National News Archives

Participants needed for ‘Created Male and Female’ retreat

A pilot project for parents will help develop resources related to sexual identity/orientation.

Mission boards hold last meetings of quadrennium

The boards next meet Sept. 14 and 15 in St. Louis.

Campus clips — Synod schools celebrate past, plan for future

Updates from LCMS day schools, universities and seminaries.

Two resolutions on Structure and Administration pass, one fails

Delegates amend two Synod Bylaws and reject a resolution to form a task force to study moving to a four-year convention cycle.

Floor Committee 6 affirms seminary education and need for pastors

The Synod in convention adopted eight wide-ranging resolutions related to pastoral ministry and formation.

During the last two days of business at the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, delegates elected members to the board of regents for each of the Concordias. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

Delegates elect CUS board members; university and seminary regents

The ordained, commissioned and lay members will serve on various boards around the LCMS.

Delegates queue to speak to Res. 4-06 on Thursday, Aug. 3, on the floor of the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Milwaukee. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

Convention encourages in-person worship, recognizes 50th anniversary of ‘Walkout’

Life Together resolutions address in-person worship, the 50th anniversary of the Concordia Seminary ‘Walkout,’ the ‘Koinonia program, ‘Himnario Luterano’ and the Synod’s mission priorities.

The Rev. Delwyn Campbell, delegate to the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), speaks during debate on Resolution 11-01 in Milwaukee. (LCMS/Frank Kohn)

Delegates adopt multiple resolutions on church and culture

The resolutions covered issues of racism, abortion, vaccines and more.

Floor Committee 5 watches as delegates debate recalling the committee to present Resolution 5-14 on Aug. 2 during the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Milwaukee, Wis. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

Convention affirms closed Communion and biblical sexuality

Floor Committee 5 finished its business at the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, presenting resolutions on Communion practice, Lutheran education, and marriage and sexuality.

The Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, addresses the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) on Tuesday, Aug. 1, in Milwaukee. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

‘The Gospel is at stake’: Pohjola and Räsänen address LCMS convention

The Finnish Lutheran bishop and member of Parliament described their prosecution by Finnish courts and called upon Christians to proclaim the Gospel boldly.

The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast Jr., president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, addresses the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod on Aug. 1 in Milwaukee as the Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger, president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, looks on. Rast and Egger spoke to the convention about the importance of residential seminary education. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

Seminary presidents encourage residential seminary education

The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast Jr. and the Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger commended residential seminary education to the Synod as the historical and faithful model for training servants for ministry to the church and world.

The Rev. Geraldo Walmir Schüler, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil, addresses the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in Portuguese on July 30, 2023. A translation of his speech appears on the screen behind him. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

OIM presentations highlight three-fold approach to mission work

The series of four presentations on the Synod’s international mission efforts explain the OIM’s emphasis on spreading the Gospel, planting Lutheran churches and showing mercy.

The five presidents of the Concordia University System stand before the LCMS convention on Aug. 2. From left are Dr. Michael Thomas, Concordia, Irvine; Dr. Erik Ankerberg, Concordia Wisconsin and Ann Arbor; Dr. Russell P. Dawn, Concordia, Chicago; Dr. Bernard Bull, Concordia, Nebraska; and the Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, Concordia, St. Paul.

Convention approves revision of university and college bylaws

All five university presidents support Res. 7-04B, “To Revise Bylaws to Revisit and Renew Relationship of Colleges and Universities with the Synod.”

The Rev. Serge Maschewski (center right), bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine, listens to a translator during the International Church Relations Forum on Tuesday, Aug. 1. (LCMS/Roy S. Askins)

International church leaders gather at convention for first Church Relations forum

The International Church Relations Forum offered more than 40 international church leaders the opportunity for study, discussion and fellowship during the 2023 LCMS convention.

On Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Floor Committee (FC) 3 Chairman Rev. Brady Finnern introduces a resolution to raise awareness of the magnitude of the problem of human trafficking. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

Delegates unanimously pass three resolutions on mercy

The resolutions call for raising awareness of human trafficking, encouraging pastoral care for those who suffer from mental illness, and giving thanks for LCMS Disaster Response’s faithful work.