LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 71

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REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
The report of the Mission 21st Century Task Force provides analysis, recommendations, and encouragement for
addressing and reversing this most regrettable and unacceptable decline. I encourage every floor committee, especially Committee 1—Missions, to review this very important report and to consider how its recommendations might
be implemented.
In addition, numerous individuals, congregations, and
Districts of the Synod are involved in intentional mission
efforts of many kinds, including global mission endeavors,
some but not all in partnership with LCMS World Mission.
Many are experiencing direct, hands-on mission involvement, primarily through short-term mission events, both
locally and globally. I recommend Floor Committee 1 consider a resolution that would affirm such mission involvement and encourage collaboration and coordination of such
efforts with LCMS World Mission.
Floor Committee 2
District and Congregational Services

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ardship education at all levels in the Synod and urging our
congregations, Districts, colleges, and seminaries to collaboratively promote and provide such education.
Floor Committee 5
Higher Education
Many overtures have been proposed to amend the structure, selection of members, and governance of the Board for
Higher Education and its institutions. Also proposed is an
amendment to the Bylaws regarding the process required
for determining the future, including the possibility of closure, of our institutions of higher education. They will all
need to be evaluated carefully. Other proposals, including
emphasizing mission focus and leadership development in
professional church worker and pastoral preparation, affirming, strengthening, and expanding lay ministry training, and encouraging continuing education for professional
church workers are all worthy of affirmation and support.
Floor Committee 6
Human Care

A primary focus of Committee 2 will most likely be recommending approval of the new Lutheran Service Book developed by the Synod’s Commission on Worship and encouraging development of contemporary worship resources
from a Lutheran perspective. I encourage the committee to
ask the Synod in convention to do both.

Overtures promoting health and healing ministries,
proper and adequate compensation and health care for professional church workers, providing assistance for “Veterans of the Cross,” and support for “Lutherans For Life” are
all worthy of affirmation and support.

Floor Committee 3
Theology and Church Relations

Floor Committee 7
Structure, Planning, and Administration

We are all aware of genuine concern for doctrine and
practice throughout the Synod, including the reality that
differing perspectives on some doctrinal and practical matters are present among us. Floor Committee 3 will need to
address these areas of concern. In addition, declaration of
Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Kenya, affirmation of 2001 Synod Res. 3-07A,
continuation of Model Theological Convocations, and adoption of the 1994 CTCR document on the role of women in
the church are encouraged.

Overtures proposing a comprehensive study and revision of Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws should be adopted.
Multiple overtures recommending numerous amendments
to the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and Bylaws
of the Synod and questioning the relationship of these governing documents to Missouri state law could result in significant shift of authority in the Synod. All bear close
scrutiny and consultation with legal counsel prior to recommendation for adoption.
Clarifying conditions of membership in the Synod and
overtures regarding the relationship of congregations to the
Synod should be evaluated in light of the document requested by 2001 convention Resolution 7-21, prepared by
the Office of the President in consultation with the Council
of Presidents and the Presidents of our two seminaries. An
overture to provide equitable representation at national
conventions is worthy of a President’s Task Force to study
these issues with a proposal to the 2007 convention. Electing regional Vice-Presidents, changes in the election of the
Board for Communication Services, the Commission on
Constitutional Matters, and the Board of Directors bear
careful review, as do overtures asking for review of the responsibilities of the Synod President and District Presidents.
Numerous overtures calling either for overruling or affirming of various CCM opinions will require careful study
and consultation. The same is true of overtures addressing
the actions of the Board of Directors regarding CCM opinions.
This will be one busy Floor Committee!

Floor Committee 4
Program and Finance
My encouragement is that Floor Committee 4 consider
carefully potential ways and means of helping the Synod
determine in what form national Synod should continue to
accomplish mission and ministry and how such should be
funded in the future. Specifically, in consideration of decreased funding for national Synod mission and ministry,
I encourage Floor Committee 4 to consider carefully the
proposals before it. If none is deemed acceptable, I encourage the appointment of a special President’s Blue Ribbon
Task Force on Funding the Mission that would report its
recommendations to the 2007 convention. In the meantime,
I also encourage presentation of a resolution encouraging
greater communication and collaboration between Districts
and national Synod to consider ways and means of maintaining or increasing current levels of financial support
under the current system and continued cooperative sharing of existing fiscal and human resources. I further encourage a resolution emphasizing the importance of stew-

2004 Convention Proceedings