Official notice: 68th regular convention of the LCMS

The 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod will convene at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Voting delegates, non-voting advisory delegates, and advisory representatives must attend, as they have been duly elected or appointed by their district or organization. The following information is important to note for full convention participation.

CONVENTION WORKBOOK

The 2023 Convention Workbook containing the reports and overtures to be considered by the convention will be posted on the Synod’s website at lcms.org/convention/national by May 6 and mailed to all registered delegates and representatives of the convention; all officers of the Synod; and members of boards, commissions and councils. The Workbook will also be available for order from Concordia Publishing House at cph.org.

COMMENTS DUE

Comments to floor committees regarding any reports or overtures published in the Workbook may be submitted no later than May 27 to the Office of the Secretary at lcmssecretary@lcms.org or by mail at LCMS Office of the Secretary, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122.

FLOOR COMMITTEE WEEKEND

The Synod president has designated 13 floor committees, 12 of which will meet in St. Louis June 9–12 to review submitted overtures and draft proposed resolutions. Floor Committee 13 — Registrations, Credentials, and Elections — will meet July 29 to prepare for convention elections. The membership of all floor committees will be posted at lcms.org/convention/floor-committees.

Shortly after Floor Committee Weekend is complete, the first issue of Today’s Business, containing the proposed resolutions drafted by the floor committees, will be posted on the Synod’s website and mailed to all registered delegates and representatives of the convention; all officers of the Synod; and members of boards, commissions and councils. Delegates are encouraged to meet with those whom they will be representing to discuss the proposed resolutions.

RESPONSES DUE

Responses to the proposed resolutions, included in the first issue of Today’s Business, are due no later than July 22 (one week before the convention) and should be addressed in writing directly to the chairman of the appropriate floor committee. Floor committee chairmen are listed in the Convention Workbook and the first issue of Today’s Business.

OPEN HEARINGS

Open hearings for floor committees are set for July 29, 8:30 a.m.–noon. The hearings are an opportunity for anyone (including those who are not delegates or representatives) to address the floor committees personally with questions and comments about any resolution proposed by the committee. Floor committees are able to make changes to proposed resolutions published in the first issue of Today’s Business. Any changes made to the published proposed resolutions will be reported in subsequent daily issues of Today’s Business, distributed to delegates prior to the morning sessions of the convention.

DELEGATE ORIENTATION

A convention orientation session will be held in the Wisconsin Center (3rd floor, Hall AB) July 29, 1:30 p.m.–3 p.m. All voting and advisory delegates and advisory representatives are expected to attend this orientation to review instructions and information about participating in convention business and activities.

DELEGATE DINNER

A delegate dinner will be held in the Wisconsin Center Grand Ballroom (1st floor) on July 29 at 5:30 p.m. All voting and advisory delegates are expected to attend this dinner at no cost to them. Those advisory representatives invited to attend will be notified prior to the dinner if their attendance is expected.

OPENING WORSHIP

Divine Service will begin in the Wisconsin Center (3rd floor, Hall AB) with pre-service music on July 29 at 7 p.m. This service is open to the public, and the surrounding Milwaukee community is encouraged to attend. Motorcoaches will be provided at three locations in the Milwaukee area to transport local residents to and from the Wisconsin Center. The service will conclude around 9 p.m.

OPENING OF CONVENTION BUSINESS

Worship will precede the first business session of the convention on July 30 at 8 a.m. Immediately following the service, the gavel will be presented, and the convention will be opened.

EXHIBITORS

All convention attendees are encouraged to visit the Exhibitor Hall (Wisconsin Center, 3rd floor):

Saturday, July 29, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Sunday, July 30, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Monday, July 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

HOUSING

All registered delegates and representatives should have received housing and travel information by this time. If this is not the case, the district office or the entity represented should be notified. If a delegate is unable to serve, the district secretary should be informed immediately so an alternate delegate can be properly registered through the Secretary of Synod.

ONSITE REGISTRATION

Delegates and representatives should register onsite for the convention as soon as possible after they arrive. Registration will take place on the 2nd floor of the Wisconsin Center at the following times:

Friday, July 28, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.

Saturday, July 29, 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 30, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.

Monday–Wednesday, July 31–Aug 2, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 3, 8 a.m.–noon

Visitors to the convention are welcome and are not required to register. Members of the press are asked to register with the Communications office in the Wisconsin Center (2nd floor, Room S201C).

TODAY’S BUSINESS OFFICE AND ONSITE SUBMISSIONS

Any submissions for the daily edition of Today’s Business should be provided to the Today’s Business office in the Wisconsin Center (2nd floor, Room S202C) by 3:30 p.m. on the day before the item is to be published. All submitters must return by 6:30 p.m. to approve their submission for print. Personal notices are not published in Today’s Business. The Today’s Business office will be open:

Saturday, July 29, 9 a.m.–6:45 p.m.

Sunday, July 30, through Wednesday, Aug. 2, 7:30 a.m.–6:45 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 3, 7:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.

PRAYER AT THE CONVENTION

A prayer chapel, located in the Wisconsin Center (1st floor, Room S103D), will be open beginning Saturday afternoon, July 29. Prayer requests may be placed in the request box or sent to the Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of LCMS Worship, at chaplain@lcms.org. Please indicate on your prayer request whether it is a private or public concern. Due to the volume of prayer requests received, and out of respect for privacy, we cannot promise each public prayer will be offered during public worship. Chaplain Daenzer will bring every petition to God in private prayer. Throughout the convention, he and the assistant chaplain will be available to pray with anyone who desires it, but please note that a chaplain may not always be present at the prayer chapel.

INDIVIDUAL CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Anyone desiring to confess sins individually to a pastor and receive absolution may do so during the convention at the prayer chapel (Wisconsin Center, 1st floor, Room S103D). A convention chaplain will be present to offer individual Confession and Absolution during the lunch break each day (Sunday through Wednesday). When the door is open, you may enter, and the pastor will guide you through the rite; when the door is closed, please wait outside the chapel until it is opened again.

CONVENTION NATIONAL OFFERING

Contributions intended for the National Offering will be received during the opening service on July 29. Delegates, guests and other attendees who have congregational or personal National Offering gifts are encouraged to submit them at that time. National Offering gifts can also be delivered to the Synod’s display in the Exhibit Hall; however, the opening service is the preferred and more secure option.

INTERNET ACCESS

The Wisconsin Center has complimentary internet access throughout the building. It is best suited for email and light web browsing (no streaming). This service is upgradable at prevailing rates and can be configured throughout the Wisconsin Center campus.

For more information, visit lcms.org/convention or lcms.org/convention/national.

John W. Sias, Secretary

Posted April 25, 2023/Updated May 9, 2023