From the office of President Mark Schroeder
Nearly 400 delegates met last week in Saginaw, Mich., for the synod's 60th biennial convention. With "Christ's Love, Our Calling" as the theme and with the cross of Christ as the focus, the delegates spent the week prayerfully determining how the synod can best carry out its dual mission of preserving and proclaiming the gospel.
Beginning with an inspiring worship service at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and continuing with the president's report, two doctrinal essays, and daily devotions, the delegates received guidance and strength from the words and promises of God. Presentations by missionaries highlighted both the blessings and the opportunities in our mission fields. Reports from all areas of synodical work painted a clear picture of the many ways in which we are walking together to serve people with the gospel.
The budget
As expected, the budgetary challenges facing the synod occupied a major segment of the delegates' attention. An open hearing on Monday evening gave delegates the opportunity to discuss the two budget options presented by the Synodical Council. The prevailing sentiment was that neither option was desirable, since either choice would result in additional reductions in ministries that were considered core ministries of the synod. The floor committee dealing with the budget listened to the delegates' input and concluded that a third option should be considered. It recommended a budget that requires no further manpower cuts in Missions or Ministerial Education and instead reduces funding for Technology by $150,000; Financial Services by $100,000; Communications by $50,000; Parish Services by $200,000; mission counselors by $100,000; and travel and meeting costs by $400,000 across all areas of ministry.
This proposal by the floor committee was overwhelmingly adopted by a margin of 80 percent to 20 percent.
The convention also expressed consensus agreement that Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) are the primary and foundational support of the synod's work. In view of that, all congregations are encouraged to emphasize CMO in their planning and budgeting.
Ad Hoc Commission
For the last two years, a special Ad Hoc Commission worked to identify possible improvements in the way that the synod carries out its mission and ministry. The commission's wide-ranging report and recommendations were addressed by six separate floor committees. In the end, 63 of its 65 recommendations were approved. In a few cases, recommendations were amended slightly but still reflected the original intent of the commission. The convention did not approve the recommendation to study the creation of three new districts and did not approve a recommendation to alter the voting membership of the Synodical Council. All 30 of the commission's endorsements of action already taken were favorably received.
The convention favorably received the preamble to the Ad Hoc Commission report. The preamble contained a summary of the mission and purpose of the synod and encouraged that the section be distributed throughout the synod and that pastors be encouraged to share and study this summary with their congregations.
Parish services reconfigured
In the section of its report addressing the need to strengthen congregations and their members, the Ad Hoc Commission recommended a redeployment of Parish Services. The change involved placing the ministries of Parish Services under the direct responsibility of the Conference of Presidents. It also involved removing the Parish Services board and eliminating the position of administrator. The convention approved this recommendation but made provisions for a Parish Services Council, which will coordinate the work. Policy-setting and calling responsibility for the newly configured Parish Services will rest with the Conference of Presidents. Budget reductions for the ministries of Parish Services will also mean a reduction in administrative and staff positions.
Other significant decisions of the convention
- The convention encouraged Home and World Missions to redirect manpower and funding in order to continue to enter new fields when appropriate and advisable.
- A gift policy will be developed that will decrease the number of special funds, limit the creation of new funds, and better utilize dollars in existing funds.
- The Conference of Presidents will address the issue of congregations that provide little or no support for the synod's work through their Congregation Mission Offerings.
- Areas of Ministry were directed to continually monitor staffing levels and to provide justification for all positions.
- The bylaws were amended to reduce the size of circuits to "normally not more than eight" congregations.
- Ministerial Education schools were encouraged to reduce costs, control tuition, and increase merit-based scholarships, if possible.
- The convention called for the development of a flexible program of continuing education for called workers.
- The Conference of Presidents was directed to initiate a synodwide review of key doctrines and practical issues. This review would also provide materials and guidance for studies at conferences and in congregations. Topics to be studied are the efficacy of the means of grace, Christian vocation and church and ministry, care of souls (evangelical Christian discipline), and the sacramental life.
- The full-time position of vice president for mission and ministry was changed to a part-time first vice president. Pastor James Huebner was elected to this position; Pastor Joel Voss was elected to serve a partial term as the second vice president.
- The convention strongly encouraged congregations to direct the savings from the planned VEBA premium holiday to the WELS operating fund.
God blessed our synod convention last week with a group of delegates who were truly about their Father's business. While not everyone agreed with every decision, the sense of unity in belief and in purpose was clear. We pray that, just as God blessed the work of the convention, he will now bless the work that we continue to do together in his name.
Detailed information about the convention is posted on the convention Web site: www.wels.net/convention
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
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GJ - Everyone who keeps his Book of Concord close at hand was impressed with SP Schroeder's leadership of the convention.
The agenda was changed from
Grow the Administration/Shrink the Schools to
Keep the Schools/Shrink the Shrinkers.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Convention Wrap - From the SP":
Anon@5:39
Any actual anecdotal or substantive proof behind what you said. Over a brief skim of the BoRaM, it was pretty decisive that the churches not give CMO are
1) Churches that fall into the "contemporary" category
2) Churches in districts rife with CGM ministers
3) Recent missions.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Convention Wrap - From the SP":
Hard to say, but I think the Appleton / Green Bay area may be at the top of the list (Northern Wisconsin District I think). It's a really sorry situation in the Fox Valley. You have:
CORE (the Queen Mother of CG "congregations")
St. Mark DePere(Parlow / Kelm)
St. Matthew Appleton (contempo worship / dying congregation / Pastor is close to Ski)
Eternal Love Appleton (contempo worship / children's sermons, etc)
Bethany Appleton (contempo worship, cell groups, projectors, etc)
St. Peter Appleton / Freedom (the church that called Ski and is the "sponsor" of CORE)
Mt. Olive Appleton (may be starting contempo worship)
There may be more, but these are the congregations that I know have, to one extent or another, polluted themselves with CG elements.
Safe (or safer) churches up there would include St. Paul (one block from CORE), Riverview (Appleton), and Immanuel (Oshkosh).
