LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 104

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104 SYNODICAL REPORTS

Summary

Rising healthcare costs will continue to be a challenge in the fu-
ture. Though the challenges lie before us, the Board of Managers~——
Worker Benefit Plans and the entire Worker Benefit Plans staff re-
main committed and dedicated to provide the best possible service
and programs for church workers. May God bless our efforts to re-
main faithful to our mission and ministry as we provide support to
those telling others about the Good News of Jesus.

Lyle Meyer, Chairman
Paul Middeke, President

R7-01
First Vice-President

After 20 happy and satisfying years in the parish ministry and
six years as Director of Concordia Historical Institute, I made a sig-
nificant transition two and a half years ago to the position of First
Vice-President of the LCMS. My new duties have been both chal-
lenging and rewarding. I am grateful to the Lord for the opportunity
to serve in this capacity and thank the members of the Synod who
have placed me in this position of responsibility.

The major duty of the First Vice-President is to act as Chair-
man of the Colloquy Committee. The Colloquy Committee inter-
views men, primarily pastors of other church bodies, who wish to
enter the ministerium of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
During the last two and a half years we have interviewed over 50
men from about 30 different church bodies. These are men who
have come to the conclusion that the confession embraced by The
Lutheran Church—-Missouri Synod is truly biblical. They are in
agreement with our confession and wish to be pastors in our
church. The Colloquy Committee can take three basic courses of
action in connection with interviewing a candidate. We can certify
him for the ministry in our church without qualification; we can
refuse to certify; or we can certify upon the condition that he com-
plete certain classes at one of our seminaries or courses of instruc-
tion prescribed by the Colloquy Committee. The majority of those
we interview fall into the third category. This duty is one that I
thoroughly enjoy as I get to meet men from a wide variety of reli-
gious backgrounds, all of whom are truly excited about the possi-
bility of becoming a pastor in a church body that stands solidly on
God’s Word.

The Bylaws of the Synod also place the First Vice-President on
the Praesidium, the Council of Presidents, and the Synod’s Board
of Directors. In addition, the Bylaws indicate that the First Vice-
President shall serve on the Teacher Colloquy Committee, the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations, the Human Re-
sources Board, and the Council of Administrators.

It has been a pleasure to be a member of the Board of Direc-
tors, involved in discussions and decisions supporting the work of
the Synod and advancing its mission. I have enjoyed serving on the
Council of Presidents as it works to promote the welfare of our
congregations, teachers, and pastors. The work of the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations has proved very stimulating as
together we focus on the church’s doctrine and practice. The Pres-
ident’s Church Relations Cabinet has afforded opportunity to work
at the development and nurture of relationships with other Lutheran
church bodies as The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod considers
its mission and place among other confessional Lutheran churches
around the world.

As the President’s appointee to The Lutheran Church Extension
Fund Board, I have also appreciated the opportunity to be involved
in assisting congregations, Districts, schools, and Recognized Ser-
vice Organizations in advancing the work of the LCMS through
the various services offered to our church by the LCEF.

2004 Convention Workbook

In addition to these duties I have had the distinct pleasure of
teaching and preaching at numerous congregations, Circuit gather-
ings, District conferences, and so on. Every pastor’s greatest joy is
to proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Sav-
ior. It is a wonderful honor to be invited to bring this saving mes-
sage to people all over the United States. On two such occasions I
represented the Synod President at District conventions.

One of the highlights of my service during these last months
was a trip to Africa. In Nairobi, Kenya, I represented the LCMS in
the first of two formal discussions with representatives of the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK). This discussion went
very well, revealed a high level of doctrinal agreement, and led to a
second formal discussion, which took place in St. Louis a few
months later. The talks in St. Louis also went well, and the CTCR,
on the basis of our discussions with church leaders of the ELCK,
has decided to recommend to the Synod convention that The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod declare itself to be in fellow-
ship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya. While in
Africa, I also had the pleasure of participating in the 10th anniver-
sary celebration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan, a
young church body that after only 10 years already numbers over
10,000 members.

Other opportunities for service during the last triennium resulted
from invitations to teach on the doctrine of justification by grace
through faith in Christ both in Panama and in Ukraine and a request
to speak on the topic of “Lutheran Identity” in Lithuania.

The question of what it means to be Lutheran is one that occu-
pied my mind constantly during 20 years of parish ministry. During
the nine years since I left the parish, my interest in this topic has in-
creased. Thus, when Concordia Publishing House offered both the
Synod President and First Vice-President the opportunity to sub-
mit a proposal for a book, I accepted the challenge willingly and
immersed myself in a project that I had considered for some time
and had actually begun to work on. The result is a book that will
soon appear entitled, Why I Am a Lutheran: Jesus at the Center.
The book demonstrates how the person of Jesus Christ and His
work are at the center of all Christian teaching and the key to the
proper understanding of the Christian faith. I pray that God will use
this modest contribution to His glory in our church.

One new duty has come my way recently, and I look forward
greatly to carrying it out. In the face of serious financial challenges
presently facing the Synod, the Board of Directors has asked me to
provide leadership in preparing a report to the Synod and also to
the Synod convention that describes not only the Synod’s present
financial difficulties, but also the challenges and opportunities the
LCMS faces as it looks to the future. As I begin working on this
project I pray God’s guidance and His blessing on The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, which as bearer of the faithful confes-
sion of His Word is being called by Him to proclaim the Gospel
throughout the world, as we carry out Christ’s Great Commission.

Daniel Preus, First Vice-President

R7-02
Secretary

I am thankful for the opportunity to serve our Lord by serving
our Synod in this important office. I am thankful also for the op-
portunity to work with Pearl Houghton, whose pleasant disposition,
quiet efficiency, tireless dedication, and faithful service have en-
abled the Office of the Secretary to meet the expectations placed
upon it by the Constitution and Bylaws of our Synod during these
past three years.

Several of the regular responsibilities of the Secretary of the
Synod, which include serving as the secretary of the Board of Di-
rectors, the secretary for the Commission on Constitutional Mat-