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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 6

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

SYNOD REPORTS
• Both receive regular reports and have been very helpful and
cooperative.

Nebraska District
• Vice-President Mueller met with the district praesidium to present the
concept and to begin the planning process.
• A larger planning group was developed in the district.
• This planning group also became a Koinonia Project study group discussing the nature of quia subscription to the Lutheran Confessions.
• Vice-President Mueller discussed the project with the Nebraska
District Pastoral Conference. These conversations were extensive
and helpful.
• A very helpful “accountability document” was developed in Nebraska
(which others have used as well, to good effect).
• Circuits are to study and discuss issues and resources provided.
• Regional groups are to be developed to work on specific controversial issues.
• More needs to be done to follow up on what is being learned, as well
as to summarize for the sake of others what we are learning.
Northern Illinois District
•

Vice-President Mueller met with the district praesidium to begin the
planning process.
• A larger planning group was developed to design an approach for the
district.
• Twelve pastors from the NID were chosen by the district praesidium
to attend an initial retreat Aug. 28–29, 2012. The major topic was the
question: Is it worth it to work under the Word of God toward greater
unity? This retreat turned out to be crucial.
• The end result of the retreat is that 11 pastors and the district president are committed to the process.
• They have begun with the question “How do brother pastors help each
other deal with couples living together who want to get married?”
More recently, they have begun discussion of issues surrounding
admission to the Lord’s Supper.
• More needs to be done to follow up on what is being learned.
• The retreat was paid for through Thrivent grant monies.
South Wisconsin District
• Vice-President Mueller met with the district praesidium to begin the
planning process.
• He presented the Koinonia Project to a meeting of the praesidium and
circuit counselors, as well as to a meeting of interested pastors with
approximately 50 in attendance.
• The district president and vice-presidents decided to form two
groups—one led by the first vice-president to discuss worship issues;
another led by the second vice-president to discuss Communion
practice.
• These groups have been chosen and are presently preparing to meet.
Texas District
• Vice-President Mueller worked with both the outgoing and the new
circuit counselors to present the concept to a circuit just north of
Houston.
• A chaplain/facilitator has been chosen to lead, and the group has been
meeting regularly.
• Vice-President Mueller will be returning in 2013 to work with them
on how to carry this forward.
Kansas District
• Vice-President Mueller presented the Koinonia Project to the Topeka
Circuit Forum. Pastors and laypeople were present.
• The pastors have discussed the project and have indicated that they
want to engage in the effort. More follow-up is needed.

Ohio District
• The Dayton Circuit asked for a presentation of the concept. VicePresident Mueller made the presentation over the course of about six
hours in March 2012.
• They have developed a group that has now met several times with the
help of a facilitator.
• The preliminary word is that the first meetings have gone well. They
want to discuss Communion practice because the circuit has been
divided on that issue.
• Further meetings have been held and the group has realized the difficulty of the project. They are, however, eager to continue.
Minnesota South District
• Vice-President Mueller met with the district praesidium at the district
convention in June to begin the planning process.
• He also presented briefly at the Fall Pastoral Conference in October
2012.
• He met over dinner with the MNS District praesidium in October 2012
to discuss the formation of regional groups.
• The president and vice-presidents are very keen to get this going.
• Regional groups are planned for 2013.
Theological Faculties
•

The Koinonia Project was presented to the theological faculties of the
seminaries, colleges, and universities in May 2012.

• Some response was received. More work should be done.
• Could there be a koinonia study group organized between the two seminary faculties? It has been discussed, but nothing has yet materialized.
Northwest District
• Vice-President Mueller presented the Koinonia Project in detail to the
Oregon Regional Pastoral Conference in October 2012.
• The concept was well received by all, and it is hoped that a plan can
be developed for moving forward in this district in the near future.
The district president and leadership are supportive.
Rocky Mountain District
• Vice-President Mueller made a two-hour presentation of the Koinonia
Project to the Rocky Mountain District Pastoral Conference in
October 2012, having been asked by both outgoing and incoming
district presidents to do so.
• The concept paper has been distributed with the hope of forming some
kind of group here.
Wyoming District
• Vice-President Mueller presented the Koinonia Project in detail to the
Wyoming District Pastoral Conference in October 2011.
• This district didn’t see the need for this specific project within their
district.
• However, the Wyoming District volunteered to help in other areas
wherever needed (see below).
Wyoming/Atlantic Districts
• Several years ago, there was discussion regarding the desirability
of bringing the Wyoming and Atlantic Districts together in a joint
pastoral conference to discuss the issues of unionism and syncretism. Nothing came of this discussion, mostly due to lack of financial
support.
• This possibility is being revived with the possibility of using some of
the grant monies we have received for the pilot phase of the project.
• Both district presidents have eagerly expressed willingness.

2013 Convention Workbook