LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 29

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SYNOD REPORTS 29

R1-8-03

Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synodical Structure
and Governance

In his pastoral Jetter of March 1, 2005, President Gerald B.
Kieschnick wrote, “There is a great need for a thorough and fun-
damental review of what our Synod is, how it is organized, and
how it functions. What was first created as an organizational sys-
tem for a Synod made up of a small number of congregations now
struggles to serve more than 6,150 congregations. Therefore I have
decided to appoint a special Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synodical
Structure and Governance to review comprehensively the very
complex system by which our Synod operates.”

Appointed to this Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synodical Struc-
ture and Governance [hereinafter “the Task Force”] were Ralph
Bohlmann, Jon Braunersreuther, William Diekelman, Robert
Greene (chair), Thomas Kuchta, Robert Kuhn, William Moorhead,
Samuel Nafzger, Jeff Schrank, Timothy Schwan, Will Sohns, Larry
Stoterau, Virginia Von Seggern, and Jane Wilke. David Mahsman
was appointed to be the recording secretary.

President Kieschnick’s June 10, 2005, letter to the newly ap-
pointed Task Force members gave the following charge: “I am ask-
ing the task force to do a thorough, zero-based assessment of the
entirety of the system of governance and organizational structure
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and to make recom-
mendations” to the Synod. President Kieschnick encouraged the
Task Force to coordinate and accomplish its work in consultation
with others and suggested items to be addressed but did not limit
the work of the Task Force to those items.

In its initial discussions the Task Force identified some of the is-
sues and challenges that impact the Synod’s governance and struc-
ture. (We note here that the report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force
for Funding the Mission [hereinafter BRTFFM] also identifies
some of the same issues.) Also in its initial discussions the Task
Force identified some of the theological principles underlying gov-
ernance and structure.

The Task Force is proceeding in a most deliberate fashion so
that all major constituencies are heard and so that we can develop a
consensus far and wide across the Synod about how best to struc-
ture the Synod for mission and ministry. The Task Force almost
immediately initiated conversations with leaders and various
groups and has continued to listen to them throughout its work. We
are keenly aware that past efforts to effect structural change in the
Synod’s governance have met with widely varied results, success,
and even lack of success. Such history certainly underscores the in-
tention of the Task Force to listen carefully, find consensus, and
engage others who can help with the overall process.

The Task Force has found the assistance of others to be invalu-
able. In a joint meeting with the BRTFFM in early 2006, and with
the -help of an outside presenter skilled in the issues and challenges
of denominational governance structures, the Task Force learned
about the implications of governance and structure in our contempo-
rary culture and in the contexts of other church bodies facing similar
denominational structure and governance issues and challenges.

Under the leadership of Dr. Reed Lessing of Concordia Semi-
nary, St Louis, the Task Force engaged in a thorough study of the
Scriptures that served as a basis for the founding of the Synod in
1847 and that still serve as a basis for the Synod’s existence today;
namely, Acts 15:1-31; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 1:10;
and Rom. 16:17. These are the texts specifically referenced in the
Preamble and Article III of the Synod’s Constitution.

The Task Force is also grateful for the assistance of John
O’Hara, Eugene Weeke, and Jessica Paul of the Synod’s Depart-
ment of Research Services.

In order to understand the historic context of the Synod’s gov-
ernance and structure, the Task Force is hearing from both the past

and the present. Individual members of the Task Force have re-
viewed documents and many other resources. The Task Force has
reviewed all previous efforts to make the Synod’s structure more
efficient, as well as the history of the Synod’s objectives (Consti-
tution, Article III) and their implementation.

The work of the Task Force has been accomplished to date in
quarterly plenary sessions since mid 2005 and by several meetings
of ad hoc committees and the following three standing committees:

. Theological Principl

This committee has prepared a study document on theological prin-
ciples and has begun the process of reviewing the Preamble and Arti-
cles of the Constitution (see Appendix A of this report below)
and Bylaws 1.1, 1.3, 1.6, 1.7, and 1.8. The Task Force plans to distrib-
ute the study document, together with a response instrument, to all pro-
fessional church workers, congregations, and convention delegates at
an early date.

The Task Force unanimously recommends to the convention that
it commend this study document for study by and response from
congregations, pastors and teachers conferences, Synod boards and
commissions, district boards of directors, the Council of Presidents,
the Synod’s Board of Directors, seminary and university faculties,
circuit conferences, Synod entities, individual professional church
workers, laypersons, and others. The Task Force strongly encour-
ages response to the Task Force as soon as possible.

B. Practical Principles
This committee has begun its overall review of Synod’s structure
and is waiting for significantly more synodwide input before making
any concrete proposals.

C. Inf ion Gatheri

This committee is leading the Task Force in listening to and obtain-

ing response and insight from church leaders, Synod boards and com-

missions, the Council of Presidents, district boards of directors,

convention delegates, ordained and commissioned ministers, and con-
gregations.

Having heard from the Council of Presidents and other leaders
in the Synod, the Task Force recommends action be taken for the
calling of a special convention of the Synod for the purpose of con-
sidering proposed structural and governance improvements prior
to the 2010 regular convention of the Synod.

In December 2005, the Task Force surveyed the Council of
Presidents and the Synod’s national executives. Duplication and
overlap were found to be serious issues for 33 percent of the re-
spondents in their individual official capacities. 66 percent of the
respondents perceived duplication and overlap to be serious issues
synodwide.

The Task Force has also visited each of the Synod’s thirty-five
districts, getting the response of each district’s board of directors.
The major response themes of those visits, as reported to the Task
Force by the Department of Research Services from the responses
received, are as follows:

1. Structure is not top of mind with district board of directors
members, and certainly not with local congregation leaders or
members.

2. Portions of the current structure DO work.

3. Much of what is “wrong” with the current Synod organization
is more process or relational, rather than structural.

4. District leaders overwhelmingly affirm the NEED for some
organizational structure to do certain tasks individual
congregations cannot do themselves and to present a united
front in doctrine and witness.

5. Many of the recommendations to change structure deal with
simplifying the organization and clearly articulating roles and
responsibilities.

6. One theme that recurs not only in the findings, but also appears
to have been mentioned in many of the interview sessions is
the role of communication in organizational effectiveness.

2007 Convention Workbook