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Rev. Dan McMiller
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Regional outreach idea exchanges - Held 3 or 4 times each winter in different regions of the District, these exchanges are designed to allow congregational evangelism teams to share ideas and resources for more effective outreach of the Good News.
Annual pastors pre-Lent retreat gives pastors sermonic studies, liturgies, children's object lessons and outreach helps and suggestions for use during Lent and Holy Week. This event is held the second Monday and Tuesday of January in Manitowoc.
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News from the Theological Convocation on Structure and Governance, August 18-20
The much anticipated event has taken place. From noon Monday to noon Wednesday we met at the Airport Marriott in St. Louis. Leaders from across the LCMS were there. The ideas presented and discussed there are now on the table to be discussed throughout the LCMS.
Our SWD representatives at the Convocation were Rev. Dan Torkelson of Clyman, Teacher Gene Ladendorf, and Dr. John Jaeger, a member of Faith Lutheran LaCrosse, as well as myself as District President.
On the last day of the Convocation we were given the “discussion points” for restructuring. If you have seen what the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance (BRTFSSG) has presented, it’s on the web: www.lcms.org/lcmsfuture. Virtually all that was discussed regarding governance ideas is there. Please take a look at it.
Some of the ideas put for include:
- Basic governance changes in the various LCMS entities in St. Louis...
- The possibility of restructuring districts that would consist of anywhere from 60 congregations with a part-time District President with regional staff support to 350 congregations with a full-time District President.
- The possibility that larger congregations be given more franchise at District Conventions, viz. that for each 750 communicant members a congregation could elected an additional lay delegate.
- That delegates to the national convention be elected, not by the congregations at the circuit level, but at district convention.
- That the number of delegates from each district be more representational based on the number of the communicant members in the district in proportion to the rest of Synod.
- That commissioned minister may be elected as a voting delegate to District and Synod Convention in the place of a lay delegate.
- That circuits no longer be organized geographical, but congregations would be free to aligned however they wished in circuits, based upon collegiality.
As I consider what has been distributed for “discussion” there are several thing that dare not change. They include:
1) Preserving the integrity and autonomy of the local congregation through every level of our structure and governance.
2) Preserving the balance between congregation and pastor in governance. Walther writes Theses X “Concerning the Holy Ministry or the Pastoral Office” ---“To the ministry of the Word, according o divine right, belongs also the duty[Amt] to judge doctrine, but laymen also possess this right. Therefore, in the ecclesiastical courts (consistories) and councils they are accorded both a seat and vote together with the clergy.” Equal franchise for the divinely instituted “Kirche und Amt”.
3) Holding fast to the high value we place on both the priesthood of all believers and the pastoral office.
4) Ensuring the full and equal franchise for every local congregation both larger and small, in District and in Synod. Perhaps to have a truly representational form of governance, every congregation and their pastor could be in attendance at both District and Synod convention?
5)That our polity, while an adiaphora, be reflective of and representative of our theology and confession. Pieper in the opening chapter of his dogmatics talks of “habitus practicus”, confession as a way of “practical living” or “way of life”.
As you may know, I am in the LCMS by choice, not by birth. As I consider the discussion points as well as the whole process, I have some concerns and I have some fears. One of my concerns is that this whole discussion regarding structure/governance did not originate with the local congregation. Does governance and structure need to be discussed? Indeed it does.
One of my fears is that through this process, if only in a very subtle manner, we may be tempted to move away from our congregational based theology and polity and move toward a more representational theology and polity where the local congregation is no longer at the top of our pyramid, but at the bottom. Part of my concern lies in the fact that it was the smaller congregations and their pastors that once saved our Synod. My prayer is that we have not forgotten that.
One of my concerns is that the LCMS could become more hierarchical in nature, more authority vested in the hands of those few who serve in District or Synodical structure. My father once taught me that “churches rot from the top down” and I think that can be borne out in history. For that reason it’s better to have congregations at the top of our inverted pyramid.
The discussion about our structure and governance has begun. It is time for us to listen, time to engage, time to pray, time to define, time to question, and it is time to confess. It is time to let the world see that forgiveness for the sake of Christ Jesus matters that the church founded upon Christ Jesus matters.
Rev.John C. Wille
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Rev. Robert Newton
Calif./Nev./Hawaii District
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Pastors are invited to join us Friday, Sept. 12 at the South Wisconsin District office for the third quarter President's Partnership breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Bob Newton from the California-Nevada-Hawaii District will present, "Engaging the Post-Church Culture." Please RSVP by Sept. 5 to Barb Slak, (800) 793-3678 or (414) 464-8100. Invitation 
During call day services on April 22, 2008, at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 134 pastoral calls, 147 vicarages and nine deaconess assignments for students were announced. Those assigned in the South Wisconsin District, pictured with wives and the District president are, from left, front row, Carl Lehenbauer, Katie Lehenbauer, Guy Roberts, Emily Roberts, Jessica Bell, Aaron Bell, President John Wille; middle row, Aaron Kuehn, Erica Bobby, Jennifer Edwards, Lauren Engelhardt, Carrie Donaldson, David Herald; back row, Samuel Bobby, Eric Edwards, Marc Engelhardt and Robert Donaldson.
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 Ablaze! resources are available at the Ablaze! website. Click here to learn more about this exciting vision for the LCMS, become an Ablaze! congregation, download information on Groups Ablaze, Friendship Ablaze, 50 Days Ablaze, and other Bible studies and resources.
"Lost in America" presentation
Outreach Idea Exchange, Good Shepherd, Oshkosh (2005) - PowerPoint slides
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