this assertion. But there is one important differ-
ence.” The big difference is that you are here now, not they.
You are the delegates to this synodical convention. This is
your time. This is your day. Therefore let us recognize that
this is so. Let us accept the opportunity and challenge
which lie before us. Let us rise to the occasion, for ours is
the time of unprecedented opportunity and challenge in the
Lord! May God grant each of you a double measure of His
Holy Spirit that you may receive the wisdom necessary to
make good decisions, according to His good and gracious
will and for the good of our Synod. God bless as you do. Yes,
God bless as you do!