LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 79

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REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

79

In reviewing the overtures submitted for convention consideration, it was determined that some overtures contained
“information…materially in error or…apparent misrepresentation of truth or of character.” In accordance with this bylaw,
those overtures were referred to the respective district president who “has ecclesiastical supervision over the entity submitting the overture for action.” I did not thereby suggest any
specific action on the part of the district president but only
referred the overtures to the district president’s office in fulfillment of this bylaw requirement.
In further accordance with the bylaw directive, these overtures were not approved for inclusion in the Convention Workbook. My office communicated to the district president and
congregation or other entity submitting it the specific objectionable feature(s) of the overture. Some of the congregations
and entities resubmitted revisions of those overtures with the
objectionable components revised or removed for consideration as late overtures. The resubmitted overtures that were
subsequently approved, along with the other approved late
overtures, will be submitted to you for your consideration and
work this weekend and will also be printed in the first issue of
Today’s Business.
In all cases, in an effort to honor what I perceive to be a
genuine concern on the part of the congregation or other entity submitting overtures containing objectionable features, I
decided to forward the unprinted overtures in question to the
proper floor committee for whatever action it may deem appropriate. Similarly, the late overture submissions not approved for inclusion in Today’s Business will be forwarded to
the proper floor committee for apt consideration.
The action of reviewing all the overtures submitted for
consideration was undertaken in the spirit of the scriptural
exhortations, as well as in light of the resolves of 2001 Convention Res. 7-04A, a copy of which is included as Appendix II
to this report. It is my prayer that all our actions be guided
continually by the inspired words of the apostle (quoted in
Res. 7-04A) who wrote, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as
dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ
loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1–2).

• Our most productive years of mission and ministry are
just ahead!
These are obviously optimistic observations and positive
projections that will not automatically, instantly, or easily be
achieved. Why might this be the case? Sometimes I perceive
that we in the LCMS are our own worst enemy and that our
mission and ministry endeavors are limited and perhaps even
stymied primarily by our seemingly incessant inability to live
together in peace and harmony. Surely that is the evil intention of Satan himself, who would love nothing more than to
see our congregations, professional church workers, and people embroiled in internal bickering, unChristian backbiting
and unflattering bellyaching about and with one another. My
dear brothers and sisters in Christ, these things simply
should not be!
Most respectfully and quite sincerely, I invite and encourage each and every one of you to join me in a godly crusade to
alter the rapidly diminishing but still existent negativity and
lack of basic Christian demeanor that too often attempts and
frequently succeeds in defining the culture of our Synod, beginning with this Floor Committee Meeting Weekend and
continuing through and beyond the 63rd Regular Convention
of the LCMS. I do so with painful cognizance of my own sinfulness and daily awareness of my own imperfection. I also
do so with joyful assurance of the grace of God in my life,
made new each day with the reminder that I am a baptized
child of God, redeemed from sin and Satan by the blood of
Jesus Christ, my Lord. And I boldly and happily remind you
of the same eternal blessings that are yours through that very
same grace of God in Jesus Christ, your Lord.
As individually and together we “…vigorously make known
the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches,
communities, and the world,” we will, by the grace of God, see
One Message—Christ! as the message for our life and the
reason for our existence! May God grant it to be so, in the
name of Jesus! His Love Is Here for You!

In Conclusion

CONVENTION DELEGATE REVIEW
COMMITTEE
Appointed by the President of the Synod

Notwithstanding the areas and expressions of concern that
must be addressed at the 63rd Regular Convention of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod through the actions and
decisions of the delegates in response to the resolutions you
will present, I do not hesitate whatsoever in saying to you
that I am highly encouraged and hugely excited about the future of our Synod!
• We have much for which to be thankful throughout
the 160 years of our existence!
• We have been and remain faithful to Holy Scripture
and the Lutheran Confessions!
• We have been aggressive and progressive in mission
endeavors for more than 100 of those years!
• We have the respect of many church bodies throughout the world, both Lutheran and non-Lutheran!
• Our counsel, resources, and support are frequently
and regularly sought by Christians across the face of
the globe, both Lutheran and non-Lutheran!

Appendix I

Report

May 14, 2007
The Convention Delegate Review Committee has been
asked by the President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod “to take whatever steps it deems appropriate in the
process of assuring the Synod that [the 2007 convention delegate selection process] has been done properly, decently, in
good order, and in accordance with the covenants of love by
which we in the LCMS have agreed to work together.”
The undersigned committee met via telephone conference
call on May 3, 2007, to determine the steps it would take to
carry out its assignment. It was agreed that a three-member
subcommittee would meet at the Synod’s International Center on May 7 and 8 to review the 2007 convention delegate
records. The subcommittee’s findings were then discussed by
the full committee during telephone conference calls on May
2007 Convention Proceedings