LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 35

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Institute of Theology or Center for Hispanic Studies,
or any other similar program, receive financial aid
that covers a percentage of tuition equal to that
received by M.Div. students. This should be
accomplished as soon as reasonably possible
without depriving the M.Div. or other pastoral
formation programs of current financial aid
resources.
After the floor committee suggested changing “direct” to
“encourage,” the amendment was adopted by consent. The
chair suggested a closure of debate, which was accepted by
a voice vote. Res. 1-05A was adopted as amended by voice
vote.
Res. 1-06A, “To Direct Districts and Council of Presidents
to Provide Strategic Plan for Addressing Wellness of Church
Workers” (TB, 3:373), was read and introduced by the
committee. The resolution was adopted by voice vote.
Res. 1-07, “To Address Mental Health among Pastors and
Other Professional Church Workers” (TB, 1:89–90), was
read, with “provides” on p. 89, l. 46, replaced with “seek to,”
and introduced by the committee.
It was moved and seconded to amend the resolution to
add a resolve: “That the Synod establish a perpetual resource
pool from which local congregations and districts can
request financial support and grants for church worker
sabbaticals, the Synod to establish a process as to how local
congregations and districts can request these funds.” CFO
Haak estimated the cost of a two- or three-month sabbatical
as at least $6,000; for even 100 pastors, the annual cost
would require a substantial endowment that does not today
exist. The chair suggested a closure of debate, which was
accepted by a voice vote. The amendment failed [Yes: 337;
No: 524]. Res. 1-07 was adopted as read [Yes: 846; No: 33].
The chair reminded the body that under Standing Rule 6,
significant amendments should be presented for
publication in Today’s Business before presentation to the
convention. A delegate also rose to a point of privilege,
questioning whether the electronic voting system is
receiving votes well in some sections.
Res. 1-08A, “To Promote and Commend the Synod’s
Digital and Online Resources” (TB, 3:374), was read and
introduced by the committee. The chair suggested an
immediate closure of debate, which was accepted by a voice
and hand vote. The resolution was adopted by voice and
hand vote.
The committee’s work being completed, the chair
dismissed it with thanks.
Presentation: International Missions—Spread the Gospel
The chair welcomed the Rev. Dr. Cory Rajek, Eurasia
regional director for the Office of International Mission.
Rajek shared a video featuring a family that may, it is prayed,
be the first Lutheran congregation near Thessaloniki,
Greece, in the same field as St. Paul.
Minutes

Next welcomed was the Rev. Dr. Christian Tiews, an
LCMS missionary who has spent half his life in Germany and
is now serving, as one of four LCMS missionaries in
Germany, in Hamburg. His tasks are three: spreading the
Gospel through Word and Sacrament, mainly to Persian
immigrants, in which he cooperates with the Synod’s
German partner church, the SELK; second, serving on the
faculty of Riga Luther Academy, a mixed-format seminary
for the Eurasia region, operated in partnership with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (“the Livonian
Project”); and third, coordinating Persian ministry across
northern and eastern Germany, working closely with the
“godfather” of this mission effort, Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens
in Berlin. There are three other LCMS missionaries incountry: Kim Bueltmann, Rachel Krause, and Mark
Winterstein. Persian ministry involves a great deal of mercy
work, including assisting Persian refugees prepare for
asylum interviews with the German government. Tiews
noted that less than 5 percent of Germans have an active
faith in Jesus Christ, but that among Persian immigrants, 37
percent indicate Christian faith. He also shared a video
featuring a student at the Riga seminary.
Rev. Charles Ferry, regional director for the Asia Region,
for the Office of International Mission. Rev. Steven
Mahlburg, a missionary who currently serves in Sri Lanka
and partners with Bishop Arulchelvan and the Ceylon
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sri Lanka, was invited to
deliver a word of prayer in the Tamil language of our partner
church, as Bishop Arulchelvan was unable to travel to the
convention. Rev. Mahlburg read Psalm 96:2–3 and said the
Lord’s Prayer and Benediction in Tamil.

Session 4
Monday p.m., July 31, 2023
Midday Prayer
The Rev. Dr. Benjamin T. Ball, Sixth Vice-President
(Central Region), preached on Philippians 3:4b–11 in the
order of Midday Prayer, with Chaplain Daenzer serving as
liturgist and Kantor Machemer and trumpeter Jon Rusnak
accompanying.
[The entire text of Vice-President Ball’s sermon is
printed in the 2023 Convention Proceedings.]
Minutes
President Harrison, having called the convention back to
order, recognized the Today’s Business team, drawn
principally from International Center staff in various
departments, with one “on loan” from LCEF, who serve
largely in addition to their regular duties, for their service to
the convention and the Synod. President Harrison
introduced the review of the minutes from Sunday’s
morning and afternoon sessions, as prepared by the
Secretary and distributed along with Today’s Business. The
minutes were accepted as presented.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 35