Christ Is Risen Indeed – Day 2 of the LCMS National Convention
Sunday, July 19
Contributed by Pastor Steve Heinsen
Northwest District Secretary
The sun had just peeked out above the Superstition Mountains to the east and through a bit of early morning rain as the Northwest District delegates started moving. They met for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. with the delegates and representatives of the CNH and PSD Districts.
A wonderful meal of eggs, bacon, potatoes, pastries, (lots of) coffee and other drinks was served, provided by LCEF. The three West Coast District Presidents led this meeting: Rev. Mike Von Behren (NOW), Rev. Mike Lange (CNH), and Rev. Mike Gibson (PSD). The first presenter of the morning was Rev. Bart Day, the President and Chief Executive Officer of LCEF. He gave an update to the national work of the LCEF, as well as reviewing several of the upcoming resolutions that directly affect their work.
The next presenter was Dr. Michael Thomas, the president of Concordia University-Irvine, California. This year is the 50th anniversary of the University, and they are planning a special weekend (which includes an Oktoberfest) on Oct. 2-3 to celebrate this milestone. Everyone is invited. The University is in a solid partnership with the Concordia University System. Dr. Thomas shared briefly on some resolutions that could affect the operation of the University.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Mueller, the Chief Mission Officer and Professor of Theology at Concordia University- Irvine, then spoke to the West Coast group. He said the COVID outbreak provided major challenges to church work programs; the good news is that the number of students in these programs is almost back to pre-COVID levels. Forty new church workers will begin taking classes this fall. There are already 31 students who have expressed interest in applying for this area of studies beginning in the fall of 2027. Concordia-Irvine has the largest Director of Christian Education program in the Concordia University system.
At 8 a.m., more than 1,000 delegates, guests, and observers presented themselves for the beginning of the day. The morning began with the celebration of Matins. Rev. Peter Lange, the First Vice President of the LCMS, presented a message.
Following a review of the credentials, an overview of the electronic voting system, and the structure for the microphone queue, President-Elect Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison then presented the third part of his report to the convention. After 150 years of growth, our church body, and many others, have been in decline. President Harrison indicated that there are a variety of factors for this, including the declining birth rates as families are delaying having children to focus on opportunities for work. He indicated that the LCMS has one of the highest rates of adult converts and adult retention rates among mainline denominations. President Harrison expressed a strong need to keep closed communion, the liturgy, and the lectionary as key sections of Lutheran worship practice. He said young people today desire authenticity, and the Synod needs to increase training for witness and outreach. He also indicated that the Synod is on solid footing financially. Our seminaries have the largest enrollment in a decade. He grieved the downsizing of Concordia University – Ann Arbor.
There will be much to discuss regarding residential seminaries and online seminaries. While there is strong overall support for the Specific Ministry Pastor program, he expressed concerns. He made two additional recommendations to the convention delegates: that congregations return to the basics of Luther’s Small Catechism, and that the vote for Synodical President return to being made by the delegates at the Synod Convention instead of having a general congregational vote for this elected position.
The Consent Calendar for the day was then shared. The Consent Calendar is something new for Synod Conventions. It gathers floor committee-drafted resolutions that the committee anticipates will receive broad agreement without substantial debate and are likely to be adopted without amendment. A resolution placed here still carries the full weight of the Synod. It also preserves convention floor time for resolutions where discussion is most needed. It is not intended to limit people’s voices or the responsibility to carefully consider matters; instead, it allows significant matters time for review and debate. If a delegate wishes to have a consent item returned to the floor for a discussion and vote as a resolution, it only requires that 10 percent of the delegates agree to this.
That ended up happening this morning with one consent item. Resolution 2-05 – To Give Thanks to God for 125 Years of Gospel Ministry, Partner Churches, and Mission in the Latin America and Caribbean Region received an 11 percent vote to have it moved back. The following Resolutions were adopted as being accepted by consent in the morning session:
Resolutions Adopted By Consent
1-04 – To Give Thanks for 130 Years of Deaf Ministry
2-01A – To Give Thanks for LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces
Rev. Dr. Jon S. Bruss, the President of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, then presented the first Convention essay titled, “Christ is the Truth.” There was a response to this essay provided by the Rev. Dr. Scott R. Murray. A presentation was shared by All Nations Ministry.
Floor Committee #1 (National Witness) presented resolutions for adoption. The following resolutions were adopted:
Committee #1 – National Witness
1-01B – To Celebrate and Encourage All Nations Ministry in North America
1-02A – To Proclaim 2029 the 500th Year of Luther’s Catechisms – An amendment was added to the original resolution to include the Large Catechism in digital format
1-03A – To Give God Thanks for 150 Years of Black Ministry
After a brief lunch break, the Rev. Brady Finnern, the Minnesota North District President, led the assembly in Midday Prayer. It was then time for elections. The following are the newly elected Vice Presidents for the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod:
1st Vice President – Rev. Peter K. Lange
2nd Vice President – Rev. Benjamin T. Ball
3rd Vice President – Rev. Alfonso S. Espinosa
4th Vice President – Rev. Christopher S. Esget
5th Vice President – Rev. Nabil S. Nour – Re-elected
6th Vice President –Rev. Eric C. Skovgaard – Re-elected
After this series of elections, a greeting was shared from Concordia Plan Services by its Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Herweck.
Omnibus Resolutions A, B, and C were then presented. Omnibus resolutions group similar overtures together into four categories. On occasion, overtures are presented to the Synodical Convention that, for a variety of reasons, do not make it past the floor committee onto the floor of the convention itself. Overtures placed in Omnibus A are assigned to other entities in the Synod to be handled at a more direct level than by the entire convention itself. As one might expect, several delegates objected to having a resolution they helped craft not make it to the floor. In Omnibus A, 12 overtures were brought to the floor to be moved back to their Floor Committees. All 12 were denied.
Omnibus Resolutions B are overtures sent to each floor committee that a floor committee determined Synod had already spoken to in a previous convention. The floor committees determined that there was insufficient rationale in them to alter or change the stated position of Synod. No overtures in this Omnibus Resolution were referred back to their floor committees in the three that were requested.
Omnibus Resolution C with requests for recognition of noteworthy labors of love brought to the Synod’s attention were shared. These resolutions, all moved to this Omnibus from their initial floor committees, were received as expressions of gratitude.
Following a presentation by the Committee for Convention Nominations seeking potential nominations for Synod Secretary and the Synod Board of Directors, International Missions shared a presentation with the theme “Spread the Gospel.”
Floor Committees #2 – International Witness and #4 – Life Together then presented resolutions. The following were adopted:
Committee #2 – International Witness
2-02A – To Direct Districts and Encourage Congregational Participation in Global Mission Through Prayer, Partnership, and Support
2-03A – To Give Thanks To God for Missionary Care Provided by the Office of International Mission – In part, this resolution will establish a full-time chaplain to each of the worldwide regions.
2-04 – To amend Bylaws 1.7.3, 2.11.1, 3.8.3, 3.8.3.8, and 4.4.4-5 to Establish a Framework for Ecclesiastical Supervision and Pastoral Care for Independent International Congregations – Voice vote approval
2-05 – To Give Thanks to God for 125 Years of Gospel Ministry, Partner Churches, and Mission in the Latin America and Caribbean Region – Voice Vote approval
Floor Committee #4 – Life Together was next. There was considerable discussion on Resolution 4-06A – To Amend Bylaws to Reinstate Commission on Worship. The Commission on Worship was eliminated at the 2010 Synod Convention. The committee stated that there isn’t any current Bylaw support or guidelines for creating agendas, hymnbooks, worship supplements, or new worship resources. Questions were raised from the floor about whether this commission would seek complete uniformity or unity in worship practices. Questions were also asked about what changed in our current situation that required the reinstitution of this Commission. Following extensive debate, the resolution was passed.
The following resolutions were adopted:
Committee #4 – Life Together
4-01 – To Establish Tell The Next Generation as Synod Mission and Ministry Emphasis – Voice vote approval
4-02A – To Amend Bylaws To Refine Process for Creating Triennial Mission and Ministry Emphases – Voice vote approval
4-03 – To Commend and Sunset Synod Mission Priorities – Voice vote approval
4-06A – To Amend Bylaws to Reinstate Commission on Worship
The session concluded with Evening Prayer. LCEF sponsored an Ice Cream Social later that night. Tomorrow, we will have another District Breakfast at 6:30 a.m., followed by a continuation of the Convention at 8 a.m.
Please continue to pray for the convention itself and the delegates, that we would all be guided by the Holy Spirit in making decisions that are God-pleasing and that focus us on the mission of connecting people to Jesus.