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
It was announced this morning that LCMS President Matthew Harrison was re-elected, with 66% of the vote. Here are the results: Candidate / Votes / Percentage Matthew C. Harrison / 4,262 / 66.26% David P. E. Maier / 1,906 / … Continue reading
The white smoke has gone up the International Center chimney. “Habemus praesidem!” “We have a president!” Of course we won’t know officially who that praeses is until July 6, but I have a hunch the moving vans can stay in … 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
Starting this Saturday, thousands of LCMS pastors and laypeople will be voting for President of the Synod. The election of the LCMS President is being done in a much different way this time around: online, ahead of the convention, and … 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
To go with this summer’s LCMS Convention theme, Baptized for This Moment: A Bible Study, is being made available for free through the synod’s website, where you can download a pdf file of the study. The study’s five lessons are: … Continue reading
St. Louis, July 20-25, 2013 The 2013 Convention Workbook is now out! It was posted online yesterday and will be arriving in the mail soon. Over 450 pages from cover to cover! What’s in there? Lists of delegates, floor committees, … Continue reading
St. Louis, July 20-25 Today the nominees were announced for LCMS President, First Vice-President, regional vice-presidents, and regional Board of Director lay members. The nominees are those who received the highest number of nominations from congregations and who then consented … Continue reading
Another interfaith prayer service has been announced. WWDPD? What Would a District President Do? Let’s find out. The location of the upcoming interfaith prayer service will be Fort Wayne, Indiana. The mayor of Fort Wayne, along with several interfaith leaders, … Continue reading
At the 2010 Convention in Houston, there was a proposed resolution, Res. 8-30 “To Amend Article VI of the Constitution,” which would have changed the language of our Synod’s article on “Conditions of Membership.” In my opinion, those changes would … Continue reading
An Illinois state senator who is a member of an LCMS congregation last month voted in favor of a bill that would legalize homosexual “marriage” in the state. Illinois Democrat Andy Manar is the legislator whose vote helped the bill … Continue reading
[On Sunday the following overtures were adopted, unanimously, both by my congregation and our circuit forum, to be submitted to the LCMS Convention Workbook. CH] To Upgrade the SMP Program WHEREAS, Holy Scripture sets high standards for the theological aptitude … Continue reading
[On Sunday the following overture was adopted, unanimously, both by my congregation and our circuit forum, to be submitted to the LCMS Convention Workbook. CH] To Provide Guidance on Participation in Interfaith and Joint Worship Services WHEREAS, the LORD God … Continue reading
President Harrison’s Video on the Newtown, Conn., Statement of Unity and Pastoral Letters “LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison summarizes the events following the Newton, Conn., tragedy that involved Christ Lutheran Church, the LCMS congregation in Newtown, and her pastor, the … Continue reading
[“A Statement of Unity” and “Pastoral Letters on the Newtown Tragedy” today have been issued by Pastor Rob Morris, District President Timothy Yeadon, and Synod President Matthew Harrison. I will post below, in full, “A Statement of Unity.” To read … Continue reading
Yesterday both former Synod President Gerald Kieschnick and current Atlantic District President David Benke made public comment on the Newtown situation, Kieschnick in his “Perspectives” column and Benke in an article in the New York Times. In his column, Kieschnick … Continue reading
The following overture concerning women in combat is already being considered by congregations in several districts (and hopefully more soon). I pass it on in the hopes that the pastors and congregations of the synod will consider it in prayer and … Continue reading