The following errors in the Convention Workbook mailed to all delegates and church workers at the end of April are brought to the attention of the Synod. Please note the corrections:
On page 31 of the Biographical Synopses & Statements of Nominees booklet, the statement submitted by Gregory J. Wismar, ordained minister candidate for the Board of Directors of the Synod, was edited in a manner that did harm to its meaning. The statement should read as follows:
The LCMS is my grandfather’s church. My Grandfather Just was a dedicated layman in one congregation his entire life; my Grandfather Wismar served as a pastor and professor in a variety of settings. The LCMS is also my grandchildren’s church. All twelve of them are members of LCMS congregations. Honoring the esteem with which my parents and previous generations held the Synod and shaping a future for it through continuing national service so that children and grandchildren can joyfully share in that faithful work to the glory of God is my reason to stand for election.
On page 46 of the Biographical Synopses & Statements of Nominees booklet, the picture accompanying the biographical information of Thomas M. Buuck, candidate for a layperson position on the Lutheran Church Extension Fund Board of Directors, is mistakenly that of another individual, Thomas Buck.
A number of overtures adopted by the Central Illinois District Convention and submitted in a timely manner were omitted from the Convention Workbook and will be printed in the first issue of Today’s Business. They, along with a number of late overtures, were included among the overtures given attention by appropriate convention floor committees meeting in St. Louis May 21-24.
Report R7-02-13 on page 128 of the Convention Workbook, the report of Minnesota North District President Donald Fondow, omitted the report’s final sections, which should read as follows:
One People…
The parish nurses of our district have been involved in serving within their respective congregations and also within our district. They have organized workshops on dealing with sexual abuse; provided Christian care and counsel for church-worker training; and offered mental health conferences (“Mental Illness/ Addictions”; “Help End Abuse with Respect and Trust” [HEART]; and “Sowing the Seed–Rural Health Ministry”) as well as a Church-Worker Wellness Conference.
The District Ministerial Health Commission hosted a Church-Workers Wellness Conference and is publishing a book on parenting written by a licensed counselor. A share of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be placed in a special fund to offset costs for counseling incurred by Rostered Church-Workers and their families.
Mr. Ted Kober of Ambassadors of Reconciliation conducted Elders/Congregational Leaders Training and Reconciler Training.
A Joint North Theological Conference on the subject of “Worship” was presented along with the North Dakota District.
Our Lutheran Elementary Schools and Pre-schools/Daycare Centers are truly blessings which nurture the faith of Jesus’ little lambs.
We give thanks to God for all His gifts which He has so richly and abundantly poured out upon us!
… Forgiven!
What is great about the church is the Lord, who is its Head, and the Gospel, which lies at its heart. For this heart was wide open to Peter who denied Christ, and to Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of the church. And God’s heart is open wide enough, because of Christ, to welcome sinners like me and you.
So it means that His heart is open to the ends of the earth. And that truth will continue to take His people, take us to the ends of the earth. To the ends of the earth – because that’s how far Christ’s arms reach since He stretched them out for us on the cross. With this Head and this Heart, may we confidently go to the ends of the earth.
“Lord, here am I:” Your fire impart
To this poor cold self-centered soul;
Touch but my lips, my hands, my heart,
And make a world for Christ my goal.
(LSB 831, st. 4)
Report R7-02-22 on page 134 of the Convention Workbook, the report of Northern Illinois District President Dan Gilbert, mistakenly inserts the words “SYNOD REPORTS” in place of the words “human care” three times in the report’s third paragraph. That paragraph should read:
A new start can be a number of different things. The “crown jewel” of new starts is a new chartered LCMS congregation. Many congregations are in a position to partner with other congregations to plant a new church. We are at various stages of doing both what is viewed as typical and experimental new starts in Chicago, Lake in the Hills, Lombard (Arabic Church), Manhattan, Park Forest, Spring Grove, Winnebago, and other locations. Most if not all congregations are in a position to do some other kind of new start. Here are just a few examples of new starts in NID congregations: a second site for worship aimed at people who are not currently going to any church, perhaps in English or perhaps in another language; a new venue onsite for the same purpose as a second site; building relationships through human care with the people in the community in the name of Jesus, doing good as He did and proclaiming repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name as He also did. Human care is probably the most effective method for going into the community and inviting people to know the One in whose name we do good. But it must not end with just providing human care. Always the goal is to bring the message of repentance and forgiveness to people who do not currently believe while fervently praying that the Lord will multiply new believers, adding to our number day by day those who are being saved.
On page 234-235 of the Convention Workbook, Overtures 8-39 and 8-40 are stated as being received from the Board of Directors, Northern Illinois District. It should be noted that these overtures were submitted by the Northern Illinois District.
These corrections will also appear in the first issue of Today’s Business, to be mailed to all congregations and delegates in early June.
Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary
Posted May 31, 2010