President’s report, elections and highlights of business on opening day at Missouri Synod convention

For Immediate Release
Contact:    Vicki Biggs, 314-996-1236, 314-556-3829 (cell), @theLCMS

ST. LOUIS, July 21, 2013—On the opening day of business at the 65th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, delegates heard a report from recently re-elected LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison, elected the Synod’s six vice presidents and voted on resolutions having to do with Life Together, Administration and Finance. Here is a summary:

Shortly after dropping the gavel to open the convention, Harrison, who serves as convention chair, delivered his “President’s Report,” an address historically provided to convention delegates on the first official day of business. His report reflected the convention theme, “Baptized for This Moment,” and offered encouragement to the convention’s registered participants. Read more…

In their first official action, convention delegates adopted a resolution that encourages widespread support and participation in the Koinonia Project, the synodwide effort launched in 2010 to bring greater harmony to the church’s “Life Together,” part of its three-fold emphasis. Read more…

Delegates elected the Rev. Dr. Herbert C. Mueller Jr. on the first ballot to his second term as first vice-president of the LCMS. Read more…

An additional five men were elected to the office of regional vice-presidents of the LCMS, and then ranked by vote as second through sixth vice-presidents. Those elected were:

Rev. Dr. John C. Wohlrabe Jr., second vice-president, representing the Great Lake Region

Rev. Daniel Preus, third vice-president, representing the Central Region

Rev. Dr. Scott R. Murray, fourth vice-president, representing the West-Southwest Region

Rev. Nabil S. Nour, fifth vice-president, representing the Great Plains Region

Rev. Dr. Robert T. Kuhn, sixth vice-president, representing the East Southeast Region
Read more and see a map of the regions…

Delegates took action to amend the church’s bylaws having to do with the election of the LCMS president, including adding language that calls for safeguarding the confidentiality of the list of delegates who will elect the president. They also voted to clarify two bylaws relative to the church’s Board of Directors that had changed as a result of the reorganization resolutions adopted at the 2010 Synod convention. Read more…

Convention participants began the day with Matins – a service of morning prayer – and heard opening remarks, including the reading of a proclamation by St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay declaring July 20-25, 2013, “LCMS Week” in St. Louis.

The Synod convention, which runs through July 25, serves as the principal legislative assembly for the church body. Along with the consideration of some 116 resolutions, the convention includes opportunities for worship and fellowship. Convention participants include 1,191 clergy and lay voting delegates.

To learn more about the Synod convention, visit www.lcms.org/convention. Live streaming video is available at www.lcms.org/convention/live.

About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a biblical, confessional, witness-oriented Christian denomination with 2.3 million members – 600,000 households – in 6,200 congregations. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church carries out its mission worldwide to make known the love of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.lcms.org.

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