65th Regular LCMS Synodical Convention Report Submitted by Rev. Kristian Bjornstad to the Susquehannah Circuit of the Eastern District July 30, 2013 Approximately 1200 delegates from across the United States (along with a significant number of advisory delegates, guests and visitors) gathered in St. Louis, MO, on Saturday, July 20-25, 2013 for the 65th Regular Convention, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. I was honored to be present as the Pastoral delegate of the Susquehannah Circuit of the Eastern District, and as part of my duties as a delegate, I am glad to give this general report of the convention proceedings. It does not attempt to be a complete account, but a general highlighting of the proceedings and a conveyance of its tenor and spirit for the benefit of the good members of our circuit congregations. For a more complete account there are convention minutes and video recordings of the proceedings that can be accessed at the LCMS.org website.
Saturday: Delegates gathered at 1:30 pm at the downtown convention center for about an hour and a half to cover a number of important topics. Introductions were made. There were remarks by President Harrison. Instructions on how to work the voting devices and parliamentary procedures and standing rules were explained in detail. Delegates then were treated to the only served convention dinner which was then followed by the opening worship with Holy Communion. Although the sound system could have served everyone better, Pastor Harrison’s sermon and the music was all very inspirational.
Sunday: Usually one of the first orders of business is the election of the Synodical President. This year, for the first time, Rev. Matthew Harrison had been re-elected President several weeks previous by email ballot, so with that out of the way the convention could get underway immediately under his firm leadership. The morning session was highlighted with President Harrison’s Convention report with the stated intent of encouragement to the church. Every morning of the convention also featured a convention essayist - usually speaking on the convention theme of “Baptized for this Moment”. Pertinent to us locally, a resolution was passed to work as a synod, from the Presidium to local circuits on the “Koinonia Project” whereby the theological issues of today’s church are thoroughly studied and common ground sought. In many ways, this kind of effort is nothing new, but as a church body we need to continue this focus on fellowship and life together with a unity in our doctrine and teaching. The afternoon session was tasked with electing the Vice Presidents of synod. Rev. Mueller was elected First Vice President and would be the first in line to succeed the President should he be unable. There were also resolutions on strengthening our Lutheran Education system, a couple constitutional bylaws, but most importantly, Sunday afternoon was a time of learning how to use the voting device!
Monday: The morning proceedings were very uplifting! At the opening 8am Matins we heard the preaching of Rev. Dr. Tilahun Mendedo, President of Concordia College, Alabama, himself a native of Africa. We then heard a powerful testimony from another African pastor, Rev. Bolay, from Liberia, and how God spared his life through the civil war there. He testified how out of the devastation of that war The Lord worked and new churches sprang up... Later in the day we voted to have "altar and pulpit fellowship" with this church, the Lutheran Church of Liberia. Related to all of this was the action to strengthen what is called the “Global Seminary Initiative.” This initiative is most certainly one of the most exciting things going on in our church body. Dr. Bolay and his Liberian church is just one example of what is happening around the globe where emerging Lutheran churches are looking to the LCMS to help educate pastors for their growing churches, and looking to us for theological leadership. In the Global Seminary Initiative our seminaries send professors to wherever they are needed, and also a certain number of seminary students and pastors from our partner churches come to St. Louis or Ft. Wayne seminaries to study. This is an amazing opportunity to help build the church around the world! One of the most beautiful things that happened was the recognition of our church's missionaries and their families. The convention also worked on the following issues: + Reaffirmation that District Presidents are expected to visit each of the congregations in his District at least once in his three year term (or send a delegate.) + As well, very importantly, the name of “Circuit Counselor” was changed in the constitution to “Circuit VISITOR”. You might be able to guess what the Circuit Visitor is supposed to do! Visit the pastors and congregation in his circuit to encourage both congregation and pastor.
Tuesday: Another long day began at 8am with Morning Prayer. Once again the morning proceedings were quite exciting while the afternoon got quite bogged down. After morning worship we spent quite a bit of time on the issues of MERCY in our church. We heard reports from various agencies and partners of the church about the many Mercy efforts in progress - including Lutheran World Relief, Disaster Relief work, anti-Malaria efforts, quilt making and work against human trafficking. Best quote: "God does not need our good works... but the world certainly does." It was all very inspiring. Resolutions were also passed to emphasize the message of Biblical Sexuality, Marriage and Family, to increase (double) our foreign missionaries (currently about 125), and many other by-law changes that were cleaning up from the synodical restructuring initiated last convention. There was also a resolution proposed from the floor on women in military combat. It was very interesting in that, although delegates shied away from a firm statement on the issue, it provided something of a synodical position against it so that a woman of the LCMS would be able to claim “religious” reasons to decline a potential draft or assignment to combat.
The afternoon was impressive in how absolutely PATIENT the delegates all were in the intensive voting (over and over again) the many offices that needed to be filled for each of the boards for the synod and each university and seminary. Everyone sat perfectly still voting time after time for almost two hours.
Wednesday:
On Tuesday the Seminary invited delegates over for something of a grand “Open House” in the evening after proceedings were concluded on Tuesday.
Well... this was the last full day, and the pressure was on to get as much work done as possible! Some of the most important things that were accomplished: 1. The convention struck a “Blue Ribbon Committee” to study the problems facing our Lutheran Schools and figure out how we can improve their condition during these tough times. The thing that impresses at this convention is that becomes obvious how education is so very much at the CORE of what we do as a synod: preschool to university and seminary... What we do as a church body in education is just amazing! If only people valued it more! 2. Passed a motion drawing attention to and establishing some aims in dealing with the responsible use of the internet among church workers and congregational members (i.e. eliminating any viewing of internet porn, etc.) 3. Established mission priorities... emphasizing rural, suburban and
inner city ministry. 4. To update the synod’s Explanation of the Small Catechism (last edited in 1991) and publish it along with an additional catechetical materials aimed expressly for adults. 5. To support the Wittenberg Project taking place in Wittenberg, Germany to establish a learning and outreach center within the historically first Lutheran school building which is right across the street from Wittenberg Chapel. This will be part of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017! 6. To encourage Study of the Lutheran Confessions in all the church in leading up to 2017’s Reformation celebrations. 7. To study the Licensed Lay Deacon program and bring it back to the next convention with some consensus on how to proceed with the problems it creates in doctrine and practice in our church. Pastor Harrison gave up the chair and spoke from the floor asking for patience on this issue, promising to work hard on this issue where lay people who are not properly called by a congregation are licensed to administer the sacraments in remote areas where it is not always feasible to call ordained pastors. 8. Finally, of significance, the delegates passed a resolution encouraging congregations to take good care of their pastors, and also make sure that pastors are taking advantage of continuing education opportunities. Throughout the convention the delegates were addressed by several of the leaders of the most important affiliated ministries of the church - including the LWML, Concordia Publishing House, Lutheran World Relief as well as various Church leaders from around the world in attendance. Included among these presentations was the work of The Lutheran Hour. The Lutheran Hour’s Executive Director Bruce Wurdeman presented a few amazing facts, among them that there are 7 billion people in the world - and 4.8 BILLION of them have no relationship with Jesus Christ. He challenged the convention to go forth with The Lutheran Hour to share the Gospel. As well on Wednesday we remembered church workers who had died in the past three years with a very nice worship and tribute. It was good for all the pastors present to imagine their own name and picture up there one day!
Thursday: The last day of the convention was only from 8am to 12 noon. But as all these days have gone, there are no coffee breaks and hardly a minute to sleep! After morning prayers, we tackled a lot of loose ends that had accumulated over the week and sometimes we lumped some of the rather unimportant resolutions together and voted on them so that at least some action on them would be taken, lest the time would run out. In the end we did manage to accomplish ALMOST everything the various resolution committees wanted to and so that we very good! Some of the more notable resolutions that we passed were: + Encouraging our churches to encourage “high calibre” individuals to service in the church. + Task forces assigned to study and assess all the various ways we have for men to become pastors in the LCMS. + Reaffirmed our church’s teaching and doctrine of a six day miraculous creation of the world. + Directed our church to develop a study document on the Godly roles of men and women in church, family, and the society/world. + Encouraged and blessed our campus ministries. + Gave thanks for 100 years of mission in China! A couple interesting notes include the fact that the proposal to change the way synodical delegates were elected to the convention was defeated. At the last convention it was proposed that delegates would be elected from the District Convention delegates at the District Conventions the year prior to the Synodical Convention. The main purpose of this was to first bring some continuity from the Districts, but it was also (I understand) to cut the number of delegates to the synodical convention. But the resolution was roundly criticized by the delegates at the microphones and was soundly defeated. Mostly people felt that the local representation was very important. I personally agreed. The other “cut back” that was discussed earlier in the week but never brought back to the floor for a final debate and vote was the idea of a four year convention cycle (replacing the three year cycle.) I am not sure, but I think that also would have been defeated. We concluded our convention with prayers and the singing of “A Mighty Fortress” in a mighty way before President Harrison dropped the gavel for the last time. All in all it was a very smooth and productive convention. There were some difficult issues that the resolution committees were able to find wording for to smooth things over, and President Harrision was a master at setting and keeping the proceedings in good and fair order (as well as keeping the humor flowing!) Praise be to God! If there are any questions concerning this report or the proceedings, please feel free to call me at 570-343-9828 or email me at yourpeace@verizon.net.