LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 8

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8 SYNOD REPORTS

both church bodies) to assess the current situation and the prospects
for continuing working relationships in the future.

On March 30, 2005, the President and LCMS representatives
on the CLC shared with the ELCA representatives a statement of-
fering “An LCMS Response” to the January 15, 2005, report of the
ELCA’s Task Force on Sexuality. I directly addressed this and
other issues and concerns in my August 12, 2005, address to the
ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Orlando. The text of this address
is included in this workbook as an addendum to my report. (See
President’s Report Part I, Addendum A.)

In addition, during the past triennium, the Praesidium has mon-
itored and discussed “current concerns and potential directions of
the ELCA (2004 Res. 3-07), including the ELCA’s response to the
Task Force Report on Sexuality and the ELCA’s adoption (on Au-
gust 11, 2005) of a proposal for “Interim Eucharistic Sharing” be-
tween the ELCA and the United Methodist Church.

In view of these developments, the Praesidium believes that the
President of the LCMS and the Praesidium need to “continue to as-
sess pastoral working relationships with the ELCA” (2004 Res. 3-
07) during the next triennium. Resultantly, continued conversations
are being planned. At this time there are no recommendations for
convention consideration regarding any changes in joint activity
with the ELCA.

However, before leaving this topic, I believe it is important for
me to state my Ongoing impression that, at many levels, the ELCA
continues to demonstrate a vastly different understanding of the au-
thority of Holy Scripture and interpretation of the Lutheran Con-
fessions than does The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The
primary reason for continuation of “substantive [theological] dis-
cussions” with the ELCA is, as articulated in Resolution 3-07, a
“continuing effort to bear witness to the truth of the Scriptures and
the Confessions in the hope that agreement can be reached in those
areas where we disagree.”

In addition and in conclusion, I believe the words of one portion
of 2001 convention Resolution 3-21A “To Address Cooperative
Pastoral Working Arrangements with Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America” provide another valid reason to continue our discus-
sions with the ELCA:

“Resolved, That we of the LCMS recognize that many of our
brothers and sisters of the ELCA remain faithful to the Gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ and we resolve to reach out to them in love
and support ...”

4-07 To Establish Blue Ribbon Task Force for Funding the Mission
Resolved:

“The Synod President appoint a Blue Ribbon Task Force (with
representation from the board of Directors, Council of Presidents,
and other such representatives as deemed appropriate by the Presi-
dent) on Funding the Mission that would report its recommenda-
tions to the 2007 convention one year prior to the convention.”

Action Taken:

In 2004, I appointed the Blue Ribbon Task Force for Funding
the Mission (BRTFFM) with representation in accord with 2004
Resolution 4-07. The BRTFFM completed its work with recom-
mendations in a July 2006 report that was subsequently distributed
in hard copy to all boards and commissions of the Synod, to all dis-
trict boards of directors, and to all circuit counselors of the Synod.
In addition, the availability of the report was communicated in an
official periodical of the Synod and was made available to the
Synod through its Web site. A copy of this report will be included
in the Convention Workbook.

2007 Convention Workbook

One of the recommendations of the task force has already been
implemented, namely, a fiscal conference held February 8-10 in
St. Louis. All 35 districts were represented at this conference by
the district president or his representative and, in most cases, two
other district representatives. A report on this conference was in-
cluded in the March 2007 issue of Reporter.
7-02A To Amend Synodical Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
Regarding Officer and Board Responsibilities
Resolved:

“The convention . . . directs the President and the Board of Di-
rectors jointly to appoint a committee to address the matter and re-
port to the 2007 convention.”

Action Taken:

In 2004 the Board of Directors and I jointly appointed a com-
mittee to address “the matter” of the Synod’s Articles of Incorpo-
ration and Bylaws regarding officer and board responsibilities in
accord with 2004 Resolution 7-02A. The committee has been
working diligently and is in the final stages of completing its re-
port with recommendations to the 2007 convention. A copy of this
report will be sent to delegates prior to the convention.

Action on Certain Resolutions Not Specifically
Assigned to the President

2004 Synodical Convention

1-01 To Affirm Mission 21st Century Response to Great Commission
and

1-02 To Promote ‘Mission Outpost” Attitude

In many ways, I continued to affirm a confessional and mission-
minded approach by the Synod toward fulfilling the Great Com-
mission and have encouraged all congregations, schools and
entities to view themselves as mission outposts and their commu-
nities as mission fields.

1-04 To Commit to $100 Million Ablaze! Fund-Raising Effort

Soon after the 2004 convention, this effort was titled Fan Into
Flame. Since that time I have personally expended significant time
and energy in participating in the promotion of this effort and in
visiting prospective major gift donors in support thereof. As of this
writing, advance gifts and pledges amount to $15 million, with that
total increasing almost daily. An updated report will be provided
at the convention.

1-05A To Establish Ablaze! National Goals

World Mission Services Executive Director Bob Roegner, his
staff, and I organized and participated in district Ablaze! cluster
groups in 2004 and 2006 and have addressed numerous gatherings
to encourage and support efforts to achieve these goals. Further in-
formation will be presented at the convention.

1.07 Ethnic and Urban Ministry

In 2006, I appointed a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Hispanic
Ministry to study how best to assess and improve the Synod’s ca-
pacity to reach out to the enormous and growing Latino population
of the United States. The report and recommendations of the
BRTFHM to the 2007 Convention of the LCMS address the short-
term objective of helping us energize the LCMS in our goal of
reaching Latinos with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and addresses
longer-term objectives that will help us reach out to and integrate
Latinos into the LCMS in real and meaningful ways. A copy of that
report is included in the Convention Workbook.

2-03A To Accept Lutheran Service Book and Agenda as an Official
Service Book and Hymnal of Synod