LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 300

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300 NATIONAL/DISTRICT SYNOD RELATIONS

WHEREAS, We hold to the belief that any move toward the amal-
gamation of the congregations of the District into geographical Dis-
tricts must be originated within the English District; and

Wuereas, The English District at its last convention passed a
resolution to communicate to the Synod its desire to remain a Dis-
trict of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, Contrary to the published view of the task force,
there is no evidence that the Synod would save money by dissolv-
ing its nongeographic Districts; and

WHEREAS, There are many significant and compelling reasons
for the continuation of the Synod’s nongeographic Districts; and

WHEREAS, The English District provides the LCMS a way to
connect with its eleven congregations in Canada, who without the
English District and its Canada Corporation would, in all likeli-
hood, cease to be members of the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, God has blessed the English District with a rich her-
itage of service to the Lord and His church and continues to bless
the English District as a viable institution in faithfulness, mission,
and service; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS, meeting in convention in St. Louis in
2001, reject the recommendations of the task force regarding Dis-
trict realignment, specifically the dissolution of its nongeographic
Districts.

Bethany Ewing, NJ; Messiah, Elmhurst, IL; Trinity, Villa
Park, IL; Redeemer Sarnia. Ontario, Canada; Gethsemane,
Windsor, Ontario; Hope, Grand Rapids. MI; Holy
Redeemer, Sandusky, MI

8-51

To Reject Task Force Proposal to Dissolve
Nongeographic Districts

WHEREAS, The so-called nongeographic Districts of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod existed independently as syn-
ods of their own accord prior to becoming part of the developing
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

Wrereas, Holy Scripture itselfi—“Woe to him who quarrels
with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds
on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you mak-
ing?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?” (1s. 45:9)—clearly
seems to set forth the principle that should govern their continued
cooperative work within the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, It is the express desire of the English District and the
SELC District to continue as Districts within the LCMS; therefore
be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reject
the Task Force proposal that recommends dissolving or amalga-
mating either of its nongeographic Districts.

Shepherd of the Mountains
Pinetop, AZ

8-52

To Oppose Recommendations to Dissolve
Nongeographic Districts
Wuereas, The English District traces its roots to the Tennessee

Synod of 1820, which predates the Saxon immigration to Perry
County, MO; and

WHEREAS, The English District existed as a separate synod from
1888 to 1911 (English Synod of Missouri); and

Wuereas, The English Synod of Missouri did not want or seek
amalgamation, but sought to be one organically with “The German

Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States”;
and

2001 Convention Workbook

WHEREAS, A 1923 resolution states that if dissolution of the
English District is to take place, “it should come from the English
District’; and

Wuereas, God has blessed the English District with a rich his-
tory of service to the Lord and His church and continues to bless
the English District as a valuable instrument of faithfulness, mis-
sion, and service; and

WHEREAS, The English District operates as efficiently and eco-
nomically as the geographic Districts and makes effective use of
technological advances; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reject
the recommendations of the Task Force to dissolve the nongeo-
graphic Districts; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod affirm with thanksgiving the mission
and ministry of these Districts.

Calvary
Mechanicsburg, PA

8-53

To Refrain from Dissolution of Nongeographic Districts

WHEREAS, The English District’s roots within the Tennessee
Synod (1820) predate those of the Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The English District was not formed by The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, but was an autonomous Synod
of evangelical Lutheran congregations that merged with the Syn-
odical Conference; and

Wuereas, A 1923 Synod resolution states that dissolution of
the English District ought not take place apart from the initiative
of the English District; and

Wuereas, The English District currently operates at a cost that
favorably compares to other Districts of the LCMS: and

WHEREAS, Technological advances promise to enhance even
more the efficiency in ministry of the English District; and

WHEREAS, The flexibility of the English District in crossing ge-
ographic lines and pioneering innovative methods of outreach has
proven a tremendous asset to mission and therefore a great value to
the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, The character of the English District as a microcosm
of the LCMS provides the Synod an opportunity to test new mate-
rials and approaches to our Lord’s work; and

WHEREAS, The English District takes seriously our mutual com-
mitment to ministry according to scriptural doctrine as confessed
in the Book of Concord; and

WHEREAS, The SELC District has also proven a valuable and
loyal member District of the LCMS: therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS refrain from dissolution of our two
nongeographic Districts without the consent or initiative of those
Districts; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS recognize the continuing advantage
of greater utilization of nongeographic Districts in its work, partic-
ularly in mission and outreach.
Martin Luther Chapel
Pennsauken, NJ

8-54

To Not Eliminate Nongeographic Districts

WHEREAS, Complementary alternative approaches to mission
and ministry provide opportunities for our Synod to develop min-
istries in new locations and new situations; and

WHEREAS, These new ministry efforts further the proclamation
of the Gospel: and

WuereaS, These new ministry efforts, under God’s blessing,
often result in the establishment of new congregations in locations
and situations where they would otherwise not exist; and