LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 78

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78

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

demonstrated during the past triennium in remarkable ways
in response to the tsunami in South Asia and to numerous
hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, most notably Katrina and
Rita. We are called to continue faithfully and generously to
address ways and means of sharing the love of Christ with
those in need, particularly in ways that clearly demonstrate
the source of such faithfulness and generosity. “The love of
Christ constrains us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). “We love because
He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
My counsel is for Floor Committee 6 to consider resolutions that would
• thank God for the creative, generous, tireless support
of the Synod, its individual members, congregations,
districts, institutions, and organizations for congregations, schools, and individuals in the Southern,
Florida-Georgia, and Texas districts who suffered
damage, destruction, and devastation from hurricanes
during the past triennium;
• assist congregations to respond to undocumented immigrants and, in consultation with the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations, provide practical and
theological guidance regarding immigration and ministry to immigrants;
• articulate the position of the LCMS regarding stemcell research, referencing the statements released by
the Office of the President of the Synod, prepared in
consultation with the CTCR;
• address the issue of placement of children in same
gender/homosexual contexts, referencing the CTCR
opinion on this question;
• encourage continued and expanded ministry to armed
forces personnel and their families; and
• encourage implementation of professional churchworker sabbatical guidelines.

Floor Committee 7—Planning
and Administration
Planning and administration should enhance and not inhibit the mission of the church. At the same time, proper and
diligent concern for biblical principles, balance of power, reduction of bureaucracy, and facilitation of mission and ministry are vital for responsible and accountable functioning of
the church.
My counsel is for Floor Committee 7 to consider resolutions that would
• provide a specific bylaw process for removal of officers,
board and commission members “if circumstances require it…in accordance with Christian procedure”
(LCMS Constitution Art. XI A);
• implement recommendations of the Commission on
Structure regarding various bylaw amendments;
• amend bylaws regarding the doctrinal review process;
• address recommendations regarding convention voting delegate representation;
• address concerns regarding various convention procedures and bylaws; and
• address inequality of terms of office, authority, and
voting rights of members of boards and commissions,
including officers of the Synod.
2007 Convention Proceedings

Floor Committee 8—Synod Structure
and Governance
The complex, complicated, and even sometimes seemingly
convoluted system of church structure and governance with
and under which we operate in our lives together in the
Synod is currently in a process of review by the Blue Ribbon
Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance, which I appointed during the past triennium. The interim report of the
BRTFSSG is included in the Convention Workbook. Any
amendments to the structure and governance of the LCMS
must be accomplished with proper and diligent concern for
biblical principles, balance of power, reduction of bureaucracy,
and facilitation of mission and ministry.
Of particular note is the report of the committee created
by Res. 7-02A of the 2004 convention, which all voting delegates received in a separate mailing from the committee.
The report speaks for itself and was adopted unanimously
by a committee of representatives from the board of directors, district presidents, corporate Synod executives, and
the office of the President of Synod, following consultation
with the Council of Presidents and the Commission on Constitutional Matters.
My counsel is for Floor Committee 8 to consider resolutions that would
• accept and implement the recommendations in the
7-02A committee report;
• declare dispute resolution via lawsuits as contrary to our
Synod agreements and encourage use of Synod’s dispute
resolution process to resolve differences among us;
• address concerns regarding the process for dispute resolution and expulsion;
• address concerns and affirmations regarding various
CCM opinions;
• address concerns regarding the inclusion in congregational constitutions of certain terms descriptive of Holy
Scripture; and
• call for a special convention to amend Synod structure
and governance.

Overtures Not Approved for Inclusion
in Convention Workbook
A word is in order at this point regarding overtures submitted to the Synod that do not appear in the Convention
Workbook. Part of the responsibility of the office of the Synod
President in the procedure and process of overture review is
dictated in the Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod. One such dictate is outlined in Bylaw 3.1.6.2 of the
2004 Handbook. This bylaw reads, in part,
(c) The President of the Synod shall determine if any overture contains information which is materially in error or contains any apparent misrepresentation of truth or of character.
He shall not approve inclusion of any such overture in the
Convention Workbook and shall refer any such overture to the
district president who has ecclesiastical supervision over the
entity submitting the overture for action. If any published
overture or resolution is found to be materially in error or contains a misrepresentation of truth or of character, it shall be
withdrawn from convention consideration and referred by the
President of the Synod to the appropriate district president
for action.