The Rev. Dr. John C. Wille of West Bend, Wis., was elected to his fifth three-year term as president of the South Wisconsin District at the district’s 55th convention, June 10–12 at Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon. Wille was elected on the first ballot.
Also elected were:
- Rev. Daniel T. Torkelson, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in North Prairie, Wis., first vice-president/Southeast regional vice-president;
- Rev. Robert C. Zick, pastor emeritus of St. John Lutheran Church, Fredonia, Wis., second vice-president/Northeast regional vice-president;
- Rev. David B. Paape, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Brown Deer, Wis., third vice-president/Central East regional vice-president; and
- Rev. Charles Brandt, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Sun Prairie, Wis., fourth vice-president/West regional vice-president.
The district’s elected officers, circuit visitors and board members were installed at the convention’s closing service on June 12.
The theme of the convention was “Sing His Praise, His Love Declare,” from 1 Pet. 2:1–10.
Among adopted resolutions, delegates voted to:
- “encourage proper pastoral oversight” in the administration of the Lord’s Supper through visits by ecclesiastical supervisors.
- “affirm the biblical teaching of sexuality, marriage and family,” encouraging all Synod congregations, schools and seminaries “to be faithful in their care for all sinners, never condoning intentionally or unintentionally any sexual sins, but rather providing conversation, comfort and sound biblical encouragement to all who struggle with sexual sins.”
- “confess and reaffirm” that the six days of Creation “are six ordinary/normal days” and to “study and respond to the ‘young’ and ‘old’ earth Creationist teachings.”
- ask the Synod to request the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to revisit the issue of whether the public reading of Scripture before a congregation constitutes an official duty and authoritative act of the pastoral office in view of 1 Tim. 4:13.
The convention also heard a Bible study led by the Rev. Joel Fritsche, an LCMS missionary in the Dominican Republic; a keynote presentation by the Rev. Ted Krey, LCMS regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean; and a report from the Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, executive director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty in Washington, D.C.
Posted June 14, 2018
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