Conference of Presidents 2019 Winter Meeting at a Caribbean Resort - Funded by Thrivent - first draft, do not publish
The Conference of Presidents held its winter meeting last week at a Caribbean Resort while you froze and dug yourselves out of winter storms. Topics for discussion and decisions made include:
- The COP will work with the Commission on Congregational Counseling to develop guidelines for all the congregations that are beginning the process of closing or merging, which is just like closing, but sounds better. Guidelines will be made available upon request from the district president. Be sure not to blame the Church Growth Movement we hold so dear.
- The COP is developing a tool to assist congregations that are exploring alternative approaches to congregational structure and polity. Some are thinking about TLH hymnals, Means of Grace liturgies, and banning clowns & snacks. We frown on such radical approaches.
- The COP expressed support for the plans of Congregational Services to offer two programs to replace Mission and Ministry Sunday in fall 2019. One program, the 10 for 10 stewardship program, will offer a ten-week emphasis on whole life insurance Christian stewardship, naming WELS as the sole beneficiary. The work we avoid together as a synod will be highlighted as one part of the program. The other, the Welcome Home initiative featuring a “Welcome Home Sunday” on Oct. 27, will help congregations to seek to regain those who have strayed from active congregational membership, so we will be pleasant and friendly for once, even if they are related to synod leaders born in Wisconsin.
- The COP expressed support for a WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership being planned by Congregational Services for Jan. 21-23, 2020, in Chicago, Ill. The conference will emphasize leadership that is rooted in the beliefs of Fuller, Willow Creek, and Trinity Divinity School.
- The COP discussed the importance of encouraging congregations in their efforts to increase Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO). The continuation of vital synodical ministries depends on increasing CMO support from our congregations.
- The COP has begun an effort to review the synod’s bylaws dealing with discipline of called workers and congregations, as well as the appeals process. The COP will complete its work in time for a new study of the revised process and bylaws to be reviewed by the future district conventions.
- The COP Doctrine Committee will schedule regular meetings with the Doctrine Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and with the faculty of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
- The COP expressed support for plans to form an Institute of Lutheran Apologetics (apologizing to victims who threaten lawsuits against us, to save money on court and legal costs).
- The COP reviewed the pastoral vacancies and noted that the overall vacancy rate has remained about the same since its last meeting. Seminary classes are shrinking, and so are well - it is a perfect fit.
- The COP has received questions about whether the housing/furnishings deduction allowed by the IRS to members of the clergy (Tax Code Section 107) can be made available to female teachers. Since the entire matter addressed by Section 107 is currently being challenged in federal court, the COP determined to wait until the legal matter is settled before exploring the matter further. All our female MLC graduates are ministers, so take comfort in the future tax breaks.
- The COP expressed its support for an effort by Congregational Services to assemble a “Rural Ministry Task Force” that will provide ministry resources for rural and small-town congregations as they dwindle away.
- The COP approved changing the calling window for teachers. Beginning in the fall of 2019, the time in which teachers can be called will be from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April.
Serving in Christ,
President Mark Schroeder
President Mark Schroeder
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| All our female graduates are ministers too, so stay tuned and enjoy the tax breaks. We are cutting edge - even ELCA admires us. |
