Delegates to Lutheran Church–Canada’s June 9-13 convention in Edmonton, Alberta, elected Dr. Ralph Mayan to his fourth three-year term as LCC 
president. Mayan, 61, has been president since 1996.
They also elected:
- Rev. Nolan Astley, Lloydminster, Alberta, first vice-president;
- Rev. Daryl Solie, Churchbridge, Saskatchewan, second vice-president; and
- Rev. Robert Krestick, Waterloo, Ontario, third vice president.
The convention theme, “Proclaiming His Faithfulness,” introduces a new three-year focus for the Canadian church body. Its sub-theme, “What I received … I delivered to you” (1 Cor.: 15:3), calls attention to this year’s 425th anniversary of the publication of The Book of Concord, the confessional documents of the Lutheran Church.
Convention essayist Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger, executive director of the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations, traced the history of the Reformation and The Book of Concord, relating it to the “Proclaiming His Faithfulness” theme.
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod President Gerald B. Kieschnick, greeting LCC convention delegates and guests June 9, thanked God for Mayan’s leadership of the LCC and for Confessional Lutherans worldwide through the International Lutheran Council.
“Bold proclamation of the Word is necessary in these times when the very basic designs and desires of God for His creation are called into question,” Kieschnick said in his prepared remarks.
“The strong stance taken by you and the Lutheran Church–Canada on the matter of homosexual marriage reflects such boldness in the Word,” Kieschnick said. “May the basis of such bold confession forever remain grounded in the sure and certain Word of God.”
Delegates to the 2002 LCC convention adopted a resolution affirming the definition of marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman. Last year’s LCMS convention adopted a similar resolution.
Kieschnick also thanked LCC for its partnership with the Synod and other partner churches worldwide in the Ablaze! initiative to reach 100 million unreached or uncommitted people with the Gospel message by 2017.
“As we strive side by side for the faith of the Gospel in this worldwide movement,” he said, “… may the Spirit work through us in His Word, whereby many might be saved.”
LCC became an autonomous partner church with the Synod in 1989, when Missouri Synod congregations in Canada formed the new church body.
Among actions during the five-day convention, delegates adopted resolutions to:
- ask for ongoing encouragement between LCC and the LCMS to remain faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, especially in light of concerns over unionism and syncretism raised after LCMS Atlantic District President David Benke’s participation in “A Prayer for America,” an inter-faith event in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
- commend to LCC congregations the Missouri Synod’s Lutheran Service Book, scheduled for publication next year, and ask LCC to establish a training program for church musicians.
- study the nature of a call to a deacon and develop congregational guidelines.
- petition congregations and circuits to support specific LCC missionary activity in Central America.
- ask the LCC Board of Directors to examine the current three-year convention cycle with regard to stewardship of financial and personnel resources.
Posted June 30, 2005
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