LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 304

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304 NATIONAL/DISTRICT SYNOD RELATIONS

8-66

To Allow English District to Decide Its Own Status

Wuereas, The English Synod joined The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod of its own accord, becoming a District of the
Synod; and

Wuereas, The English District and The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod agreed that should the District disband, it would
do so of its own volition and not through outside initiative; and

WHEREAS, This agreement between the English District and The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was reaffirmed by the Synod
at convention; and

Wuereas, God has blessed the English District with a rich her-
itage of service to the Lord and His church; and

WHEREAS, God continues to bless the English District as a vi-
able institution strong in faithfulness, mission and service; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That any change in the status of the English District
be determined through initiative sanctioned by the District in con-
vention itself; and be it further

Resolved, That the English District remind the LCMS of the
District’s original terms of our fellowship; and be it finally

Resolved, That the 50th convention of the English District com-
municate to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod its desire to
remain a distinct District of the LCMS.

English District

8-67

To Decline Plans to Study English District

WHEREAS, The English District was formed as a nongeographic
District whose primary goal has been mission outreach and ncw
church plantings throughout its existence; and

WHEREAS, Some have repeatedly questioned the financial feasi-
bility of maintaining such a District through recent years, even
though its dissolution would cause the creation of at least one ad-
ditional geographic District; and

WuerEaS, The dissolution of the current English District would
cause some current mission supported ministries to go unfunded or
would cause them “to seek other source funding”; therefore be it

Resolved, That no committee be formed by the Synod or its
Board of Directors to study the future existence of the English Dis-
trict, nor study its future feasibility; and be it further

Resolved, That no plans, studies, or committees be formed by
the Synod to study the continued existence of the English District,
unless the English District itself asks for or initiates such a request
through its own District convention.

Grace, Elyria, OH; Shepherd of the Hills, Rochester Hills,
MI; Christ the King, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI; St. Paul,
St. Clair Shores, MI; Shepherd King, West Bloomfield, MI

8-68

To Bar Further Resolutions to Dissolve
English District Unless Requested

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention in 1911, 1923, 1935, 1950,
1953, 1956, and 1975 has repeatedly considered and uniformly re-
jected resolutions to dissolve and amalgamate the English District;
and

WHEREAS, The roots of the English District as a body of
churches predate 1820; and

WHEREAS, The dissolution of the English District and amalga-
mation of its member churches into the Synod’s geographic Dis-
tricts should not be implemented without the consent of the English
District; and

WHEREAS, The English District believes that the 1911 merger
documents between the then-English Synod and this Synod clearly

2001 Convention Workbook

requires the consent of the English District to be dissolved and
amalgamated; and

Whereas, The English District has neither requested nor con-
sented to such dissolution and amalgamation; and

Wuereas, Much of the Synod’s time, money, and effort have
been expended over the decades rehashing this same issue in a fu-
tile effort to change the will of the clear majority; and

WHEREAS, Such time, money, and effort would be better used
for the mission field; and

WHEREAS, Finality on this issue must be achieved so that no
more time and resources are wasted on this issue and so that focus
can return to the mission field; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS meeting in convention in St. Louis
in 2001 bar all further resolutions to dissolve the English District
and to amalgamate its member churches into the Synod’s geo-
graphic Districts unless and until the English District clearly and
unambiguously requests or consents to such dissolution and amal-
gamation in writing and in advance of such resolution being
brought before the Synod in convention.

Grace
Wyoming, MI

8-69

To Honor Merger Agreement with SELC

WHEREAS, The SELC District has functioned as a nongeo-
graphic District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for 30
years; and

WHEREAS, This congregation, Zion Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Norridge, IL, participates in the ministries of the SELC
District and supports those ministries with our prayers, gifts, time,
and talents; and

WHEREAS, The SELC District operates the Lutheran Haven of
Oviedo, FL, as the only retirement, assisted living, and nursing
home facility owned and operated by a District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, This congregation has been and is committed to the
ministry of the Lutheran Haven with its sister congregations of the
SELC District; therefore be it

Resolved, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in conven-
tion affirm the past, present, and future ministries and missions of
the SELC District, and in particular the Lutheran Haven, Lutheran
Women’s Missionary League, and Lutheran Women in Mission;
and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention reject the proposal of the Task Force on National/District -
Synod Relations to disband our SELC District and merge our con-
gregations into the geographical Districts in which our congrega-
tions are located; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod con-
tinue to recognize the Merger Agreement mutually entered into by
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the SELC District in
1970 and reaffirmed in 1977; and be it further

Resolved, That the Merger Agreement between The Lutheran
Church-—Missouri Synod and the SELC District remain mutually
intact and lovingly in force; and be it finally

Resolved, That the congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod be invited to join with their sister congregations
of the SELC District in celebrating the centennial of the SELC Dis-
trict in the years 2002-2003.

Zion
Norridge, IL