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LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 5

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

Preface
“Upon This Rock: Repent, Confess, Rejoice” served as the theme for the 66th Regular Convention
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, convened at the Wisconsin Center in downtown Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. The July 9–14 convention was attended by 1,124 voting delegates and 404 advisory delegates,
advisory representatives, official guests, and staff.
“Upon This Rock: Repent, Confess, Rejoice” was therefore the emphasis of the essays and devotional life
of the convention. Attendees contemplated and celebrated Jesus Christ and the doctrines of Holy Scripture
as the “Rock” upon which their Christian lives and of their life together as a Synod rest. Devotions, essays,
speakers from podium and floor microphones, personal testimonies from partner church leaders, and
resolutions revealed a growing realization and awareness that the church is moving into more difficult and
challenging times.
Of the 130-plus resolutions presented to the convention, only four were not adopted. The remainder
were adopted mostly without contention and often by wide margins. All resolutions are published in this
Convention Proceedings in their final form, with amendments and other changes in place. It will help to
know the following about them:
•	An “A” or other letter attached to a resolution number indicates that the committee made significant
changes to the resolution after it had been already published, necessitating the printing of a new
version.
•	The line immediately under the resolution number indicates the origin of the subject or issue being
addressed by the resolution—usually a report or overture printed in the Convention Workbook.
•	A resolution’s introductory section, whether rationale or preface paragraphs or a series of “whereas”
paragraphs, is regarded as having the same weight and importance as the “resolve” paragraphs that
follow.
•	A summary of the decision process and the final decision are provided following each resolution,
with the final vote reported in brackets and the session when the final action took place in
parentheses. The official minutes, also printed in this publication of the 2016 Convention
Proceedings, often include additional information.
And now the final session of the convention has just begun, the part where delegates and Synod leaders
take that “Rock” upon which they repented, confessed, and rejoiced together in Milwaukee with them into
their everyday lives and vocations, walking together as a Synod and for the 66th “regular” time carrying
out the decisions of the Synod assembled, while also preparing to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the
Reformation and of the life and work of Martin Luther, who knew something about repenting, confessing,
rejoicing, and standing—clearly and squarely upon the “Rock.”

Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary

“Preface”

UPON THIS ROCK

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