LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 77

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SYNOD REPORTS
a special district presentation of “Faithful Stewards,” which emphasizes giving from blessings for the Lord’s work.
Another responsibility that is taken seriously and is carried out
faithfully is the practice of “visitation” of every congregation and pastor during the triennium. For over 25 years now, these are directed
(and done) by the district president with the assistance of three
vice-presidents and six circuit counselors (“visitors”) to benefit congregations and pastors by keeping us in close communication and
walking together in doctrine and practice for the sake of the Gospel.
After the district convention in May 2012, the district administrative team met to adopt a new emphasis for the next triennium
(2013–2015): “Witness Always, Mercy Forever, Life Together,”
which focuses district efforts and the involvement of congregations.
Pastors and congregations faithfully proclaiming the truth of God’s
Word, faithfully administering the Sacraments, gathering in worship,
going forth into communities to share Christ in their vocations—these
continue to be the joy and strength of our district.
The Lord has truly blessed us through His Son, that God may be
glorified through the worship and activities of those who are His in the
Wyoming District and the many people served. To God be all glory!
Richard O. Boche, President
R4-01

Commission on Theology and Church Relations
The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) has
three primary functions: to “assist the President of the Synod at his
request in discharging his constitutional responsibilities for maintaining doctrinal unity within the Synod” (Bylaw 3.9.5.2) and “for
maintaining doctrinal integrity as he relates to other church bodies”
(Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2); to “provide guidance to the Synod in matters of
theology and church relations” (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.1); and to assist the
members of the Synod in their witness regarding “societies, lodges,
cults, or any organizations of an unchristian or anti-Christian character” (Bylaw 3.9.5.3). Additional responsibilities of the CTCR include
responding to expressions of dissent (Bylaw 1.8), approving church
body requests for altar and pulpit fellowship (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2), and
rendering official theological opinions as requested and as mandated
by Synod Bylaws.
The CTCR consists of sixteen voting and four advisory members.
The voting membership consists of two parish pastors, one parish
teacher, and two laypersons elected by conventions of the Synod;
two pastors (one of whom is a district president) and two laypersons
elected by the Council of Presidents (COP); four seminary professors, two appointed or elected by each seminary faculty; and three
additional members appointed by the President of the Synod, in
consultation with the vice-presidents (one of these appointees is a
Concordia University System [CUS] professor). The advisory members are the President and First Vice-President of the Synod and the
presidents of the two seminaries. Advisory members have no term
limits on their service. CTCR members elected in convention serve
a six-year term and may be reelected once. Members appointed by
the President or elected by a seminary or the COP serve three-year
terms and may be reappointed twice. For the sake of efficiency, the
commission operates with an Executive Committee and three working
committees. The Executive Committee includes the CTCR’s officers,
the chairmen of the three committees, and the executive staff. While
not rigidly defined, one committee focuses on matters of church relations, the second on doctrinal matters, and the third on church and
society issues. All official reports, opinions, or documents of the
CTCR are finally approved before their release or publication by the
entire commission meeting in plenary.

77

Current commission members and the dates their current terms
expire are: Rev. Dr. Andrew Bartelt (2013), Rev. Terry Cripe (2016),
Rev. Thomas Egger (2013), Mr. Kirk Farney (2013), Rev. Dr. Carl
Fickenscher II (2013), Rev. Dr. Charles Gieschen (2013), Mr.
Timothy Hardy (2016), Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison (adv.), Rev. Walter
Lehenbauer (2013), Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer (adv.), Rev. Dr. Herbert
Mueller Jr. (adv.), Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Oschwald (2013), Rev. Dr. Philip
Penhallegon (2013), Dr. Andrea Pitkus (2013), Rev. Arlo Pullmann
(2016), Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast (adv.), Rev. Dr. Robert Rosin (2013),
Mr. Jeffrey Schwarz (2016), Dr. Jesse Yow Jr. (2013), and Rev. Dr.
Roland Ziegler (2013). The Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver III, the assistant
to the President for church relations (Director of Church Relations),
regularly attends CTCR meetings and reports to the commission
regarding matters of church relations which are under the purview
of the President’s Office. CTCR officers during the past triennium
were: Dr. Rast, Chairman; Dr. Bartelt, Vice-Chairman; and Dr. Rosin,
Secretary. In the past triennium there were several changes in CTCR
membership. Dr. Jean Garton, a convention-elected lay member of
the commission, resigned in 2011 for personal reasons. Dr. Garton
had served the LCMS in a variety of significant roles on the national
level for over 40 years. Dr. Pitkus was appointed by the Board of
Directors to fulfill her term. Dr. Jon Diefenthaler, who as president of
the Southeastern District was serving as the COP’s District President
representative at the beginning of the triennium, retired in 2012. Rev.
Cripe, president of the Ohio District, was appointed by the COP to
replace him. Rev. Dr. Korey Maas, appointed by the President, took
a teaching position which made him ineligible to continue as a CUS
representative on the CTCR and was replaced by Dr. Penhallegon.
The CTCR is currently served by two full-time executive staff
members. The Rev. Dr. Joel D. Lehenbauer, who served the commission as Assistant and/or Associate Executive Director since 1991,
has been executive director since 2008. The Rev. Larry M. Vogel has
served as Associate Executive Director since 2009.
I. Theology
A. Assignments Completed
1. Cooperation in Externals with Integrity (2010 Res. 3-03)

In Res. 3-01A the 2010 LCMS convention commended responses
by an LCMS task force and by the International Lutheran Council
(ILC) to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly’s recognition of certain same-gender sexual relationships and its decision to authorize
the ordination into pastoral ministry of individuals living in such relationships. Furthermore, 2010 Res. 3-03 noted that the ELCA 2009
actions threatened various aspects of cooperative endeavors involving the LCMS and the ELCA. Res. 3-03 then asked that the CTCR
prepare “more in-depth theological criteria for assessing cooperative
endeavors, determining what would necessitate termination of such
cooperative efforts.” This was to be done in consultation with the
Praesidium, who would then “provide an assessment of the current
state of cooperation in externals and a full report of criteria for ongoing assessment of the same by July 13, 2011.” The CTCR adopted
the statement, Principles for “Cooperation in Externals” with
Theological Integrity (2010 Res. 3-03) at its December 2010 meeting and submitted it to the Praesidium. In July of 2011, the Praesidium
endorsed the theological criteria outlined in this CTCR statement and
resolved that they be used in evaluating LCMS Registered Service
Organization (RSO) activities. The CTCR statement is included in
Appendix II of the Convention Workbook. Both the CTCR statement
and the Praesidium’s assessment are available online at www.lcms.
org/ctcr.
2013 Convention Workbook