LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 3

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 3

and this too is a particularly difficult burden for them to bear. Our
Synod owes them a debt of appreciation and thanks.

Church Relations
Mailing to World Lutherans

During the past triennium, we have witnessed many additional
opportunities for our Synod to be of assistance to Christians
throughout the world. We have received requests for help from
Lutherans in Eastern Asia. in Northern and Central Europe, in the
Baltic nations, in Africa, and in Central and South America. One
important initiative that was begun was an effort to communicate
directly with the Lutheran church bodies throughout the world.
Many churches have known of our Synod only through secondhand
reports, and in some cases mere rumor. Needless to say, such in-
formation is generally inadequate and often tends to put our Synod
in a less than positive light. We felt it was important to reach out
with clear statements of our Synod’s doctrinal positions in order to
introduce our Synod to Lutherans around the world.

We have been sending regular mailings to all Lutheran churches
in the world. These mailings have featured statements and accom-
panying materials on the issues of justification, homosexuality,
racism, and the service of women in the church. In addition, we
have been sending these churches our Synod’s official publications,
the Reporter and The Lutheran Witness. We also are sending them
the journals from each of our two seminaries. The response to these
mailings has been very positive.

Church Fellowship Opportunities

We will have before us during the convention a proposal to
enter into altar and pulpit fellowship with the Ingrian Lutheran
Church, which is based in St. Petersburg, Russia. It is emerging
from years of Communist persecution and has reached out to us for
help and assistance. We have been working with the Ingrian
Church for quite some time now and have sent delegations of rep-
resentatives over there to discuss the possibility of church fellow-
ship. We were also able to host them here as well. The meetings
have led to consensus among us that we are agreed in doctrine and
church practice.

International Lutheran Council

Our Synod was privileged to host the International Lutheran
Council here in the St. Louis area for its meeting in August of
1997. The ILC continues to be an important way for us to work
with other churches around the world that share our commitment to
the Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. It is always a joy to be
with the leaders of these churches, and our Synod is indeed fortu-
nate to be part of the ILC. Our partner churches, and other churches
that are involved, often express to me how important the ILC is for
them. They often feel isolated from other Lutherans and so gen-
uinely do appreciate the blessings of being a part of a larger
Lutheran worldwide council.

150th Anniversary Theological Convocation

A special feature of our 150th anniversary celebration was a
theological convocation held in the fall of 1997. Each of our part-
ner churches, as well as those churches attending the ILC’s meeting
the week previous. were invited to come, and bring with them one
theologian from their church. Our Synod’s District Presidents and
Praesidium, as well as our seminary faculties, with the Commis-
sion on Theology and Church Relations, gathered to discuss the
topic of church and ministry. The collected papers from that con-
ference have been published and distributed to the congregations
and pastors of our Synod, along with a study guide.

Ecclesiastical Supervision

As is the case in any of our congregations, there are challenges
that arise from time to time in our Synod. The President of the
Synod is charged with the duty of using all means at his disposal to
maintain unity of doctrine and practice in the Districts of the
Synod. When I am made aware of a doctrinal concern with one of
our congregations or church workers, I make every effort to inform
the District President and encourage him to take appropriate action

to resolve the concern in a manner in keeping with our scriptural
and confessional positions. | have repeatedly underscored with our
District Presidents how important it is for all of us to uphold the
Synod’s doctrinal positions. Not to do so will only result in division
among us and will detract from our desire to reach out boldly with
the Gospel.

There are some specific concerns our Synod does need clearly
to address. For instance. there are a few congregations in our Synod
that hold membership both in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. These sit-
uations have been dealt with in an extremely loving and patient
manner, and our Synod has repeatedly urged and encouraged these
congregations finally to reach a decision about their church affilia-
tion. The time has now come for us to draw the few remaining
cases of dual membership to a conclusion. My counterpart in the
ELCA also agrees that we definitely do need to end these arrange-
ments.

Another lingering situation in our Synod is the matter of the Re-
newal in Missouri group. This group has long advocated for the
charismatic movement in our circles. Here too we have dealt with
them in a loving and patient manner for quite some time. In spite of
efforts to meet to discuss our differences during the past triennium,
the leaders of RIM decided not to move ahead with discussions. I
believe it is time for our Synod to address this ongoing situation
and bring it to a God-pleasing resolution, for the sake of unity in -
doctrine and practice among us.

Communication Efforts

During the past triennium the President’s Office has continued
to place the President's Newsletter in the Reporter, a publication
designed to inform and discuss issues with the church workers and
lay leaders of our congregations and Synod. Three times a year, a
letter of encouragement is being sent to all LCMS pastors titled,
“The Noble Task.” This newsletter is intended to provide reflec-
tions on the pastoral ministry with encouragement to our pastors.
Two books were also made available to the Synod, one devoted to
the subject of catechesis and the other on the topic of prayer and
the devotional life.

The “What About” pamphlets have also been distributed dur-
ing the past triennium and made available widely across the Synod.
As this report is being written. we have been able to make avail-
able pamphlets on eight topics: The Gospel. The Bible, The Chris-
tian Family, Death and Dying. Homosexuality, The Ordination of
Women, Fellowship in the Lord’s Supper, and the Differences Be-
tween the ELCA and the LCMS. Many congregations find these to
be a helpful way to introduce important doctrinal topics and other
issues to their congregations and visitors to their congregations.

During the past triennium the President's Office received a home
page on the World Wide Web. That address is: www.icms.org/pres-
ident. An e-mail address was also provided: president@Icms.org.
These are both ways to use the advantages of electronic communi-
cation to get the Synod’s message out further.

The Blue Ribbon Committee on Structure

I want to express a genuine word of thanks to all the members
of the Blue Ribbon Committee who have spent many long hours
in a careful process of gathering information from the entities of
the Synod. Their proposals will be an important aspect of our con-
vention’s decision making. Delegates to the convention have re-
ceived with this Workbook a copy of the committee’s final recom-
mendations. I recommend that the Synod adopt the proposals being
offered to it by the Blue Ribbon Committee on Structure.

What has particularly impressed me about the process followed
by the Committee on Structure was how carefully and thoroughly
they sought the input of the various entities of the Synod. I very
much appreciate the fine leadership this committee has given to our
Synod on these important issues. They are truly to be commended,
not only for the recommendations they have made, but also for the
process they have followed in their work and study.

The President’s Commission on the Sanctity of Life

Under the capable leadership of Dr. Raymond Hartwig, the
President's Commission on the Sanctity of Life has produced ex-