LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 9

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 9

and their report, A Plan for Ministry to Homosexuals and Their
Families, was completed and presented to the Synod in 1992, with
copies provided to our pastors and then made availble from Con-
cordia Publishing House and also provided on the President’s Of-
fice Web site.

This ministry plan has been extremely well-received, with a
great deal of appreciation throughout the Synod and also from out-
side of our Synod, from other church bodies that share our biblical
position on homosexuality. Copies of the ministry plan were pro-
vided to overseas Lutheran churches as well. A copy of this docu-
ment is provided in the appendix section of the Workbook.

National/District Task Force

The 1998 convention called for the creation of a task force to
study the Synod as it relates to itself on the national, District, and
Circuit levels (1998 Resolution 7-02A). The convention directed
me as President to appoint this group in consultation and with the
concurrence of the Synod’s Board of Directors. The Board of Di-
rectors and I followed through on this directive and appointed this
group.

The task force had its initial meeting in January 1999 and met
regularly throughout the triennium, asking for and receiving the
input of all the various entities of the Synod at every level of the
Synod. The task force has been meeting regularly since the last
convention. Their report and recommendations are being shared in
a separate publication from the Workbook. You can also view their
materials on the Internet at www.Icms.org/taskforce/relations.html.

Clearly the task force’s recommendations will be an important
matter of business at our convention, and I encourage you to read
and study their materials for yourself so that you will be prepared
to participate meaningfully in the discussion of these materials. |
will have more to say about the task force’s recommendations in
the second part of my report to the Synod.

Church Worker Recruitment and Retention Action Group

In response to the growing need throughout the Synod to ad-
dress in a very purposeful manner the growing shortage of pastors
and other church workers, I appointed this group and asked Dr.
Karl Barth to serve as chairman of this group. I appreciate the work
they have been doing and know our Synod will as well. Their re-
port is contained elsewhere in the Workbook and I encourage you
to review it.

Words of Appreciation

There are so many other groups and entities that I could men-
tion here in my report, but let me just conclude by highlighting sev-
eral groups, organizations, entities, and people who continue to be
such a blessing to our Synod and to the work that I as synodical
President have been given to do.

The First Vice-President and Praesidium

It is particularly appropriate and important that I thank Dr.
Robert Kuhn for his years of service to our Synod as First Vice-
President. He has served as First Vice-President for two terms with
zeal, dedication, and enthusiasm for the many and varied tasks that
are part of this position in our Synod. [ have deeply appreciated his
support, encouragement, and friendship, qualities that are so im-
portant in one who is elected to support and assist the Synod’s
President as a partner with him in the work of the President’s Of-
fice. So, to Dr. Kuhn, I know I join so many across our Synod
when I say, “Bob, thank you and may God bless and go with you
and your dear wife, Judy!”

I also need to indicate my deep appreciation to our Synod’s
faithful Praesidium members: Dr. Robert King, Second Vice-Pres-
ident; Dr. William Weinrich, Third Vice-President; Dr. Roger Pit-
telko, Fourth Vice-President; and Dr. Wallace Schulz, Fifth Vice-

President. I very much appreciate the wisdom and fraternal advice
and counsel these fine men have provided me through this past tri-
ennium. | thank them deeply for their service in this unique way to
our Synod. They have truly been a blessing to our Synod.

Our Districts and District Staff Members

Our Synod’s 35 Districts are providing much-needed assistance
and support to the congregations of our Synod, and we certainly do
thank God for them and for all of our District Presidents and the
staff members at our District offices. Their work is often challeng-
ing and at times frustrating and extremely difficult as they work
through a whole host of issues that come up in the day-to-day life
of our church workers and our congregations. Their resources are
spread thinly across the areas for which they are responsible, and,
like everyone else, there is always much more to do than there is
time. So let us remember our District Presidents and our District
staff members in our prayers and work to encourage and support
them in their activitics and responsibilities.

Our Synod’s Auxiliaries and Other Service Organizations

Here | have in mind the Lutheran Laymen’s League and the
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. The LLL and the LWML
continue to remain for our Synod excellent partners in the great
mission work our Lord has given us to do. Throughout our Synod
these groups support so many good efforts at reaching out boldly
with the Gospel. The LLL’s theme. “Bringing Christ to the Nations
and the Nations to the Church,” and the LWML’s “Lutheran
Women in Mission” capture the primary goal and purpose of these
two fine lay organizations in our Synod. We thank God for them
and need to continue to encourage them in the important tasks they
perform here in our country and around the world through all their
various mission efforts, programs. gifts, and projects.

And then, as we think of our Synod’s auxiliaries, we also are
reminded of all the Recognized Service Organizations and Social
Ministry Organizations that are affiliated with our Synod through
our various boards and agencies. They are performing on our be-
half a whole host of mission and charitable activities across our na-
tion and around the world.

President’s Office Staff

I want here to express a special word of appreciation for the fine
work of the staff of the President's Office. Rev. Paul T. McCain
and Rev. Dr. Ken Schurb have served me now for many years as
my assistants. These two men have performed their duties with
great devotion and dedication to their Lord and Savior and with
diligence, care, and concern for our church. We all owe them a gen-
uine word of thanks and appreciation.

Mrs. Mary Renfer serves as my executive assistant. Mrs. Laura
Bucy serves as sécretary to Rev. McCain. Ms. Judy Brombolich
serves as secretary to Rev. Schurb and as our office receptionist.
Mrs. Brenda Schroeder serves as secretary to Dr. Kuhn. [ am ex-
tremely grateful for the hard work and service these women have
performed for the President’s Office and for our Synod. We thank
God for them!

Our Congregations, Pastors, and Other Church Workers

I continue to appreciate the frequent opportunities [ have to be
out with the full-time church workers and people of our congrega-
tions and to receive their direct input and feedback. Added to these
personal contacts out in the church. there are also the large amount
of letters, faxes, and e-mails that come into our office every week.
Such opportunities are important. for they permit me to hear di-
rectly from the people of our church body, to learn of their joys,
their concerns, their hurts, their troubles, their hopes and dreams,
and so forth. And the issues they share with me are as diverse and
different as the people in our Synod. It’s great to have these oppor-
tunities!

2001 Convention Workbook