Delegates to the LCMS Northwest District’s 64th convention — June 11-13 in Portland, Ore. — re-elected the Rev. Paul A. Linnemann president on the first ballot. Linnemann, of King City, Ore., was installed during the convention for his third term.
Also elected were:
- Rev. Jonathan M. Dinger, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Pocatello, Idaho, as first vice-president, for a third term as a district vice-president.
- Rev. Theodore P. Werfelmann, pastor of Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Federal Way, Wash., second vice-president, from the Puget Sound Region, second term.
- Rev. Mark E. Hoelter, pastor emeritus from Portland, Ore., third vice-president (Oregon Region), second term.
- Rev. Dr. Jonathan R. Rockey, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, Alaska, fourth vice-president (Alaska Region), second term.
- Rev. Michael T. Von Behren, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Spokane, Wash., fifth vice-president (Inland Empire Region), first term.
- Rev. Roger M. Sedlmayr, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Twin Falls, Idaho, sixth vice-president (South Idaho Region), second term.
Under the theme “Leading Toward a Full Life in Jesus,” based on Josh. 1:9, delegates adopted:
- Resolution 2-02, “To Affirm and Encourage the Ministry of Licensed Lay Deacons.” The delegates voted to “respectfully decline attempts to require licensed lay deacons to enter the specific ministry pastor program (SMP) when this would restrict, hinder, or stop on-going [sic] Word and Sacrament ministry in our local congregations and mission areas.”
- Res. 1-04A, “To Overrule CCM Opinion 13-2694” concerning advocacy of doctrinal positions contrary to the Synod’s stated positions.
- Res. 1-03, “To Recognize the Authority of Congregations to Send Missionaries.” Through this resolution, the district affirmed “the Biblical right of each congregation to call pastors and missionaries to serve the congregation locally and/or to serve on their behalf anywhere there is a need for the Good News of Jesus Christ” and called on the 2016 Synod convention to amend Bylaw 3.8.3.
- Res. S1-05, “To Memorialize Synod Concerning Constitution Article VII,” asking the LCMS Commission on Handbook to clarify Article VII of the Synod Constitution and report back to the 2019 Synod convention.
- Res. 1-07, “To Use the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation as an Opportunity for Encouraging the Church to Stand Firm for Religious Freedom in Our Land,” which encourages LCMS seminaries to “continue evaluating the use of the biblical theology of the two kingdoms and how it fosters the proclamation of the gospel in the context of our Democratic society.”
- Res. 2-05 to “encourage our congregations to study the practice of every Sunday communion.”
Posted June 17, 2015 / Updated June 18, 2015
