LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 121

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

SYNODICAL REPORTS 121

Synodical missions and ministries: $2,154,552 to The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod

District missions and ministries: 71 ministries receiving finan-
cial support from the largest District mission program in the
Synod—$2,200,000

History: Organized in 1906

Geography: Over 250,000 square miles (the entire state of
Texas (except El Paso County)

Baptized members: 140,000

Congregations: 350

Circuits: 39

Pastors: 548

Educators: 606 synodically trained

Day schools: 121

High schools: 5

University: Concordia University, Austin (Enrollment 785)

Social service agency: Lutheran Social Services of the South
($37,000,000 annual budget)

Outdoors ministry: Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas (two
camping/retreat facilities)

Church extension: Texas District Church Extension Fund
($68,000,000 investments, $10,500,000 capital fund)

Foundation: Lutheran Foundation of Texas ($ 19,951,488 under
management)

The vision of the Texas District is that by the 100th anniversary
of the Texas District, in the year 2006, the congregations of the
Texas District are mission-driven congregations which

* touch and win those who do not know Jesus Christ;

* enrich and empower those who do.

Gerald B. Kieschnick, President

R7-05-35
Wyoming District

Organized: September 30, 1970

Geography: Includes the state of Wyoming, the panhandle of
Nebraska, and one congregation in Colorado

District makeup: 65 congregations, 3 Indian missions, 1 preach-
ing station, 7 Circuits

Number of subsidized congregations: 5

Schools: 11 preschools, 3 elementary schools, 31 teachers

Pastors: 54

Baptized members: 12,348

Communicant members: 16,783

Church attendance: Average 37.03% of members

Per communicant giving: $48.83

Percent of income of District to Synod: 23%

The Wyoming District will be studying its structure and its
planning process over the next year and a half in order to make cer-
tain that we are as efficient and effective in mission and ministry as
possible. We have begun an emphasis on extending the mission
through education and are working to assist congregations to es-
tablish schools. As with all areas of the world, we face some unique
and special problems in doing ministry and are seeking ways to ad-
dress them.

Ron M. Garwood, President

R7-06
Commission on Constitutional Matters

The 1995 synodical convention adopted a resolution which af-
fected the membership of the Commission on Constitutional Mat-
ters (CCM). Pastoral membership on the CCM was increased by
one and the Secretary of the Synod was designated as a nonvoting
member. Following the procedure for filling positions on the Com-
mission adopted in 1992, namely the nomination of five persons
for each vacant position by the Council of Presidents selected from
a slate provided by District Boards of Directors, appointment by
the President and ratification by the Council of Presidents, three
new members were added to the CCM.

The responsibilities of the Commission on Constitutional Mat-

ters are clearly outlined in Bylaw 3.905, beginning with that of re-
viewing reports and overtures to the convention “to determine their
agreement in content and language with the Constitution and By-
laws of the Synod.” After each convention, it must revise the Hand-
book to incorporate adopted changes. Every member of the Synod
(congregation, ordained and commissioned minister), official
board, commission, or entity of the Synod has the right to request
from the CCM an interpretation of the Constitution, Bylaws, or res-
olutions of the Synod, and the opinion provided in response is bind-
ing unless and until overturned by a convention. Review of Arti-
cles of Incorporation and Bylaws of every synodical entity,
including Districts, is to be carried out in advance by the Commis-
sion to determine whether they are in harmony with the Constitu-
tion, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod and a file of these doc-
uments, as well as a set of Handbooks of the Synod, is maintained.

During the course of the triennium the CCM published in the
Reporter a list of titles of opinions which had been issued together
with a notice that the opinions, in their entirety, were available
upon request. Opinions rendered during the past triennium are in-
cluded in an appendix to the Convention Workbook.

It is not the responsibility of the CCM to determine the facts in
any given matter. It is charged with responding to abstract ques-
tions, and its decisions are based on the facts as submitted without
determining whether the facts are correct. Consequently, when
Opinions are requested, the question to which the CCM is asked to
respond should be posed in an abstract manner. So, for example,
the question could be stated in the following or similar form: “May
a congregation ... ?” not “Was it right for congregation to
...2” “Do the Bylaws of the Synod permit a pastor to ...?” not “Is
Pastor____ permitted to ...?” The questions posed to the CCM vary
widely and may deal with individual situations or may be such that
they are of interest and importance for the entire Synod. Any of
these decisions could have effects upon the Synod, its Districts, the
congregations, or individual members. A cursory reading of the ti-
tles contained in the appendix will bear witness to that fact. Dele-
gates are urged to review these, particularly as they may have a di-
rect or indirect effect on convention issues.

As indicated in the report of the CCM to the 1995 synodical
convention, in an effort to give wider circulation to decisions, es-
pecially lengthy ones, the minutes of the Commission have been
shared with the Council of Presidents and Board of Directors.
They, in turn, have been able to make these available as they felt
necessary for guidance and assistance to congregations and or-
dained and commissioned ministers of the Synod.

The members of the CCM consider it a privilege. in spite of the
challenging and time-consuming nature of the task, to serve the
Synod in this special way. The members go about their task always
aware of the impact which their decisions may have and pray that
these decisions will be useful to the Synod as it seeks to carry out
its responsibility im the task of spreading the Gospel of God’s love
in Christ Jesus “to the ends of the earth.” Each meeting and tele-
phone conference begins with the petition to our gracious God to
guide the members as they seek to respond to the requests which
are made and then to bless those decisions for the welfare of His
church.

Walter Tesch, Chairman

R7-07
Task Force on Dispute Resolution

Reconcilers appointed following the adoption of the dispute res-
olution process by the Synod in 1992 are about to complete their
six-year term of service. Most of those who were appointed have
served during the entire time and the testimony of District Presi-
dents who have utilized their services witnesses to their value in
helping resolve conflicts at a lower level. In 1997 two training ses-
sions: were held in which substitutes were trained as reconcilers to
fill District vacancies and District Presidents elected in 1994 and
1997, as well as representatives from the synodical universities and
seminaries, were also trained in the process. Funding for these
training sessions, each five days in length, was provided by a grant