Rev. Kurtis D. Schultz of Slidell, La., was re-elected to his second three-year term as president of the Synod’s Southern District during the district’
Schultz, 53, was elected on the first ballot.
Also elected were:
- Rev. Theodore (Ted) M. Richter, Dothan, Ala., first vice president, and
- Rev. Warren H. Davis, Pensacola, Fla., second vice president.
Schultz and other officers were installed by LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick during the convention’s closing worship service.
Under the theme of “Spirit Kindle,” from Acts 1:8, delegates voted to:
- support the Synod’s Ablaze! initiative at Synod, district, congregation, and individual levels. Each circuit is encouraged to consider planting a new congregation, and the district is encouraged to set a goal to establish five new congregations during the 2006-09 triennium.
- realign the makeup of the district’s board of directors by reducing geographic divisions from six to four and expanding the board from 16 members to 19. The new board will include a vice president from each area and representation from each of the district’s 15 circuits.
- thank districts, congregations, members, and organizations throughout the Synod for their contributions of “support, time, talent, and treasure” after five hurricanes damaged the entire southern coast of the district in 2004 and 2005. “God has added their witness to ours so that His ablazing love may be evident to the hundreds of thousands affected,” district President Kurtis Schultz told Reporter.
- affirm the Synod’s process and procedures for ecclesiastical supervision, dissent, and dispute resolution. A related resolution encourages the use of the Synod’s dispute resolution process and discourages lawsuits as a means of conflict resolution. It asks Synod members to follow the remedies for resolving conflict based on 1 Cor. 6 and provided in LCMS bylaws.
- affirm the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations document “Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events.” The resolution encourages district members to “take advantage of every opportunity to be the presence of Christ and witness to the love of God in our society and world by appropriate participation in such occasions as they may present themselves.”
- affirm the members of the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters and express appreciation for their “diligent and conscientious service.”
Posted July 14, 2006
