LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 41

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SYNOD REPORTS
R1-3-01

Board for National Mission
Grace, mercy, and peace be yours in our risen Lord Jesus.

This past triennium has been challenging and exciting for the
Board of National Mission (BNM) as we have worked to implement
the new structure approved by the 2010 Synod convention. The most
urgent challenges have been to clarify our understanding of the relationship between our board, the President’s office, and the Office of
National Mission (ONM), as well as to define how we must function
as a policy-making board and not as a program board.
Our board very much appreciates the help and guidance which
Dr. Raymond Hartwig has provided us in working through the new
bylaws and helping us to understand more clearly our role in relationship to the ONM and the President’s office. Under the mandates of the
Synod’s revised structure, our board has the task of creating policies
for the ONM that will enable the ONM to carry out effectively the
mission of the church as understood under the approach of “Witness,
Mercy, Life Together ” developed by the President’s office. The BNM
has approached this task slowly, deliberately, and carefully, recognizing that the work we do sets important precedents for the future.
Our board has developed policy statements that not only seek to provide clear guidance for the ONM and its work, but which also seek
to preserve the doctrinal integrity of the LCMS and clarify the relationships between the ONM and the 35 districts of the LCMS. This
work of devising policies is obviously a very fluid process as new
challenges for mission and ministry continue to arise. Policy development and monitoring is an ongoing effort.
One of the highlights of this past triennium was the National
Mission Conference held in St. Louis September 20–23, 2011.
In addition to the five members of the Praesidium, the Executive
Director of the Office of National Mission, LCMS staff, and members
of the Board for National Mission, all 35 district presidents were in
attendance, together with 32 district mission executives and 17 representatives of various RSOs of the Synod. The purpose of this mission
conference was to engage in dialogue with relevant “stakeholders”
regarding the work of the ONM and how it can best support the work
of districts and congregations. The conference provided valuable input
to the BNM and has significantly guided its discussions in subsequent
meetings. Much that was learned during this important conference has
guided the development of the policy statements worked out by the
BNM. The results of these discussions continue to fuel policy discussions within our board. We believe that the conference’s greatest value
was in allaying many concerns about the relationship between the
national office and the local districts and congregations and that the
frank and open discussions during the National Mission Conference
have helped to build increased trust between the national office and
the districts in the Synod.
Initial skepticism held by some members of our board regarding
the new structure has largely evaporated as we have worked together
within it during the past three years. Many of us now see the wisdom
in much of the changed structure approved by the Synod in convention. This new structure has eliminated what many have called
“siloing,” which characterized the work of the Synod in the past
and contributed to inefficiency, unnecessary expense, and overlap
of efforts of the various boards in the Synod. Without a doubt, the
new structure is much more efficient, cost-effective, and collaborative. Having worked under the new structure now for three years, we
do have a few concerns which we think that the Synod may want to
address in the future. These concerns include the amount of authority
placed in the office of President and the current provision that appointments can be made by the President’s office without board approval.
There is some concern that this aspect of the new structure places

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too much power in the President’s office and has created the question of whether the elected boards should be given more authority in
some of these matters. There also seems to be some confusion over
the precise meaning of certain terminology in the bylaws, plus the
implications of such terminology for board authority (e.g., the word
“oversight” in Bylaw 3.8.2.1, “The Board for National Mission shall
have oversight of the implementation of policies adopted by the board
and implemented by the Office of National Mission”). Clarification
of these terms is needed for better functioning of the board under the
current structure.
This being said, we certainly do not want to imply that any problems have surfaced in the relationship between the BNM and the
President’s office. Quite to the contrary, the BNM has enjoyed a wonderful, collegial relationship with the President’s office. We would like
to take this opportunity to express our deep thanks and appreciation
for the advice and help given to our board by President Harrison and
his staff, including Barbara Below, Al Culver, Jon Vieker, and, most
recently, the Executive Director of the ONM, the Rev. Bart Day, who
has worked closely with our board to help us “wrap our heads around”
the new structure and its realignment of units within ONM, plus providing critical guidance as to needed policy. We also appreciate the
encouragement and advice that the newly appointed Chief Mission
Officer (CMO), the Rev. Greg Williamson, has given our board in
helping us shape a vision for the future and develop policies that will
enhance the mission and ministry of the LCMS. We especially want
to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation for the theological guidance and leadership President Harrison has provided to
our board, including his understanding of and commitment to the
Lutheran Confessions. His ability to teach from his well-worn Greek
New Testament is always stimulating and inspiring; he always seems
able to give us new and exciting insights into the Scripture.
As chairman, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all
the members of our board who have worked tirelessly and faithfully
on your behalf to implement the new structure, developing policies
that will enable the ONM to work with the congregations and districts
of the Synod to be bold in their witness to the Gospel, to be eager and
willing to show mercy when and where it is needed, and to strive for
harmony and concordia in their life together under God’s Word. God
has blessed you with a board comprised of dedicated, faithful men
and women who are enthusiastic about the mission and ministry of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. It has been my privilege to
serve with them as chairman in the past triennium.
I would also like to express the BNM’s appreciation to the BIM
and its chairman, the Rev. Bernie Setter, as well as the BIM’s executive committee. The collegiality and collaboration we have enjoyed
as we have worked together has greatly helped us to understand each
board’s respective responsibilities per the new bylaws and to implement the new structure nationally and internationally.
Finally, we give thanks to our gracious Lord, who continues
to bless our humble efforts to serve the baptized in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. We invite your continued prayers and support that God will keep us faithful to the task He has given us through
you, so that we might “live in such harmony with one another, in
accord with Christ Jesus, that together [we] may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:5–6).
Steven C. Briel, Chairman

2013 Convention Workbook