Good Report from the Ohio District Convention
(Editor’s Note: We thank Darrell Wacker for this update from the Ohio District convention. If you have any further comments on the Ohio district or any of the other conventions feel free to e-mail us at trossow@steadfastlutherans.org. We here at the Brothers of John the Steadfast are committed to promoting the Lutheran Confessions in the LCMS. Some think that the politics of district and synodical conventions should be off limits to theological discussion. We believe, to the contrary, that much of the bad theology that is circulating in our synod could be eliminated with good strong leadership in the districts and synod conventions. Church politics is quite theological. To that end we post things like the following and encourage our readers to be involved in the convention procedures in the synod. Our LCMS politics site may be of some help to those just learning about the LCMS process.)
For what it’s worth, the Ohio District Convention just concluded yesterday with some real positives happening for confessionals, including elections for the Board of Directors.
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However, the most positive thing was a resolution from the floor to memorialize the 2010 Synodical convention to hear the restructuring proposals but defer voting until 2013.
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It was quite evident from the discussion after the restructuring presentation and during the debate on the above resolution that skepticism is rampant in our district. Only 3 speakers rose in favor of the proposals, while 30-40 rose against all or part of them.
Good news! Has anyone reported from the Missouri District convention, which IIRC was 14-16 June?
WD,
Charlie Henrickson promised a few days ago that he would put some detailed blogs up from Missouri.
TR
The salesmanship of what should have been an objective presentation and invitation of real input (not cursory paperwork) is reportedly lacking in all of these district presentations.
The smokescreen of “congregational bias” is very transparent. The reduction of delegates, bias toward circuit forums and district resolutions for synod conventions is evidence enough of the sham of it all.
Besides this the apparent “dissent process” that is “always there as an option” for those whose conscience is harmed by heterodox resolution adopted by synod, is nothing but busy-work and a mere dead end to pacify those who dare dissent.
Add to this that the preference toward district and circuit adopted overtures to synod is also a sham. Many district adopted resolutions in 2006 that were sent to synod in 2007 to rescind heterodox resolutions from 2004 (3-08a; 8-01a and others), were not even allowed to come to the floor for consideration despite the adoption by multiple districts and the stated bias of President Kieschnick.
The answer the Rocky Mountain District received for this issue is that the floor committee had that freedom or autonomy. This is nothing but a sham answer as well, since there is little doubt that if President Kieschnick really wanted those overtures on the floor for an honest debate and vote, it would have happened. So the bias toward district input is a sham, as is the congregational bias of the new restructuring proposal.
The new restructuring proposal sets up basically a fast food franchise model with synod headquarters as the “leadership” to stamp out cookie cutter results, which have little to do with the theology of the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.
The new synod proposals for structure also modify Article II on doctrine. They change orthodoxy from being determined by confessing, teaching, and practicing the Scriptures and the Confessions, to what we say ABOUT THEM. This is the same error that we fell into after the Battle for the Bible. Orthodoxy is not only what you say ABOUT THE BIBLE BUT ALSO WHAT YOU SAY FROM THE BIBLE. So many might be “conservative” on the Bible, but not orthodox from the Bible in Spirit and Truth, especially when it comes to the efficacy of the Word of God.
Also the push to make synod doctrinal resolutions binding on the same level of Scripture and the Confessions, is really to take the LCMS out from under Scripture and the Confessions and make the LCMS their sole interpreter, as if the voice of the people is the voice of God (vox populi, vox Dei). We must distinguish between God and His Church. This is nothing but sectarian.
Doctrine, as Walther and others remind us, is not established by majority rule. A vote either confirms or denies what God’s Word already says; and either confirms or denies whether we are Lutheran. We do not determine doctrine or what is Lutheran, but only receive it.
It is never a matter of WHO DECIDES. This is a red herring. It is a matter of the authority of the Word of God which is what makes the Church evangelical, catholic, and one.
“Charlie Henrickson promised a few days ago that he would put some detailed blogs up from Missouri.”
Yes, I think I may get time on Monday to write up a report. Right after the convention, I had a couple of days of parish and home duties to attend to, and then Friday through Sunday, I was away at a conference. So tomorrow will be the first chance to have time to write up a good report.
I have just posted Part One of my convention review, “MoDist Gains,” at my blog here.
Will there be anyone posting a report from the Rocky Mountain District convention that happened over the weekend?
RMD notes:
http://rockymountainlayman.blogspot.com