Report #1 from the Northern Illinois District Convention: One of the Few Bright Spots, by Pr. Rossow
The Northern Illinois District Convention was as usual an overall disappointment for confessional Lutheranism but there were some bright spots. Over the next few days I will offer an editorial review of the convention in a series of articles. I will review President Kieschnick’s presentation, the Blue Ribbon presentation, some of the more crucial resolutions and other key moments in the convention. The convention was broadcast live on the internet and we have done our best to capture that feed and may be able to share portions of the video along with some of these posts. That is still a work in progress.
One of the highlights was the passage of the following resolution in support of Issues, Etc. which is near and dear to the hearts of the Brothers since Issues, Etc. is the primary (and currently only) recipient of our BJS fund drives.
We thank Pastor Mark Bestul (click here for an interesting post on Mark and father Dennis) for bringing this motion to the floor and quite honestly we were surprised and pleased that it passed by a large margin.
RESOLUTION 2-03 Support of Issues, Etc.
WHEREAS, Issues, Etc., hosted by Rev. Todd Wilken, formerly of KFUO radio, is now an internet-based program (www.issuesetc.org) reaching a broad audience within and beyond The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, and
WHEREAS, Issues, Etc., proclaims the gospel and is committed to teaching the tenets of our Lutheran convictions through interviewing theologians, ethicists, seminary professors and pastors of the Church and
WHEREAS, Issues, Etc., has the potential to be an evangelism tool for the Church, and
WHEREAS, Issues, Etc. now relies solely on the prayers and funding support of individuals and congregations, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that congregations of the Northern Illinois District be encouraged to offer their prayers for — and, where possible, financial support to –Issues, Etc. and consider recommending it to members as an informative internet broadcast.
As mentioned above, this was one of the few bright spots in the convention. More to come…Â
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Thank you NID!
Wir sind alle Bettler,
TW
You have friends in the North, Pastor Wilken!
Thank you for your Christ-centered, cross-focused teaching.
Interestingly, I heard that one of the topics suggested at the NID convention was replacing the LCMS logo from the current triple burgundy cross to the logo found here:
http://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=13795
The “walking together” logo.
Our congregation found it troubling that this logo appears to be the ABSENCE of a cross–surrounded by green leaves.
I do not think the absence of a cross should ever be our synod’s official logo. We need MORE of Christ, and MORE of His cross, if anything in our synod.
Thank you for helping to keep us Christ-centered, and cross-focused, Pastor Wilken.
Yours in Christ,
Heartbroken
Thanks Heartbroken,
When I first saw that logo, I thought, “everything but the cross.”
It says a lot about the current state of the LCMS.
TW
Pastor Wilken – Perhaps you could do a review and/or interview of “Christless Christianity” by Michael Horton. While this problem certainly affects our Synod today, the infection is worse the any flu virus we’ll suffer.
Dennis,
We’ve interviewed Horton twice on the book, December 16 and February 27.
http://www.issuesetc.org/podcast/Show122121608H2.mp3
and,
http://www.issuesetc.org/podcast/175022709H2S1.mp3
TW
Leaves, unattached to any vine, wither in the sun. It looks appropriate for the “NEW Missouri”.