Before each of the last two LCMS national conventions (2010 and 2013) I wrote in-depth, detailed analyses of all the proposed resolutions coming before the convention, and I posted those articles here on BJS. This time I haven’t done that, … Continue reading
Click the music links and sing along! It’s all in good fun. MILWAUKING TOGETHER Tune: “Happy Together” Imagine Synod-wide, I tried I think about a wonderland It’s really grand To think about us unified And holding hands Milwauking together If … Continue reading
Last month, congregational electors re-elected Synod President Matt Harrison to another term. In a few days, convention delegates will begin electing a host of vice-presidents, officers, board members, and the like, to serve with him. Hopefully, those elected will want … Continue reading
There is a highly motivated and well-organized campaign underway to elect a new president and change the direction of Synod. With voter registration being significantly down this convention cycle (by about 855)*, they may just get their wish. Meanwhile, President Harrison has … Continue reading
Convention 2016: It’s Time … for 2016 Convention Deadlines About a week ago, Secretary Hartwig’s office sent out this convention postcard mailing: Mailing No. 12: Jan. 15, 2016 It’s Time … for 2016 Convention Deadlines With the arrival of the … Continue reading
Convention 2016: February deadlines approaching for nominations and overtures The deadlines are approaching for submitting nominations and overtures for this summer’s LCMS national convention (July 9-14 in Milwaukee). February 9 is the deadline for submitting congregational nominations for Synod President, … Continue reading
Convention 2016: Submitting official nominating ballots by February 9 By now your congregation should have received your official nominating ballots for the 2016 Convention. Your congregation should meet to discuss and determine nominations, and the official nominating ballots need to … Continue reading
Convention 2016: Nominating for various positions, by October 9 The time is growing short to submit nominations for various positions to be elected at next summer’s LCMS convention. The nomination forms are due by October 9. Ordained ministers, commissioned ministers, … Continue reading
Convention 2016: Electing delegates, by October 9 It’s time to prepare for the National LCMS Convention. The convention will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 9-14, 2016, and there are a number of things that need to happen to prepare … Continue reading
My classmates are agreed to a man that dogmatics in the mid-1950s was a completely undistinguished enterprise. That’s a polite way of saying it was dull. You read the book. The highlight of the day was a poorly worded quiz. … Continue reading
[A March 6 news article from the Reporter:] Congregations ratify ‘circuit visitor’ convention action By a vote of 1,496 to 517, LCMS congregations have ratified the 2013 LCMS convention’s approval to amend Article XII of the Synod Constitution. That vote … Continue reading
Today, two things coming out of the recent LCMS Convention: First, the convention approved, by over a two-thirds vote, Resolution 7-02A, “To Return to Use of Title ‘Circuit Visitor.’” This resolution would change the title “circuit counselors” to “circuit visitors.” … Continue reading
The gavel has sounded. The 2013 National LCMS Convention has come to a close. Some might call it “The Do-Nothing Convention.” Or “The Kick-the-Can-Down-the-Road Convention.” Or “The It-Isn’t-Time-Yet Convention.” Or “The Baptized-for-the-Next-Convention Convention.” But I think a better name might … Continue reading
Over the past week, I posted seven articles with my comments on the 116 proposed resolutions coming from the seven floor committees. There was a request to put those all together into one resource for more convenient use. Here it … Continue reading
“I hold in my hand . . . the last envelope.” Audience cheers wildly. Carnac stares at audience. I now come to the last floor committee. But instead of cheering wildly, I want you to pay close attention. Because while … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
On to Committee 5. Feedback on proposed resolutions from any of the seven floor committees should be sent to the respective committee chairman by tomorrow, if possible. (Note: My comment on 5-04 has been revised since original posting.) For reference: … Continue reading
(This post follows up on my previous one, about Committee 4, as it deals in more depth with Resolution 4-06. This article appears in the July 2013 edition of The Lutheran Clarion, lutheranclarion.org. CH) Lay Deacons: Kicking the Can Down … Continue reading
We continue our journey through the seven floor committees. Committee chairmen would like to receive feedback by this Friday, if possible. Here again are documents that may come in handy for reference: Today’s Business Convention Workbook 2010 Handbook 4. THEOLOGY … Continue reading
I’m doing more than one floor committee today, so that we can get through all seven by Friday, which is when the committee chairmen (listed on page 11 of Today’s Business) want feedback to be received. We continue, then, with … Continue reading
At every convention, whether district or national, there are always a large number of what I call “mom and apple pie” resolutions. They usually go something like this: To Encourage Good Things RESOLUTION 9-999 WHEREAS, Our committee has to come … Continue reading
The National Convention of the LCMS will soon be here, July 20-25 in St. Louis. Conventions do two main types of business, elections and resolutions. (For elections, see Biographical Synopses & Statements of Nominees, as well as the recommendations of … Continue reading
There will be a pre-convention meeting in the St. Louis area this Saturday, June 29, starting at 9:30 a.m., at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, Missouri. The main purpose of this unofficial meeting is to go over the proposed … Continue reading
In recent days we have seen reports of district presidents using the power and resources of their office to campaign for one candidate over another for synod president in the upcoming election. President Paul Linnemann wrote to the delegate-electors of … Continue reading
St. Louis, July 20-25, 2013 The first issue of Today’s Business is now online. This is about a week earlier than I, for one, was expecting. The print edition will follow, being sent to convention attendees sometime within the next … Continue reading