To the sixth of the seven floor committees, i.e., Administration and Finance. Most of the resolutions here look fairly innocuous. If you have any feedback, try to get it to the committee chairman by tomorrow, if possible.
For reference:
Today’s Business
Convention Workbook
2010 Handbook
6. ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE (TB, pp. 126-43)
6-01: To Promote Financially Healthy Universities, Seminaries, and Church Workers
Develop strategies to eliminate debt among our schools, church work students, and church workers.
6-02: To (Joy)fully Fund Career and GEO Missionaries
Support, and expand the number of, our 69 career and 100 GEO missionaries and their families.
6-03: To Address Board of Directors Budget and Management Responsibilities
Clarify wording in bylaws as a result of restructuring.
6-04: To Restore the Secretary of Synod as a Voting Member of the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
Prior to 1995, the Secretary was a voting member of the CCM.
6-05: To Revise Definitions in the Handbook
Clarification of certain definitions.
6-06: To Address Synod Handbook Issues re Synodwide Corporate Entity Governing Instruments
Clarification of confusing language.
6-07: To Address Synod Handbook Issues Regarding Required Background Checks
A person elected to an office requiring a background check can’t take office until it is done.
6-08: To Clarify the Appointment Process for Various Representatives and Offices
Update bylaws for clarity.
6-09: To Clarify the Process for Appointment of the Executive Directors of the Offices of National and International Mission
Clarify a bylaw.
6-10: To Clarify Appointment of Chief Executives of Synodwide Corporate and Trust Entities and Executive Director of Commission on Theology and Church Relations
Clarify bylaws.
6-11: To Strengthen Nominations Process for Boards of Directors of Synodwide Corporate Entities
Committee for Convention Nominations shall consult with CEO of each corporate entity for input.
6-12: To Amend Bylaw 3.7.1.3 re Membership on Concordia Plans Board
Would increase number on board and allow an additional term in office.
6-13: To Amend Bylaws re Removal and Filling of Vacancies of LCEF Board Members
Adds provision for removing board members and filling vacancies.
6-14: To Amend Bylaw 3.6.5.2.1 re Terms of Office of LCMS Foundation Board Members
Allows an additional term in office.
6-15: To Amend Bylaws re Removal and Filling of Vacancies of LCMS Foundation Board Members
Adds provision for removing board members and filling vacancies.
6-16: To Encourage Conversation and Education about Commission on Constitutional Matters Opinions
Work to reduce confusion and controversy about the CCM and its opinions. What would also help, in my opinion, is to get rid of some of the people on the CCM, and replace them with better choices.
6-17: To Respectfully Decline Overtures
So declined.
Next time: Committee 7, Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters.
Previous BJS posts #7and #8 deal with Overture 6-25, To Overrule CCM Opinion 02-2309, which Committee 6 dumped into the Omnibus Resolution B Overture Shredder. The excuse was “Previous Convention 2010 Action 7-02” (supporting CCM opinion 02-2309).
Opinion 02-2309 was the CCM’s version of the failed defense used by many Nazi war criminals at the post-WWII Nuremberg Trials.
At the 2010 Convention, Floor Committee 7 (Chairman Lane Seitz) substituted Resolution 7-02 (supporting CCM Opinion 02-2309), replacing and trashcanning five overtures (2010 Convention Workbook, pp. 214-217) seeking to overturn CCM Opinion 02-2309.
The reason for the previous and current Floor Committee machinations is that the 2007 Convention delegates approved [905; 292] (2007 Convention Proceedings, pp. 161-162) Resolution 8-01 (Floor Committee 8, [Surprise, surprise!] Chairman Lane Seitz), which included the followed boldfaced addition to Bylaw 3.9.2.2[c]:
“6-12: To Amend Bylaw 3.7.1.3 re Membership on Concordia Plans Board”
Concordia Plan Services
Your LCMS Benefits Partner
June 27, 2013
Dear Mission and Ministry Partner,
I am asking for your help. For almost 50 years, the workers of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (LCMS) have been able to receive health and pension benefits through Concordia Plan Services (CPS). Today, CPS administers one of the nation’s largest church plans, serving over 31,000 active workers and 54,000 dependents, from LCMS ministries in the United States and in mission fields worldwide.
In the turmoil accompanying the passage of the Affordable Care Act (health care reform), the important role of church plans was overlooked. Now, the ministers, teachers, and lay workers serving the LCMS face a challenging situation regarding their healthcare coverage. Beginning in 2014, government subsidies will be made available to eligible individuals who purchase their health coverage from government health care exchanges; however the subsidies will not be available to those who get their health care from health care plans.
On June 13, Senators Pryor and Coons introduced a bill called Church Health Plan Act of 2013 (S. 1164) that would correct this situation. This bill would allow workers enrolled in church health plans to receive the same subsidies as other individuals, easing their financial burden, while remaining in health plans consistent with their faith.
I am asking you to write your United States Senators (contact information at senate.gov) urging them to support this bill. Attached is a draft letter (also available in the News section of ConcordiaPlans.org) that you may see as a model. Remember that effective letters are short and reflect your beliefs. It is important that your letter ends by asking the Senator to support the Church Health Plan Act (S. 1164).
Time is short. We need to act now. If you like your health plan and want to keep it please make your voice heard, and write soon. Thank you for your time and for your service to the church.
In His Service,
James F. (Jim) Sanft
President and Chief Executive Officer
[U. S. Senator Mark Pryor (D) from Arkansas]
[U. S. Senator Christopher Coons (D) from Delaware]
@“LC-MS Quotes” #2: “This bill would allow workers enrolled in church health plans to receive the same subsidies as other individuals, easing their financial burden, while remaining in health plans consistent with their faith.”
As for supporting Lutheran laity who will be forced into Traitorobama care inconsistent with their faith…. [crickets].
@ #3
Liberty issues for church workers are also liberty issues for the laity.
Writing a letter, as the CEO requests, is to ultimately go along with the notion that the federal government has any business in the realm of health care to begin with.
Concerning “the turmoil accompanying the passage of the Affordable Care Act,” would the CEO suggest sending a letter to Senators asking for the repeal of the act?