It’s Hard to Hit a Moving Target – Blue Ribbon Presentation Moves Again, by Pr. Rossow

We have obtained a copy of the survey handed out at the MinnesotaNorth Distirct convention. It has some changes from the survey handed out at the Southern Illinois Convention.

Included in the changes is a reference to the SMP program, stating that it is now a model for how we can change pastoral certification. This is a shining example of how transitory and fluffy the work of the Task Force is. The SMP program in and of itself  presents countless problems for a confessional church but the main issue here is that it  has been in use less than a year and it is already being heralded as a model for taking the certification process out of the hands of the seminaries, a time tested and godly process. Another suggested change is to remove  the election of circuit counselors from the pastors of the circuit and have them appointed by the district. This is another example of the way in which the proposals take control out of the hands of the many and put it in the hands of the few.

These constant changes are  unfortunate on several levels. First, it was reported to us from the Southern Illinois Convention that after so many delegates complained that much had been changed from the previous convention in North Dakota, the Task Force promised not to change the presentation again. Apparently that is not the case. If you were at the Southern Illinois Convention and remember what was said please chime in on the comment section below.

Secondly, constant changes in the proposals show how unready the committee is and how unwise it is to propose these changes at this juncture. They have worked for years to have these proposal ready and now each time they present to a district convention they  make changes. Proposals that are this serious need to be presented consistently otherwise the synod will have no idea what the real proposals are. Also, these proposals are so significant that the synod needs at least a triennium to consider them. At this rate, the Task Force will still be changing the proposals up to the day of the opening of the 2010 convention.

We encourage all our readers to   take the survey put out by the Interested Laymen and voice your thoughts on these crucial, church-changing proposals.

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