English District elects Hardy to third term

The Rev. Dr. Jamison J. Hardy of Howell, Mich., was elected to his third term as president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod English District at the district’s 57th convention, held June 20–22 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Hardy was elected on the first ballot.

Also elected were:

The Rev. Jeffrey G. Miskus of Ontario, Canada, as first vice-president;

The Rev. Dr. Douglas H. Spittel of Pittsburgh, Penn., as second vice-president;

The Rev. Robert A. Rogers of Villa Park, Ill., as third vice-president; and

The Rev. Dr. Michael A. Morehouse of Catalina, Ariz., as fourth vice-president.

The officers were installed during the convention.

Among 15 adopted resolutions, delegates voted to:

Suggest reconsideration of using “brain death” as the sole determinant of death at the end of life; encourage congregation members to specify in their personal legal documents the criterion of cardiopulmonary failure as the definition of when their lives have ended; and call for the Synod to establish a task force to review the issue of determination of death and provide specific recommendations on that matter, particularly in the area of organ donation.

Reject contemporary ideologies and movements involving race, diversity and equity that are contrary to Scripture and counterproductive to true racial conversation and reconciliation; and call on the Synod and its educational institutions to reject all organizations, ideologies and movements that present those world views or other related anti-Scriptural world views in a positive manner.

Condemn governmental forced closings of churches and banning of contact with the hospitalized that contradict the Scriptures and go beyond the divinely ordained boundaries of authority; affirm that the Lord’s Supper should be offered in person, that the bringing of Absolution, Word and Sacrament to the sick and shut-ins is essential and that congregations can take steps to lessen fear and risk of disease while not interfering with the administration of the Lord’s Supper.

The convention theme was “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind,” based on Luke 10:27.

Posted July 11, 2022