LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 251

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 251

WuereaS, The Handbook does not direct the COP to create a
bureaucracy of committees that duplicate the responsibilities of the
synodical headquarters and seminaries; and

WuerEAS, The Handbook does not direct the COP to train
LCMS clergy for “leadership”, to be ‘congregational mentors” or
to “experience . . . cross denominational leadership training” as
they intend to do in the December 1997 Reporter; and

WHEREAS, The Handbook does not direct the COP to raise and
expend funds to support programs and committees it chooses to in-
vent outside those expressly stated in the Handbook; and

WHEREAS, The convention of the Synod is to administrate the
Synod, raise funds, and fulfill the objectives of the Synod; and

Wuereas, Each District president has more than enough re-
sponsibilities to occupy his time besides setting up a bureaucracy to
administrate the Synod outside of his District; therefore be it

Resolved, That the COP is required by the convention of the
LCMS not to exceed any duties other than those specifically stated
in the Handbook; and be it further

Resolved, That the COP is prohibited from raising funds, ac-
cepting funds, or expending funds for any programs or committees
unless expressly directed by the convention; and be it finally

Resolved, That the COP focus its attention on teaching, con-
fessing, practicing, and defending from error the doctrine of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as is the duty of every LCMS
pastor.

Redeemer, St. Clair Shores MI; Immanuel, Clovis, NM;
Bethlehem, Fairborn, OH; Circuit 17 Forum, South
Wisconsin District; Faith, Corning, NY; Concordia, South
Haven, MN

7-39

To Remind District Presidents of Duties
and Limitations Incumbent on Office

WuereEAsS, The District President “shall represent the Synod in
his respective territory. He shall therefore cause the resolutions of
the Synod to be implemented in the District and shall therefore reg-
ularly report to the President of the Synod” (Bylaw 4:71; cf. Bylaw
4:73); and

WHEREAS, The synodical Handbook entrusts the District Presi-
dent with the duty of the supervision of the doctrine and practice of
the congregations within his territory (Bylaw 4.73) and charges the
Council of Presidents with the task of “counseling” with the syn-
odical President regarding matters of doctrine relative to the direc-
tives of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod (Bylaw 3.930),
and

WuereEAs, The Handbook does not grant District Presidents a
role in defining, creating, changing, or developing doctrine for the
Synod; and

WHEREAS, “Congregations shall seek the advice of the respec-
tive District President when calling ordained or commissioned min-
isters” (Bylaw 2.45), but while the District President is “consulted,”
congregations have full authority to extend a call to any church
worker who has been certified by the faculties of our educational
institutions or is a church worker in good standing within the Synod
(Bylaw 2.11); and District Presidents do not have the authority to
declare “unqualified” a candidate certified as “qualified” by one of
our educational institutions (Bylaw 2.09); therefore be it

Resolved, That the District Presidents be reminded of these du-
ties and limitations incumbent upon them as officers of the Synod;
and be it further

Resolved, That the President of Synod encourage the District
Presidents in these clearly stated duties and that the President of
the Synod be encouraged to use the executive power granted him
by the Bylaws (3.103) relative to a District President should he
deem it necessary and in accordance with the Bylaws of the Synod.

Concordia
South Haven, MN

7-40

To Return All District Presidents and Ordained Staff
to Parish Ministry

WHEREAS, Prior to 1947 nearly all District presidents in the
Synod, no matter how large their Districts, continued to serve their
congregations up to which time the LCMS grew to 4,000 congre-
gations; and

WHEREAS, The current cost of maintaining District offices and
their ever-increasing staffs and programs throughout the LCMS is
approaching the size of the synodical budget; and

WHEREAS, The development of computer technology, faxes, e-
mail, the Internet, etc., make the maintenance of regional District
offices an unnecessary expense and financial burden to the congre-
gations; and

Wuereas, The local District support of an additional pastor and
secretary to the elected District president’s congregation, if needed,
should be more than enough assistance for the District president to
serve the District without giving up his call; and

WHEREAS, There would be no need for the District president to
draw a salary from the District; and

WuEeREAS, Larger districts such as Michigan and Texas should
be divided to provide more effective service to congregations; and

Wuereas, In 1994 there were 8,510 pastors on the synodical
roster but only 5,312 pastors serving 6,168 congregations; and

Wuereas, In 1995 there were 8,564 pastors on the synodical
roster but only 5,287 pastors serving 6,175 congregations; and

WHEREAS, The increase of District staff and “church growth”
programs, conferences, seminars, etc., has proven to be a statistical
failure; and

WHEREAS, Providing pastors to congregations is more impor-
tant than expanding District staff and services; and

WHEREAS, The increase of staff, services, and bureaucracy in
District offices continues to divert congregational resources from
recruiting and training more pastors; and

WHEREAS, The continuing statistical decline of pastor serving
congregations is accompanied by the statistical increase of pastors
supported by the District bureaucracy; and

WHEREAS, There are approximately 900 vacancies in the
LCMS; and

WHEREAS, The first desire of pastors is to preach the Gospel and
serve congregations; therefore be it

Resolved, That in order to help alleviate the current crisis of va-
cancies in the congregations all pastors now serving in District of-
fices immediately enter the parish ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That all District presidents and District staff set an
example by such service that the foremost desire of a pastor is to
preach the Gospel and to serve congregations; and be it finally

Resolved, That the numerous redundant programs currently di-
verting the District staff and resources be abandoned in order to
focus full attention on pastors serving congregations in the Synod.

Immanuel, Peoria, IL; Redeemer, St. Clair Shores, MI; St.
John, Waterbury, CT; Immanuel, Clovis, NM; Grace,
Paris, TX

7-41

To Reinstitute Triennial “Every Congregation Visits”
by District Presidents

WHEREAS, Martin Luther and his associates reformed the office
of bishop by calling theologically competent pastors as “visitors’’
to personally visit congregations and church workers (see the 1528
“Instructions for the Visitors’’ in Luther’s Works 49); and

WHEREAS, The signers of the Book of Concord pledged that they
would cooperate in the effort toward church unity “through dili-
gent visitation of churches’’ (Tappert, p. 14); and