We have invited over thirty people from around the synod to take the BRTFSSG survey and share with us their responses and comments. (You can take the survey yourself by clicking here.) Our list of invitees includes seminary professors, congregation chairs, lay elders, men, women, and even the top positions in the synod (yes, all the way to the top). The responses are starting to come in. We do not know how many will take us up on the invitation but hope it will be a good sampling of LCMS notables and regular folks. If you are interested in sharing your responses with commentary please e-mail me. We may not be able to post all responses but we would love to hear from you.
Our first guest surveyor is the Rev. Dr. Steven Hein who earned his doctorate in historical theology from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, taught theology at Concordia Chicago for two decades, is currently Associate Pastor at Shepherd of the Springs in Colorado Springs and is on the board of the Augustana Ministerium. You can read his full resume here.
Dr. Hein’s commentary is written in the blue font on the survey below.
Pastor Rossow
The Blue Ribbon Task Force’s Proposals
Rev., Dr. Steven A. Hein
1) Affirm in our governing documents the mission and purpose of Synod | Strongly Disagree |
The objectives of the Synod and its confessional commitments should not be changed for current secular business language. We are a Church, not a business. | |
2.1) Doctrinal resolutions of special significance and doctrinal statements will require a two-thirds vote at Synod convention. | Strongly Disagree |
2.2) Reaffirm, clarify, amplify and strengthen constitution (Art VIII) and bylaws to enhance doctrinal unity. | Strongly Disagree |
3.1) Congregations are the voting members of the Synod. | Agree |
3.2) Ministers of Religion (ordained and commissioned) are members of the Synod who are eligible to serve as delegates of congregations to conventions of the Synod and in districts. | Strongly Disagree |
3.3) Lay people, though not rostered members of the Synod itself, are closely linked to the Synod through their affiliation with member congregations of the Synod. | Agree |
4) Consider a New Name for Our Synod | Strongly Disagree |
Trashes the heritage and recognition of the history of our Synod | |
5) Voting delegates at conventions shall be one of the called pastors of the congregation and one lay person or minister of religion-commissioned of the congregation. | Disagree |
6.1) Multiple-congregation parishes being served by one or more pastors are entitled to one pastoral vote, with each congregation in the parish having one non-ordained vote. | Not Sure |
6.2) Congregations with a pastoral vacancy are entitled to a vote by the vacancy pastor and one non-ordained vote. | Disagree |
6.3) Congregations with more than 1000 confirmed members are entitled to two additional votes, at least one being a lay person. | Strongly Disagree |
This proposal would compromise the fundamental voice of the Synod as an expression of its member congregations. | |
7.1) Establish a fixed number of total voting delegates to the national convention at approximately 650. | Strongly Disagree |
Centralization of power | |
7.2) Amend the bylaws to delete the “advisory delegate” category from national conventions and reduce the number of “advisory representatives”. | Strongly Disagree |
8.1) Determine each district’s number of delegates according to that district’s percentage of the total number of congregations and confirmed members in Synod. | Strongly Disagree |
8.2) Allow each district to determine how delegates would be selected. | Strongly Disagree |
Makes the Synod a federation of Districts and compromises our congregational polity. Removes uniformity of representation criteria. | |
8.3) Whichever method or system a district uses to choose its delegates, it would choose an equal number of ordained and non-ordained delegates. | Disagree |
9.1) Encourage the submission of overtures from congregations to their district conventions through circuit forums. | Strongly Disagree |
9.2) Encourage the submission of overtures from congregations to the national convention through their district conventions. | Strongly Disagree |
Diminishes the voice of congregations and centralizes power | |
9.3) While all overtures submitted would still be considered, resolutions from circuit forums and district conventions would receive priority at district and Synod conventions, respectively. | Strongly Disagree |
Diminishes the voice of congregations and centralizes power | |
10) Hold district and national conventions in a four year cycle. | Strongly Disagree |
Diminishes the oversight of Synod’s membership with its administrative constituencies | |
11) Allow Flexibility of Circuit Structure | Strongly Disagree |
12) Consider future district configurations (give the job to the COP to report to the 2013 convention) | Disagree |
13) Establish Five Regions in Our Synod | Strongly Disagree |
Centralization of power | |
14.1) Implement process for quadrennial Synod Priorities | Agree |
14.2) Realign national Synod ministries into two Mission Advisory Councils | Disagree |
Centralization of power | |
14.21) International Missionary Advisory Council and National Mission Advisory Council. | Strongly Disagree |
Centralization of power | |
14.22) Council staff execs report to Synod President | Strongly Disagree |
Tremendous centralization of power | |
14.3) Provide coordination with districts for certain ministries. | Not Sure |
14.4) Transfer some responsibilities to districts | Not Sure |
14.5) Transfer most BUE and BPE responsibilities to regents and BOD (CUS would continue with certain responsiblities) . | Strongly Disagree |
15.1) Involve the totality of congregations in selecting candidates for the Synod President and First Vice President | Disagree |
15.2) President and First Vice President elected as a team. | Strongly Disagree |
16) Election of Synod Vice-Presidents Regionally | Strongly Disagree |
17.1) The Board of Directors composed of 17 voting members, as defined in the presentation. | Strongly Disagree |
17.2) First Vice President, Secretary and VP-Finance/Treasure are non-voting members. | Strongly Disagree |
18.1) Elect or appoint all Synod and district officers and board members to four year terms. | Strongly Disagree |
18.2) Have no term limits for district presidents | Strongly Disagree |
18.3) Have no term limits for any national board and commission members. | Strongly Disagree |
19) Expand the certification process for pastoral candidates. | Strongly Disagree |