LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 77

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REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
My counsel is for Floor Committee 2 to consider resolutions that would
• encourage creative cooperation between lay leaders
and professional church workers in congregational life,
mission, and ministry;
• encourage proper compensation for professional
church workers;
• expedite provision of doctrinally pure material for use
in nontraditional worship;
• implement recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Task
Force on Hispanic Ministry;
• initiate planning for and celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017; and
• express appreciation and support for the National
Youth Gathering.

Floor Committee 3—Theology
and Church Relations
Our first constitutional objective is
The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions,
shall—
1. Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph.
4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10), work through its official structure toward
fellowship with other Christian church bodies, and provide a
united defense against schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and
heresy.” (LCMS Constitution Art. III 1)

This is no small task in a pluralistic, postmodern, multicultural society. But the enormity of the task makes it even
more imperative that we address it, seeking our God’s leading, guiding and directing in this vital area of our life together
in the Synod.
My counsel is for Floor Committee 3 to consider resolutions that would
• establish altar and pulpit fellowship with The American Association of Lutheran Churches;
• explore faithful ways and means for the LCMS to
“work through its official structure toward fellowship
with other Christian church bodies…” (LCMS Constitution Art. III 1) and faithful ways and means of relating to “other Christian church bodies” with which
altar and pulpit fellowship has not yet been established;
• encourage appropriate LCMS theological leadership
around the world;
• encourage renewed study of Holy Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions;
• address requests for clarity of 2004 Resolution 3-06A
re participation in civic events;
• address requests for clarity of 2004 Resolution 3-08A
re service of women, the order of creation, etc; and
• address or refer for clarification the distinctions between doctrinal resolutions and doctrinal statements
of the LCMS.

Floor Committee 4—Program and Finance
Great concern exists in many circles for adequate funding
of the mission of the Synod at all levels. When aware of the
need, the people of the LCMS will support a church focused
on faithful Gospel proclamation through Word and Sacraments, with a passion for mission. In recent decades, gifts

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designated for a specific mission field or ministry endeavor
have flourished, while undesignated gifts have languished. In
times of economic difficulty, both designated and undesignated gifts have decreased, regrettably resulting in reductions
in all areas of national Synod ministry, including the mission
field. We must continue to address the questions of in what
ways, to what extent, and with what resources we will continue to ask the national Synod to be involved in leadership in
mission and ministry.
My counsel is for Floor Committee 4 to consider resolutions that would
• Affirm and encourage implementation of recommendations from the report of the 2004 convention-mandated Blue Ribbon Task Force on Funding the Mission;
• Emphasize the importance of stewardship education
at all levels in the Synod and urge our congregations,
districts, colleges and seminaries collaboratively to
promote and lead a “stewardship renaissance” in the
LCMS;
• Encourage continuation of greater communication and
collaboration between districts and national Synod to
consider ways and means of maintaining or increasing
current levels of financial support and continued cooperative sharing of existing fiscal and human resources;
• encourage continual evaluation and prudent stewardship of assets of districts and national Synod; and
• encourage creative ways and means of prioritizing professional church worker education funding.

Floor Committee 5—Seminary
and University Education
Concern about and support for the recruitment and training of our Synod’s professional church workers remains one of
our highest priorities. The fields are ripe for the harvest!
Workers must be identified and equipped for mission and
ministry in a culture largely indifferent or even hostile to
Christianity. To strengthen our institutions, significant overtures have been proposed to amend the structure, selection
of members, and governance of the boards of regents of our
seminaries, colleges, and universities.
My counsel is for Floor Committee 5 to consider resolutions that would
• affirm the recommendations of the Board for Pastoral
Education, our two seminaries, the Council of Presidents, and the Board of Directors to establish the position of specific ministry pastor;
• strengthen LCMS seminaries and universities by implementing recommendations regarding membership
on boards responsible for seminary and university education;
• clarify bylaw provisions regarding seminary and university administrative matters; and
• encourage commitment to continuing education for
professional church workers.

Floor Committee 6—Human Care
The expression of Christ’s love through human care and
world relief, especially in times of national or world catastrophe, remains an important objective of our Synod. This was
2007 Convention Proceedings