Christ Is Risen Indeed – Day 4 of the LCMS National Convention
Tuesday, July 21
Contributed by Pastor Steve Heinsen
Northwest District Secretary
Toothpicks between the eyelids. A dull stare at nothing in particular. Occasional loss of logical thinking. As we enter the fourth day of the LCMS National Convention, this is something you are beginning to see. The combination of early mornings, late nights, hot commutes to and from the Convention Center, and many significant decisions in between can begin to wear on a person. But the delegates from the Northwest District press forward knowing the significance of what is taking place here.
Our morning began as it did yesterday with a fantastic breakfast together in the Sheraton Hotel at the scintillating hour of 6:30 a.m. President Von Behren opened the morning with a review of 1 Corinthians 15:1-2. You are forgiven, baptized, and a child of God. Your labor here is not in vain.
Two NOW delegates who served on Floor Committees were then invited to share their experiences. Rev. Shaun Adams is serving on Floor Committee #3 – Mercy. He is a Specific Ministry Pastor who is now a third of the way from finishing the General Pastor program and serves at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Spokane, Washington. This committee’s resolutions are all celebrations and encouragements; they will be on the final docket for the convention itself. He gave an overview of his experience, including more about the Floor Committee weekend in late May in St. Louis. He also answered questions from fellow Northwest folks about being an SMP pastor.
Julia Sinclair from All Saints Lutheran Church in Bellevue, Washington, is serving on Floor Committee #2 – International Witness. This is her first Synod Convention. Other veterans of these conventions have been very helpful for her as she serves on this committee. Her group only had seven overtures presented to them to work through, and they ended up presenting five resolutions to the convention.
Once breakfast wrapped up, our delegates made the familiar journey from the Sheraton to the Phoenix Convention Center for the day. We began with Morning Prayer. Greetings were shared by the President and Chief Executive Officer of Concordia Publishing House, Jonathan Schultz.
The Consent Calendar for the day was then shared with the Convention. A motion was approved to raise the threshold from 10% to 15% to move Consent items back to their respective floor committee. Resolution 10-05A – To Amend Bylaw 4.2.4 regarding Installation of District Presidents was moved back to Floor Committee #10 for further consideration. The following resolutions were adopted as being accepted by consent in the morning session:
Resolutions Adopted By Consent
4-10 – To Celebrate Concordia Historical Institute Centenary and Renew the Synod’s Commitment to Treasure and Trumpet Its Redeemed History
5-03 – To Give Thanks for the Mission Province in Sweden
5-06A – To Amend Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b)
5-07 – To Refer “Sister Church” Nomenclature Change to Commission on Handbook
5-13A – To Give Thanks to God for 1700th Anniversary of First Council of Nicaea
9-01B – To Amend Bylaws 1.5.3.2-4 and Add Bylaw 4.7.6 regarding Regulations for Committees
10-06 – To Amend Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (c)
A series of elections for other boards, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, Board of Regents, and other Synod-wide entities was held. The President of Concordia University-Irvine, Rev. Dr. Michael Thomas, then presented an essay titled “Christ Conquers Death,” with a response provided by Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller. A presentation on Military Chaplains was shared by the Rev. Craig Mueller, the Director of the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces.
The first group up for the morning was Floor Committee #10 – Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution. The following resolutions were adopted in the morning session:
Committee #10 – Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution
10-02A – To Create a Task Force to Clarify Relationship Between Bylaw 1.10 and 2.14 and Consider Bylaw Changes for Dispute Resolution (Bylaw 1.10) and Expulsion of Congregations or Individuals from Membership in the Synod (Bylaw 2.14) – Voice Vote Approval
10-03A – To Respond to Sexual Misconduct by Rostered Workers and Make Provision for Spiritual Care of those Affected
A new resolution was proposed from the floor titled “To Direct Seminaries to Publish Annual Enrollment Numbers Every Fall.” A floor committee chairman indicated that this was already being done in an online format. It went to the floor for a vote. The new resolution was approved by 62.7%.
The next group of the morning was Floor Committee #6 – Pastoral Ministry and Seminaries. This was a continuation of the work that was presented on Monday. As was the case yesterday, several resolutions had significant debate.
Resolution 6-10 – To Amend Bylaws to Address Seminary Adjunct Faculty garnered the most time and attention. An amendment to the resolution concerning eligibility to serve as a faculty member or teach in any way at the seminary had been proposed the previous day. It was discussed at length this morning. Eventually, this resolution was referred back to the floor committee to discuss how the proposed amendment might be integrated into the original resolution. The following resolutions were adopted in the morning session for Committee #6:
Committee #6 – Pastoral Ministry and Seminaries
6-09A – To Implore Council of Presidents to Fulfill 2019 Resolution 6-03A re. Oversight of Specific Ministry Pastors – Voice vote approval
6-11 – To Embed Church Work Formation and Recruitment in the Culture of the LCMS – Voice vote approval
6-12B – To Amend Bylaws to Reinsert 2007 Pastoral Colloquy Bylaws from Policy Manual – Voice vote approval
6-13 – To Affirm that the Lord has Ordained that those who Preach the Gospel Should Make their Living From the Gospel – Voice vote approval
It was time for lunch. Following the lunch break, Midday Prayer was led by Rev. Dr. Dien Ashley Taylor, the President of the Atlantic District LCMS. A presentation was led about Church Relations by Rev. Dr. Jonathan Shaw, the Director of Church Relations for the LCMS.
Up next was Floor Committee #5 – Theology and Church Relations. Three resolutions passed quickly. Resolution 5-11 – To Reaffirm Sanctity of Human Life Regarding Practice of In-Vitro Fertilization had an amendment, followed by an amendment to the amendment proposed. After a lengthy discussion, the orders of the day were called, and further discussion was delayed until later in the afternoon. The following resolutions were adopted:
Committee #5 – Theology and Church Relations
5-01 – To Recognize Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Christian Church of Bolivia – Voice vote approval
5-02 – To Support and Encourage Recognition of Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with Lutheran Mission – Australia – Voice vote approval
5-10 – To Request Commission on Theology and Church Relations Report on Human Organ Donation and Transplantation – Voice vote approval
Special recognition was given for National and International Church Body Representatives in attendance at this convention. Following this, another series of elections for various boards and Synod-wide entities was held. Then, a special recognition was shared for both newly elected and outgoing Synod Board of Directors members.
Floor Committee #10 – Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution now had a second round to present. Resolution 10-05A – To Amend Bylaw 4.2.4 regarding Installation of District Presidents was initially approved with 81.6% with an amendment. Synod President Matthew Harrison had expressed his disapproval of the amendment and attempted to edit the Bylaw. He was unable to do so, as the revision would first require Commission on Constitutional Matters approval. Then, Synod Vice President Benjamin Ball asked for the delegates to reconsider the resolution. That motion passed, but orders of the day were called before any further action could be taken. It will be dealt with tomorrow. The following resolutions were adopted in the afternoon session:
Committee #10 – Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution
10-04A – To Seek Unity and Peace In The Synod and to Establish a Practical Statement for God-Pleasing Use of Digital Communications – Voice vote approval
10-01A – To Seek Commission on Theology and Church Relations Opinion Regarding Usage of Matthew 18:15-20
Floor Committee #6 – Pastoral Ministry and Seminaries also had a second round today to present resolutions. Resolution 6-10 – To Amend Bylaws to Address Seminary Adjunct Faculty picked up where it left off in the morning session. A vote to add a late amendment failed by a 75% margin after some challenging discussion. After returning to the original resolution, it passed by voice vote. The following resolutions were adopted:
Committee #6 – Pastoral Ministry and Seminaries
6-10 – To Amend Bylaws to Address Seminary Adjunct Faculty – Voice vote approval
6-14 – To Respectfully Decline Overtures – Voice vote approval
Floor Committee #5 – Theology and Church Relations was then given some additional time. This is where heated and, at times, very confusing discussion ensued on Resolution 5-11A – To Reaffirm Sanctity of Human Life Regarding Practice of In-Vitro Fertilization. There were moments where it was difficult to figure out what was being voted on and what steps needed to be taken next. The amendment to the amendment proposed earlier in the day passed with 59% approval. However, the amendment as a whole, with the additional approved amendment, failed with 60% disapproval. There was then additional discussion on the original resolution. With time running out, a call was made to vote on the resolution. By voice vote, it was approved.
Committee #5 – Theology and Church Relations
5-11A – To Reaffirm Sanctity of Human Life Regarding Practice of in-Vitro Fertilization – Voice vote approval
Following this, an additional round of elections for other boards, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, Boards of Regents, and other Synod-wide entities was held. The day’s sessions were concluded with Responsive Prayer. Numerous alumni groups from Concordia Universities and the seminaries met later in the evening.
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.