The Rev. Terry Forke of Billings, Mont., was elected to his sixth term as president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Montana District during the district’s 35th convention, held June 13–16 in Billings.
Forke was elected on the first ballot.
Also elected were:
- Christopher Tabbert of Anaconda, Mont., as first vice-president; and
- Ryan Wendt of Billings, Mont., as second vice-president.
The officers were installed during the convention.
Meeting under the theme “Your Word,” based on Psalm 119:105, delegates adopted resolutions to:
- Encourage the congregations of the Montana District to participate in the Synod’s church work recruitment initiative, Set Apart to Serve;
- Emphasize the teaching of Law and Gospel;
- Reject the practice of online communion;
- Reject the practice of congregations accepting members from distant communities;
- Call for the development of LCMS textbooks and curricula for day schools, high schools and home schools;
- Call for a task force to study making the educating of church workers the focus of the Concordia University System;
- Restore the binding key (whereby the pastor is pledged to retain the sins of those who are unrepentant, as opposed to the current version, which contains only the loosing, or forgiving key) to the rites of ordination and installation;
- Cease admitting, reinstating or colloquizing men who have been divorced and remarried; and
- Reform how the boards of regents of the Concordia universities are formed.
Posted July 7, 2022
