The Rev. Dr. John C. Wille of West Bend, Wis., was elected to his third term as president of the Synod’s South Wisconsin District at the district’s 53rd convention, June 10-12 in Mequon, Wis.
Also re-elected were:
- the Rev. David B. Paape, pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brown Deer, Wis., first vice-president. Paape formerly served as the district’s third vice-president.
- the Rev. Daniel T. Torkelson, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, North Prairie, Wis., second vice-president.
- the Rev. Mark R. Meier, pastor of Emmaus Lutheran Church, Poy Sippi, Wis., third vice-president (formerly fourth vice-president).
Newly elected was:
- the Rev. Robert C. Zick, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Fredonia, Wis., third vice-president.
Under the theme “Life Forgiven … Life Together,” from Acts 2:42 and Phil. 1:6, delegates voted to:
- “commend the Roman Catholic Church for its stance on religious freedoms and defense of the rights of the unborn.” Click here to read a related story, “South Wisconsin District commends Catholic Church.”
- continue the district’s support of mission work in the Dominican Republic. That support began in 2008 as a partnership with Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services and now includes the Synod, Bethesda Lutheran Commun
- appoint a task force to develop a process through which current and future district missions may apply for and receive financial support. The action is intended to more equitably distribute the district’s undesignated mission dollars.
- ask the LCMS at its 2013 national convention to direct the Commission on Theology and Church Relations and the Synod’s two seminaries to “give a theological evaluation of the premise, methods and materials” of Transforming Churches Network (TCN), an LCMS Recognized Service Organization based in Cordova, Tenn. The resolution further asks that the results of the evaluation be “published and disseminated.”
- ask the LCMS to change Bylaw 3.10.3(b) regarding colloquy prerequisites by stipulating that “qualified applicants are those who are competent workers in the field for which they seek colloquy. Colloquy does not provide basic preparation for the field of service. Applicants must meet all of the requirements to be licensed or certified in the vocation the applicant seeks.”
- “reaffirm … confession and unity concerning practices regarding the Lord’s Supper, namely close(d) Communion, in the spirit of ‘Life Together.’ ” The resolution asks the district president to “explore specifically the practice of the Lord’s Supper” in each district congregation he visits — encouraging those that practice close(d) Communion to continue doing so and advising those that do not to “reconsider their confession and practice for the sake of the unity of the Synod and district” — and to provide a summary of his findings to the 2015 district convention. It also asks the LCMS seminaries to provide a study guide on close(d) Communion to assist congregations.
- support the continuation of deaf ministry in the South Wisconsin area by encouraging every district congregation to provide annual financial gifts for deaf ministry “over and above their regular giving to the district and Synod.” The resolution also thanks members of Our Savior Deaf Lutheran Church in Madison, Wis.; Emmanual Deaf Lutheran Church, West Allis, Wis.; and Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Delavan, Wis., “for their leadership in reaching out [to deaf people] with the Gospel,” and asks God to bless the district’s future efforts to reach deaf people and their families.
- transfer the property and operation of Camp LuWiSoMo from the district to a new Camp LuWiSoMo Corporation, a tax-exempt entity that will request Recognized Service Organization status from the LCMS.
Posted June 14, 2012
