Delegates to the LCMS Texas District convention, meeting June 21-23 in Lubbock, Texas, elected the Rev. Kenneth M. Hennings to his third term as district president. Hennings, 64, is a resident of Pflugerville, Texas. He was elected on t
he first ballot.
The 59th district convention gathered under the theme of “Live to Tell,” based on Jesus’ words to a man from whom he cast out demons: “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you,” from Mark 5:3-20.
Also elected were:
- the Rev. Ralph W. Hobratschk, senior pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, Friendswood, Texas, first vice-president. Hobratschk, who was re-elected, represents Area D of the district.
- the Rev. Dale O. Snyder, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wichita Falls, Texas, was re-elected second vice-president, representing Area A.
- the Rev. Eloy S. Gonzalez, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Irving, Texas, was elected to his first term as third vice-president, representing Area B.
- the Rev. Mark D. Barz, pastor of Crown of Life Lutheran Church, San Antonio, was elected to his first term as fourth vice-president, for Area C.
The officers will be installed at a later date.
Texas delegates overwhelmingly passed a resolution to encourage the LCMS to sustain and further develop alternate-route ministry education and formation programs, with special thanks to the seminary faculties for “faithfully implementing” the mandate of the 2007 Synod convention action that established the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program. The Texas resolution noted that the SMP program was reviewed by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations and found to be consistent with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
The resolution also asks the Synod to focus resources and energy on residential and distance seminary-education programs that will meet the mission needs of the church. The action thanked the Synod “for the blessings of the SMP program and other alternate-route education programs that lead to ordination.”
In other action, delegates adopted a resolution to encourage and renew harmony among clergy by memorializing the Synod in convention to direct the LCMS Council of Presidents to implement the proposed strategies toward harmony as outlined in the final report of the Task Force for Synodical Harmony, which was established by the 2007 LCMS convention and reported to the 2010 convention.
Delegates also adopted resolutions to encourage local and regional partnerships between circuits and congregations for starting new Word-and-sacrament ministries, and to encourage congregations to support district mission efforts with prayer and financial gifts.
Posted June 27, 2012
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