Below is an example of one congregation’s nominations and overtures for the Synod convention, from St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bonne Terre, Missouri, on January 31, 2010. (The deadline for nominations to be received is March 10, and the deadline for overtures is March 6.)

NOMINATIONS

PRESIDENT

1. Matthew Harrison
St. Louis, Missouri

2. Herbert Mueller
Waterloo, Illinois

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT

1. Herbert Mueller
Waterloo, Illinois

2. Daniel Preus
St. Louis, Missouri

OTHER VICE-PRESIDENT

1. John Wohlrabe
Geneseo, Illinois

2. Daniel Preus
St. Louis, Missouri

3. David Adams
St. Louis, Missouri

4. Scott Murray
Houston, Texas

OVERTURES

To Overrule CCM Opinions on Ecclesiastical Supervision

WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM), in its opinion, “Consequences of Action Taken Upon Approval of Ecclesiastical Supervisor” (02-2296; 02-2320), stated, “The Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod do not allow or contemplate the expulsion of a member of the Synod on the basis of an action taken with the full knowledge and approval of the appropriate ecclesiastical supervisor”; and
WHEREAS, In its opinion, “Ecclesiastical Supervision and Conflict of Interest” (02-2309), the CCM similarly stated that “the Synod is precluded from taking any action to terminate the membership of its member who, when performing his or her official duties, follows the advice and counsel of the ecclesiastical supervisor” and, again, that “the member who acted cannot be charged since he or she acted according to the advice of his or her ecclesiastical supervisor”; and
WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Synod places substantial weight on the need for doctrinal discipline to be carried out and for members of the Synod to be held accountable for their own actions:
when it sets forth “Conditions for acquiring and holding membership” (Article VI);
when it states, “The Synod at all times has the right to call its officers to account and, if circumstances require it, to remove them from office” (Article XI A 2); and
when it states, “Members who act contrary to the confession laid down in Article II and to the conditions of membership laid down in Article VI or persist in an offensive conduct, shall, after previous futile admonition, be expelled from the Synod” (Article XIII 1); and
WHEREAS, These substantive constitutional arguments for doctrinal discipline may be thwarted by an appeal to the CCM opinions on ecclesiastical supervision, which could be used to allow a member of the Synod to violate the Constitution with impunity and immunity; and
WHEREAS, Opinions of the CCM are binding unless and until “overruled by a convention of the Synod” (Bylaw 3.9.2.2); and
WHEREAS, Many districts, congregations, circuit forums, and pastors conferences submitted overtures to the Synod’s 2004 and 2007 conventions to overrule the CCM opinions on ecclesiastical supervision; and
WHEREAS, These overtures were not brought forward by the floor committees for consideration by the 2004 and 2007 conventions; and
WHEREAS, The voice of so many districts, congregations, circuit forums, and pastors conferences, all submitting similar overtures on such a substantive constitutional matter, ought at least to be heard in the form of a proposed resolution at the convention, particularly when a convention vote is the only means available for overruling a CCM opinion; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod overrule CCM Opinions 02-2296, 02-2320, and 02-2309.

To Commend “Issues, Etc.”

WHEREAS, The radio and internet program “Issues, Etc.” has been a great blessing to the church and an effective tool for reaching the world with the gospel of Christ; and
WHEREAS, Through its live radio and internet broadcasts and its on-demand downloads and podcasts, “Issues, Etc.” is reaching tens of thousands of people around the world (e.g., over 20,000 unique visitors in a month and around 4,000,000 downloaded segments in a year); and
WHEREAS, “Issues, Etc.” truly lives up to its motto of “Christ-Centered Cross-Focused Christian Talk Radio”; and
WHEREAS, “Issues, Etc.” is a production of Lutheran Public Radio, and its host, Todd Wilken, is an LCMS pastor, and its producer, Jeff Schwarz, is an LCMS layman; and
WHEREAS, Many LCMS pastors, professors, authors, church workers, and church members appear regularly on “Issues, Etc.”; and
WHEREAS, “Issues, Etc.” addresses the significant social and theological issues of our day in a substantive and engaging manner, guided by the word of God; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod commend “Issues, Etc.” and encourage its congregations and members to support this valuable program.

Rev. Matthew Harrison, Executive Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care, has returned from Haiti and, along with medical team coordinator Jacob Fiene, was interviewed Wednesday on St. Louis radio and TV. Click here to hear the KMOX radio interview. Click here to see the KTVI television report. Here is a transcript of the TV report:

Kirkwood Relief Team Returns From Haiti With Chilling Stories
Lutheran Group Treated Patients, Distributed Food, and Prayed

By Chris Regnier FOX2now.com
January 27, 2010

KIRKWOOD, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) – They helped save lives in Haiti. Now, a relief team from the Kirkwood based Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is just back from Haiti. And they are telling incredible stories of what they witnessed. The team did everything from treating patients in hospitals to handing out food to praying with desperate people.

“I’ve never seen anything like this- personal trauma and injury in one place,” said Pastor Matthew Harrison of the Synod. “It was mass pandemonium,” added Harrison.

Harrison heads up the world Relief and Human Care Department at the Synod. He was one of about 20 people on the team that just returned from a week in the earthquake zone. Many of the team members were medical professionals. Among them- doctors, nurses and paramedics.

They spent much of their time at the Good Samaritan Hospital about 40 miles from Port -Au-Prince. All kinds of injured people were brought there. Jacob Fiene coordinated the medical team.

“At first it was a bit overwhelming especially when I was able to grasp the volume of the patients,” explained Fiene.

He added, “It was non-stop. The first three days most people were getting three to fours of sleep at night.”

Harrison prayed with a lot of people. He told us about his experience with one little girl who was hurt.

“She was just grabbing and holding onto my cross. I didnt speak Creole and finally somebody came by who could speak the language. I said what shes saying. He said she wants you to take her away from here,” explained Harrison.

Harrison says the need in Haiti will continue for a long time. And his teams will be there. He said, I just know its our duty to help and to love people in need.

Of the 20 or so members who were on the team, close to half of them are from the St. Louis area.

The Synod is preparing to send another team to Haiti this weekend.

Lutheran laypeople and pastors are invited to attend a get-together in Orange County, California, on Saturday, February 6. The gathering will take place at the home of Georgann McKee in Santa Ana and go from 1:00, through the afternoon, to however long into the evening people want to stay. Food, fun, and fellowship will be provided!

This will be an opportunity to meet other Lutherans and to find out more about what is happening in our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). Guests will have plenty of time for informal discussion. There will be books, literature, and displays, as well as a few presentations by knowledgeable speakers. (For example, Rev. Charles Henrickson will be on hand to talk about the restructuring proposals and the upcoming synod convention.)

It’s all free! Georgann McKee’s home is located at 12791 Wheeler Pl, Santa Ana CA 92705. RSVP Georgann at (714) 532-3870 or georgannmckee@yahoo.com if you’re planning to come.

“FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS” is the theme for the annual conference of the Lutheran Concerns Association (LCA), being held today in Fort Wayne, Indiana. (Seems like about 80 people here right now, many of them convention delegates, both lay and pastoral.) As the day’s conference goes along, I will be doing a “live blog,” updating this report as we go along, so check back from time to time.

OPENING DEVOTION, former LCMS president Robert Kuhn: Hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation.” Conference theme, “For Such a Time as This” (Esther 4:14): The Lord has raised up often unlikely candidates at key times to do his work: Moses, Esther, Paul. Kuhn is not willing to give up on his church mother (the Missouri Synod) any more than he would forsake his birth mother.

“THE FORGOTTEN ARTICLE–AUGUSTANA XXVIII AND HOW IT OPPOSES THE STRUCTURE PROPOSAL,” Pastor Fritz Baue: The use of power, in Scripture and Confessions, is to serve, not to lord over. Structure proposal, “Congregations Walking Together in Mission”: The term “Pastors” is left out of the title. Proposals frequently invoke “Congregation” and “Mission” but the proposals themselves do not show the connection. Many proposals sound OK on the surface, but a closer examination shows a consolidation of power toward the districts and the synod president. Most of the proposals decrease the power of congregations and pastors, while increasing the power of the synod president. Main problem in our synod is theological not structural.

“WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A DELEGATE AND WHAT EVERY DELEGATE NEEDS TO KNOW,” Pastor Peter Bender: Delegates will be inundated with communications from all sides, all claiming to be faithful to the Scriptures and Confessions and for the good of our beloved synod. Politics is the use of power and influence in order to act. Politics itself in unavoidable; it is part of life. It can be bad or good. Politically correct phrases that must be used by all sides: “Missions,” “Scripture and Confessions,” etc. All are socially conservative on abortion and homosexuality. Before the convention: Do your homework on convention rules. Delegates should read and study the Lutheran Confessions, in order to judge claims to confessional faithfulness. Daily devotions in Bible and catechism. Read and study the synod’s Handbook. Read all the political communications, from both sides, and do so in light of Scripture and Confessions. Attend meetings (such as this); ask questions. Familiarize yourself with parliamentary rules of order. Develop mindset that convention delegates are not the savior of the church. At the convention: Distinguish between what’s really important and what isn’t. When speaking at mike, don’t be an “ass”; be brief, thoughtful, well reasoned. Don’t go to mike too frequently. Vote your conscience. Be prepared to lose; be gracious in defeat and humble in victory. To prepare for the two extra days at the start of the convention, devoted to the restructuring proposals, delegates should read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest those proposals, as tedious as that may be.

“TRANSFORMING CHURCHES: PROGRAM AND PRESCRIPTIONS,” Mr. Joe Strieter, member of Ohio District BOD: 2007 convention was a Jesus First sweep: elections, SMP, more appointed members to BORs. Also passed was Res. 1-01A, “To Support Revitalization of LCMS Congregations,” which opened the door to the Transforming Churches Network (TCN) program. It is a “Church Growth” program, not Lutheran in its basis, and comes from a Baptist named Paul Borden. Transforming process: 1. Create a sense of urgency. 2. Congregational self-study (heavy emphasis on “growth”). 3. Consultation weekend. 4. Consultation report. 5. Vote to accept report or not (all or nothing). “Strengths,” acc. to TCN: Recognizing need for “change,” etc. “Concerns”: Lack of vision, inward focus, ineffective structure, etc. Prescriptions: 1. Season and day of repentance. 2. Visioning process. 3. Accountable leadership. 4. Outward forcus events. 5. Leadership development. 6. Triads (three-person small groups). Linchpin of TCN: Accountable leadership (#3), structure and governance. Single most dangerous prescription. Pastor as powerful church-growth CEO. Two major flaws in TCN: 1. The gospel is assumed. 2. The ministry is distorted. Some TCN prescriptions would be OK, in the right context, if properly theologically based, e.g., repentance, an outward focus. Ohio District has changed and adapted the Transforming process–deleting, adding, revising–to make it Lutheran, true revitalization.

“COMMUNITY CHEST OR CORPORATE OVERHEAD: THE TRUTH ABOUT SYNOD FINANCES,” Mr. John Edson, CPA, member of Board of Human Care: Synod’s financial statements are summarized in broad categories. But this is not the whole story. Those statements don’t tell you how exactly, in detail, the money is being used. 2010 budget for corporate synod as a whole, $1.1 billion dollars. Includes CPS, CUS, LCEF, Districts, etc. Types of funds: unrestricted, temporarily restricted, permanently restricted. Synod has borrowed money from designated giving (and its interest) for general use cash flow. Legal, but is it ethical? Numbers can be used to make financial picture look different. Unrestricted giving may be negative, but if designated money is transferred, it can make financial picture look better. The problem: Using restricted and designated funds to cover the cash flow of corporate synod’s operating losses. Currently spending outside our means. In the last ten years, membership of LCMS has decreased by 8%. Solutions: Operate within our means. Increase financial support for missions, human care, seminaries, and colleges. Increase the connection of the people in the pews with the synod. The solution is NOT the proposed restructuring. Restructuring will minimize contributions to missions and human care by reducing visibility.

“THE NEED TO CONTINUE RESIDENTIAL SEMINARIES AT FORT WAYNE AND ST. LOUIS,” Mr. Walter Dissen, former BOR member for both seminaries; Pastor Tim Rossow; CSL Professor James Voelz; CTSFW Professor William Weinrich:

Dissen: We need to maintain both residential seminaries. Some have suggested we should eliminate one or both of our seminaries or disperse our faculties to do pastoral training at our universities. Regarding DELTO and SMP, an analogy between the spiritual and the physical: If you had cancer, would you want to go to a highly trained professional doctor or to someone who has taken a short correspondence course?

Rossow: The residency part of a seminary program in theological formation–you just can’t beat that. We need theory, not just praxis. It is foolish to have two types of pastors, one with twice as much theological education as the other.

Voelz: Follow the money. Corporate synod does not value seminary training anymore, compared to our synod’s founding. Two seminaries helpful: Not good to put all your eggs in one basket. Also, our synod is still relatively large, compared to other denominations. Reasons may vary for why people may want to reduce residential seminary education: 1. Costs too much. 2. That much training not needed, too long, too difficult. 3. Bad way to form pastors, they are not effective. 4. As seminaries go, so goes the synod, and that’s bad. Contributions of residential seminaries: Our graduate schools have profound influence around the world. Service to synod. Continuing education. SMP was an improvement on the “wildfire” district licensed deacon programs; it put the training under the aegis of the seminaries.

Weinrich: Single most important factor in the development of a vocational understanding of the ministry is the connection to a faculty and residential education. Seminaries are a way the church expresses its faith intellectually. Seminaries are institutions of: 1) ecclesial consensus; 2) continuity; 3) unity; 4) common experience. If seminary faculties are dispersed to the universities, theological education will become marginalized there and would come under the governance of schools not devoted to training pastors. The high commitment level of our students, when they come to seminary, has always been our strength.

“PRESIDENT KIESCHNICK’S BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE ON STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE,” Pastor Jon Furgeson and Mr. Christian Preus, former BOD member:

Furgeson: “Answers from the Top Down.” Reasons given by Task Force: mission and stewardship. Congregational representation, delegate process proposals: Proposal #11) Fix number at 650 delegates, saves money. But that affects how delegates are chosen. Proposal #10) District conventions will choose delegates to national conventions. Districts will determine how to choose delegates. Proposal #6) Congregational representation at district conventions. Extra delegates for large congregations. Proposal #5) Allow commissioned ministers to be voting delegates. Could take place of pastor. Overall, proposals are hierarchical in nature. Don’t just look at the recommendations in the final report; closely examine the actual changes in the constitution and bylaws in the appendices.

Preus: At regional gathering, Task Force did not talk about the actual language of the proposals but about their intent. But what matters is what gets into the Handbook, the words on the page. Vague language allows people to interpret constitution and bylaws in different ways–which some may like. Clarity vs. ambiguity. What do the Task Force proposals mean? Many examples of vague words and phrases. Major provisions of relationship of synod and members: Changes in language–”collective will, expressed in convention resolutions”–raise troubling questions about synod being an advisory body. Intent should match language. Language should not need explanation. Current–Synod is a creation of the congregations. Proposed–Synod is a creation of itself. Regional gatherings are a “sales job,” a dog-and-pony show. Their surveys are stated so as to create a show of support, not to get genuine feedback. Implementation of the proposed changes would be a huge problem.

It may be bitterly cold outside this January, but in the Missouri Synod, nominations are heating up! These next few weeks are prime time for congregational nominations for the offices of President, First Vice-President, and other Vice-Presidents. Some congregations nominated in November or December, and others will nominate in February or early March, but I would not be surprised if 60-80% of the congregations submitting nominations will be doing so sometime between now and the end of January.

Are you interested in the direction our synod will be taking over the coming years? What happens at the synodical level sooner or later does impact what happens at the local level. If you are concerned–and you should be–then you need to show up at your congregation’s meeting and give your input on synodical nominations. Many congregations do not even bother to submit nominations, but you can take initiative to make it happen. Make sure “synodical nominations” gets put on the agenda for your voters’ meeting, talk to your congregational president, talk to your pastor, etc.

The official nominating ballot, which all congregations received from the Office of the Secretary, has space for two nominations for President, two nominations for First Vice-President, and four nominations for Other Vice-Presidents. (The same name can be nominated in any or all of those categories but can be nominated only once within a category.)

So, whom to nominate? Theoretically, any of the ordained ministers of the synod are eligible to be nominated, but realistically, the ones with the best chance of being elected will probably come from two sets of names, representing two different directions our synod could take.

If you like how the synod has been going in the nine years of the Kieschnick administration and want us to continue in that direction, then you would probably go with the slate recommended by Jesus First:

THE JESUS FIRST SLATE
President: Gerald Kieschnick, William Diekelman
First Vice-President: William Diekelman, Jeffery Schrank
Other Vice-Presidents (4 of 5): Victor Belton, David Buegler, Luther Brunette, Paul Maier, Dean Nadasdy

On the other hand, if you think President Kieschnick’s approach has not been working and that instead we should move forward in the direction called for by Rev. Matthew Harrison in his paper, “It’s Time: LCMS Unity and Mission (The Real Problem We Face and How to Solve It),” then you would probably go with the slate recommended by the United List:

THE UNITED LIST SLATE
President: Matthew Harrison, (Herbert Mueller)
First Vice-President: Herbert Mueller, (Matthew Harrison)
Other Vice-Presidents (4 of 5): John Wohlrabe, Daniel Preus, David Adams, Scott Murray, (Carl Fickenscher)

Now your congregation is certainly free to nominate other names, but realistically, it’s likely that all of the six officers elected in July will come from these two sets of names. The question is, which ones? The more nominations a nominee receives to get on the ballot, the more likely it is that he will be elected in July. So the congregational nominating process is important. And your initiative, and your voice at the voters’ meeting, can make a difference.

The deadline for nominations to be received is March 10. (If your voters’ meeting already met and didn’t nominate, most congregations have a provision for calling a special meeting.) Nominations must be submitted on the official nominating ballot and sent to the address printed on the accompanying envelope. (If your congregation has misplaced its ballot, you will have to contact Secretary Hartwig’s office.) I detailed more of the nuts-and-bolts of the process in my November 2 article, “Nominating ballots have now arrived!”

The convention starts six months from now, in the heat of Houston on July 10, but now in frigid January, it’s time to nominate!

Have you ever read through the Bible? This is a good time to start! Many of us have just finished reading through the Book of Concord. Well, now The Lutheran Study Bible has been published, which has “A Two-Year Reading Plan” (pp. lix-lxiii) in it. And with the start of a new year, this is an opportune time to begin. Having read through the Bible before, and having taught OT and NT survey courses, I can tell you this is a great way to grow in your faith and understanding. And the amount of reading per day and per week is fairly manageable.

At my little church, we had at least a dozen people go through the Book of Concord in 2009. Folks would read the assigned pages, and then we would meet for a weekly class to discuss what we had read. We’re doing a similar format for our “Read through the Bible” class, and we’ll have at least fifteen people for this one. If you’re interested in more on this, go to our church’s website stmatthewbt.org.

By the way, gang, I haven’t posted here in a while. I’ve been swamped! But I’m starting to dig my way out of the overload, and I hope to be blogging here more regularly now. Lots to get to! My analysis of the Blue Ribbon proposals. It’s a synodical convention year coming up. And on it goes.

From Norm:

I was developing similar information and rather than generate a second posting, I’m adding information to this post:

In addition to TLSB two-year reading guide listed above, another option using is an email/twitter service that will either email you or send you a tweet each day giving you the current readings. It currently uses a one-year reading plan, so you would read through the bible in one year. You can check your email, click on the link, and read the bible online. You can also have the tweet sent to your phone and read the daily readings directly on your web-enabled phone. To subscribe to either of these go to: http://lcmssermons.com/1year.

I hope to generate a two-year plan that follows the TLSB guide and will post it here if I can make it available soon.

Also available online is a daily reading of the Book of Concord
available online at http://bookofconcord.org/daily.

BJS would encourage everyone to take the start of a new year as an opportunity to start regular readings of either the Bible or the Book of Concord.

Late last week the Secretary of the Synod mailed out to each congregation the official nominating ballot for the offices of President, First Vice-President, and Other Vice-Presidents. That official ballot is one of the most important pieces of mail your congregation will receive. Which names receive enough nominations to make the final slate of candidates, and how many nominations they receive–this is where your congregation can play an important role.

The envelope your congregation has just received from the Office of the Secretary will have in it three items: the official nominating ballot; a printout of the bylaw (3.12) covering Nominations and Elections; and an envelope for your congregation to return your completed ballot. Your congregation has until the March 10 deadline to make its nominations and return the completed ballot in the envelope.

Read more…

President Kieschnick’s Blue Ribbon Task Force Final Report

It’s . . . Monty Python’s Flying Task Force . . .

Man: I’d like to have an argument, please.

Receptionist: Certainly, sir. Do you want to have a thorough, well-reasoned argument with a free and open discussion of pros and cons and with all the input laid on the table, or were you thinking of just a propaganda piece with a bogus, one-sided “survey” full of loaded questions?

Man: Well, I think it’s probably best if we have a free and open discussion.

Receptionist: Fine. Mr. Ribbon will see you now.

Man goes into caucus room.

Man: Is this the right caucus for an argument?

Mr. Ribbon: Sorry, I’m not allowed to argue unless you’ve paid.

Man: But, but, we’re already paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for this, and now our congregation’s assessment is going up by 30%!

Mr. Ribbon: I’m very sorry, but I told you I’m not allowed to argue unless you’ve paid! Get out your checkbook! And, besides, nobody gets to see the input.

Man: Look, I’ve had enough of this!

Mr. Ribbon: No you haven’t!

Man storms out of room and goes down hall. . . .

Man: I want to complain!

Gets hit on head with large mallet.

Man: Ooh!

Mr. Synodocrat: No, no, no, hold your head like this, and then go “waaagh”! Try it again. . . .

“Following in the Train of the Confessors” (Psalm 119:46)

Confessors, princes, duty bound,
To Augsburg bold they came.
Before the king they stood their ground
And were not put to shame.
Their good confession made that day
Proved not to be in vain.
Gird Augsburg’s sons, Lord, that we may
Still follow in their train!

On June 25, 1530, in Augsburg, Germany, a small group of Lutheran princes appeared before the most powerful man in the world, Emperor Charles V, head of the Holy Roman Empire, and, at great risk to themselves and their territories, these men boldly confessed their faith. The emperor had called them to Augsburg to settle the disputes that had arisen ever since that troublesome monk, Martin Luther, had nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. Now, in 1530, the emperor wanted the Lutheran princes to back down and come back to the fold and not cause any more trouble. But there at Augsburg, called before the emperor, these princes would not back down, they stood their ground, and they spoke clearly and unashamedly what their churches “believe, teach, and confess.” In confessing the faith in this way, these men were doing what the psalmist declared so many centuries earlier, “I will speak of your testimonies before kings, O Lord, and shall not be put to shame.”

In spite of fears and dangers, the confessors at Augsburg knew what they believed and they made the good confession. Now the question comes to us today, “Who follows in their train?” Will we speak up or back down when called upon to give an answer for the hope that is in us? Will we bother to learn the faith well enough to know what to say, or will we be content to muddle along with a confused and weak grasp of Christian doctrine, never growing in our knowledge and understanding? How important is it to us that the gospel of Christ be taught in its truth and purity and that our practice in the church be in accord with it? These are the questions that confront us today, as we observe Reformation Day 2009.

The statement of faith the Lutheran princes presented that day we call the Augsburg Confession. It is the first in a series of confessional documents from the 16th century, the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, collected in a book called the Book of Concord, which your pastor and this congregation have sworn to uphold. The reason we Lutherans promise to conform our teaching and practice according to these Confessions is not because they are German or because they are some added source of doctrine alongside the Bible. No, rather, it is because the Lutheran Confessions are a clear exposition of Holy Scripture, which is the only source and norm of faith and life. The Confessions faithfully summarize the teachings of God’s Word and apply them to situations and controversies that arise in the church. That is their great value, and that is why we gladly agree to believe, teach, and confess accordingly.

And so a number of you here today have been reading through the Book of Concord this year. We’re about 80% of the way through, reading our pages in advance every week and then meeting in class to discuss what we’ve read. And we have read: the three ecumenical Creeds (Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian); Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms; the Augsburg Confession; the Apology (or Defense) of the Augsburg Confession; the Smalcald Articles; the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope; and finally, the Formula of Concord, both the shorter Epitome and now the longer Solid Declaration. It’s been a fascinating study. I like to say, reading the Book of Concord is like one giant Bible study! That’s really what it is–solidly grounded on the Word of God, properly distinguishing Law and Gospel, applying Scripture to the life of the church. Now a lot of us have a much better handle on what we believe as Lutherans and why we believe it. I’ve seen the light bulbs go on over your heads!

This is good, and this is the sort of thing we should continue to do–grow in our understanding of the Christian faith–if we are to follow in the train of the confessors. Sunday morning Bible class. The weekday class–this year it’s the Book of Concord, next year we want to start reading through the Bible. Daily devotions at home. And of course most basic is the Sunday morning Divine Service, every Sunday, when Christ speaks to us and feeds us with his life-giving Word and Sacrament. These are all ways we can grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and thus be better equipped and built up and confident to speak up when we are called upon to confess the faith.

Why is this so important to do, to know and confess the faith? Because the content of this Christian faith is the only saving truth there is. There is no other. And therefore we do not want to mix the truth with error. Errors in doctrine or practice can lead us astray, get us off the one true path that God has marked out for us, and we end up in a ditch or a dead-end.

Let me give you an example. The Roman Catholic church of Luther’s day was teaching, and its practices supported, the false notion that our works contribute in some fashion to our righteousness before God. This is wrong. This goes against Scripture. This goes against the gospel. It makes our salvation in some measure dependent on us. It runs contrary to what we heard from St. Paul, when he spoke of “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ,” that we are “justified by God’s grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” And Paul concludes, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”

So in the Lutheran Confessions, we believe, teach, and confess the truth on this most important matter, over against all errors. This concerns the central article of the Christian faith, the doctrine of justification. If people are left to the notion that their works contribute to their salvation, then one of two things will happen: Either people will be driven to despair, realizing they cannot fulfill the demands of God’s law, or else they will become proud Pharisees, vainly imagining that they can keep God’s commandments well enough. So we have to be clear on the truth here. Only the clear proclamation of the gospel of Christ can give comfort to terrified consciences and give all honor to Christ. These are the twin concerns of the Lutheran Confessions, expressed over and over throughout, namely, to give all glory to Christ and to give true comfort to troubled consciences. That is why we are so insistent on pure doctrine.

Now what are the main confessional issues we face in our day–in our own church body, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod? Certainly no one is outright denying the doctrine of justification. No one is flat-out denying any of the doctrine we confess on paper. Everyone pays lip-service, at least, to our Lutheran doctrine. But the problem is: Is our practice–is our practice–always the best we can do at supporting our doctrine? Or does the practice in many of our LCMS congregations hide and even undermine our doctrine? This is what I call the “doctrine-practice disconnect.” But these two need to go together, doctrine and practice. There should not be a disconnect between the two, as there is when worship practice, for instance, does not do a very good job of reflecting and reinforcing Lutheran doctrine, but instead resembles more what you would find at a fluffy, happy-clappy, non-denominational church. That sort of nonsense confuses and offends those of us who are trying to teach and practice the way Lutherans are supposed to teach and practice. And yet we have synodical officials permitting and even promoting the poor practices of these fellow Missouri Synod pastors and congregations. And if we dare to speak up and object, then we are labeled the bad guys. This too is a time for confession, right now in our day, in our own church body.

“I will speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame.” The psalmist and the Lutheran confessors were not afraid of the powers that be. And right now the powers that be in our synod are trying to increase their power, through a massive revision in our structure and governance. We need to resist this power grab, for it could very well be used to suppress those who speak up for the truth and to consolidate the power of those who want a more “anything goes” synod. Standing up before kings in this case means not giving them even more power to marginalize confessional pastors and congregations.

This calls for courage. There can be consequences for those who confess the truth. The Lutheran princes who stood up to the emperor in 1530–they and their successors later on had to face political pressure and even military attacks because of their stand. Some princes, pastors, and professors caved in and capitulated; they wilted under the pressure. Others held fast and suffered the consequences. Others still remained steadfast and were blessed with peace–but their confessional spirit was the same. They were willing to endure persecution, even if it did not come.

How is it with us? Will we follow in their train? You know, there is a need to stand firm and speak up in our life together, as pastor and congregation, but there is also a need to confess the faith in our own individual lives. Each one of us will have occasion–the Lord will give us opportunities–to speak our faith to our neighbor. It could be an actual neighbor, the person down the block or in our subdivision, the person we meet at the café or the club. It could be a family member, that in-law or cousin we see at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Perhaps scarier, it could be our husband or wife, our brother or sister, our son or daughter. When there is an open door to speak of Christ our Savior, will we walk through in faith or slink back in fear?

My friends, God will give you the courage you need to confess Christ in a hostile world. The courage and the strength come from this very gospel that gives you life. You have been set free from your fears, the fear of death, the fear of judgment. Christ Jesus has set you free by the righteousness and the forgiveness of sins he won for you when he died on the cross on your behalf. Your eternal life and salvation are a sure thing, as sure as Christ’s own resurrection on Easter and his return at the Last Day. You are free from death and condemnation. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” “If God is for us, who can be against us?” “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”

The Lutheran confessors, by God’s grace, were not afraid to speak the truth, even when it could cost them dearly. The gospel they believed gave them the courage to speak. Who follows in their train? We do! Yes, fellow confessors, you and I have the same gospel giving us life, the same Savior freeing us from fear, the same heavenly Father watching over us, the same Holy Spirit empowering us. “We have the same spirit of faith, as it is written, ‘I believed, therefore have I spoken’; we also believe, and therefore speak.” Sons and daughters of Augsburg, today we stand with our fathers and say, “I will speak of your testimonies before kings, O Lord, and shall not be put to shame.”

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, Rev. Matthew Harrison, Executive Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care, was the main speaker for the West Missouri Pastors’ Conference. Although not serving in that half of the district, several of us “wise men from the East” knew this would be a good conference to attend, and so we traveled across the state to Concordia, Missouri, to listen and learn and be uplifted. We were not disappointed.

Under the conference theme, “Confessional Faithfulness for the 21st Century,” Harrison held forth, over two days, on his topic, “Top Ten Opportunities Facing the LCMS Between Now and 2017.” Drawing on the wisdom of Missouri’s forefathers, Harrison charted a course for the future of our synod that included such themes as “Back to Luther,” “Back to the Word,” “Unity,” “A Worldwide View,” “Seminaries and Missionary Endeavor,” and, of course, “Mercy.” Harrison shared some excellent quotes from the synod’s first five presidents, Walther, Wyneken, Schwan, Pieper, and Pfotenhauer–all included in the new book edited and largely translated by Harrison, “At Home in the House of My Fathers”–and he applied them to the situations and opportunities we are facing in our day. Very interesting and inspiring! For instance, when he spoke about how Walther and Wyneken had “A Worldwide View,” Harrison applied that outlook to today, saying this is “Missouri’s moment”: We have marvelous opportunities right now to work with confessional Lutheran churches all around the world, in works of mercy, in theological education, and in advancing the gospel of Christ. (I know that through his work with LCMS World Relief, Harrison has developed good relationships with leaders from these churches all across the globe.)

Not only did Harrison provide us with thought-provoking content to consider, he also demonstrated a great ability to communicate and connect with people. An engaging personality, a ready sense of humor, a thorough command of his subject matter, a theologian’s scholarship and a pastor’s heart–these traits really came through in Harrison’s presentation. In the Q & A’s, he answered several questions on controversial issues in a way that showed he was no wild “fire-breather.” All in all, his presentation was a tour de force.

(By the way, Harrison even handled the banquet entertainment, playing “The Beverly Hillbillies” on the banjo! If Matt ever wants to take a group on the road, he should call it “The Blue Grass Task Force”!)

One thing we learned at this conference was that Matt Harrison was very much “At Home in Concordia, Missouri.” No, not just the town. At home in the Concordia, the harmony and agreement that Lutherans have–and that Missouri can be renewed in–when we come together around Scripture and Confessions, striving for unity in doctrine and practice, all for the sake of the gospel. God grant us that Concordia in Missouri!

This Saturday, October 10, is the deadline for submitting nominations for the various officers, boards, and commissions to be elected at the convention in Houston.  Can you give this important matter an hour or two of your time between now and Saturday and send in a nomination or three?  You need to look at a couple of pages of information and fill out one form for each nominee and send it in.

Here is information on the Positions to Nominate. Note that varying numbers of positions are to be filled, in various categories, Ordained Ministers, Commissioned Ministers (e.g., teachers), and Laypersons.  Nominations are needed for the following positions:

Secretary
LCMS Board of Directors
Board for District and Congregational Services
Board for Mission Services
Board for Pastoral Education
Board for University Education
Commission on Theology and Church Relations
Concordia Publishing House Board of Directors
Lutheran Church Extension Fund Board of Directors
Boards of Regents for the colleges and universities (Ann Arbor, Austin, Bronxville, Irvine, Mequon, Portland, River Forest, St. Paul, Selma, Seward) and the seminaries (Fort Wayne, St. Louis)

Here is information on the Desired Qualifications for the various positions, along with the names of the current officeholders, when their terms expire, and whether they are ineligible for reelection (*) to those same positions.

Now there are two ways to approach coming up with names for nomination. One is from the perspective of the position, asking yourself, “Who do I know, or know about, that would be good for that position?” The other approach is from the persective of the people you know, or know about, asking yourself, “What position would that person be good for?” Look at this task from either perspective or both, and you should come up with some good names.

So then you fill out the official Nomination Form 2010, one for every person you nominate. You can print out the form and fill it in by hand; or you can fill it in on your computer, but then you need to print it out. Either way, you need to snail-mail it in. (To be safe, try to have your submission postmarked by this Saturday, October 10; they might accept some nominations submitted beyond that, but you can’t be sure.)

You will want to fill out the form as fully as you are able, ideally, with your nominee’s: address and phone number; home congregation and pastor; district; circuit counselor; experience, qualifications, skills, etc. For ordained and commissioned ministers, you can look up some of this information at the lcms.org Church Workers Directory. By the way, under “Classification,” you can click on a category and get all the names in the whole synod in that category, for example, all the Ordained Ministers. You can fairly quickly scan through that list and see which names jump out at you.

When you have filled out your nomination forms, then mail them in to the Committee for Convention Nominations, at the address given on the form. Remember, the deadline for submitting nominations is this Saturday, October 10.

Oh, one other thing: Even if the person you nominate doesn’t make it onto the ballot, that person you nominated is thereby automatically in the pool of names eligible for floor nominations in Houston, and that can end up being significant.

In President Kieschnick’s recent “Leadership News,” he lists what he sees as “matters about which we in the LCMS are not in agreement.” Among these items is the question of how “to avoid unionism and syncretism.” Well, frankly, this is a matter that has not been helped by President Kieschnick’s “leadership.”

It was eight years ago today, on September 23, 2001, that LCMS District President David Benke participated in leading the interfaith prayer service, “A Prayer for America,” along with clergy of the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh religions, as well as with clergy of Roman Catholic, Reformed, Baptist, and other heterodox groups with which we are not in fellowship. And President Kieschnick was the one who approved and defended this case of unionism and syncretism!

Read more…

We had our circuit forum yesterday. I get to spend a week down in Habitat for Humidity again next July.

GOIN’ BACK TO HOUSTON
Tune: “Houston” Original

Well, our forum time came around
Everybody put me down
Put a check beside my name
I got elected once again
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston

I got a notion which way I’ll choose
All these ribbons give me the blues
See our dollars go up in flames
Not a fan of all their games
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston

We’ve been beaten since 2001
Been a while since the Lutherans won
But that’s about to end
It’s time to start a brand new trend
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston

We’ve got a problem atop the IC
That’s the way it seems to me
Let’s just restructure that
Roll out the “Welcome Matt”
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston

Well, I’m tired of goin’ down
To that hot humid Texas town
But there’s one guy who likes it there
Let’s pay for a one-way fare
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston

Right now we’re at the peak of the circuit forum season, with the election of convention delegates to be completed by October 10. But there’s another October 10 deadline we should not forget, and that’s the one for submitting recommendations for nomination to the various offices, boards, and commissions. The names of qualified ordained ministers, commissioned ministers, and laypersons are needed, in order to have a full slate of nominees for next summer’s convention.

Are there persons you know who would be good serving in a synodical position of responsibility? Then get going on looking over the pages linked below, filling out the nomination form(s), and sending the form(s) in to the address indicated.

Nominations 2010 home page

Nomination Form 2010

Positions to Nominate

Desired Qualifications

On a related matter, on September 15 a mass e-mail was sent out by Patricia Bokenkamp, asking for nominations to be submitted. The e-mail was addressed to “Pastors, Boards of Directors, Boards of Regents and Nominating Members.” However, I am a pastor, and I did not receive the e-mail; I only found out about it from another pastor, who forwarded it to me. Also, Patricia Bokenkamp began the e-mail by saying, “I am writing to you as a concerned member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and a member of the 2007-2010 Synodical Committee for Convention Nominations.” And she signed the e-mail as “Secretary, Committee for Convention Nominations 2007-2010.” But Pat Bokenkamp is also known as an active Jesus First supporter, and the e-mail was sent out by URI, the same firm that sends out the Jesus First mass e-mailings.

So this raises several questions: Did Pat Bokenkamp send out this e-mail on her own or was she authorized to do so by the Committee for Convention Nominations? Did all the other committee members know she was sending out this e-mail? Where did she get the list of e-mail addresses that she used? Was the list of recipients skewed in any way? Why some and not others? Perhaps there are simple answers to these questions, but it would have been good if she had explained these things in her e-mail.

Before I get to the song, let me post my responses first. Pick the one that fits best:

A. Yes, I know I’m a sinner too.
B. Yes, I want homosexuals to repent and be saved.
C. Yes, I’m well aware of the problems in the Missouri Synod.
D. Yes, I know there’s a faithful remnant still in the ELCA.
E. No, I don’t buy the “We’re grieving now, don’t criticize us” line.
F. No, satirical polemics is perfectly biblical and Lutheran–indeed, it is called for in cases like this.

Now, to the song. . . .

OH, BLEST THE HOMOSEXUAL
Tune: Wo Gott zum Haus
(”Oh, Blest the House, Whate’er Befall” TLH 625/LSB 862)

Oh, blest the homosexual
Though we have nothing textual
To bless behavior God has cursed
We took a vote–it’s been reversed

Oh, blest the gal who takes a wife
As long as they stay gay for life
“Committed,” then you can be queer–
Until we change that too next year

Oh, check the box for blessing in:
Transgendered, bi, or lesbian
We’re working on the PETA-phile
So man and dog can walk the aisle

Oh, blast those other Lutherans
Who tell us that we’re loose on sins
There still is one we won’t abide
It’s when you make God’s Word our guide

Then hear the E.L.C.A. say
That it’s OK to ordain the gay
Though all the world forsake God’s Word
They can’t outdo us for absurd!