Sanctified by the Word: COP, BOD hold separate, combined meetings

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) International Center in St. Louis. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Roy S. Askins

“It is the Holy Word of God that sanctifies everything we are and do,” declared LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison. He shared these thoughts from Martin Luther’s “On the Councils of the Church” with both the LCMS Board of Directors (BOD) and the LCMS Council of Presidents (COP), which met the week of Feb. 5–9 at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis.

A highlight of the week was the joint meeting between the boards on Feb. 8. The COP assists the LCMS president in providing theological oversight of the Synod and her districts. The BOD oversees the business aspects of corporate LCMS in a way “that helps those working more directly on kingdom of the right matters to execute their work,”” said BOD Chairman Christian Preus.

At the joint session, each group shared updates and answered questions from the other group that will set the stage for further cooperation. For example, the BOD asked the district presidents to share some of their mid- to long-term concerns for the Synod, and the COP asked Board members to name the top three priorities that they would like to see districts take up.

COP discusses councils, ministry, more

The COP meeting began at the beginning of the week and lasted until Feb. 8. As always, the COP made theological study a central part of its work.

LCMS Kansas District President Rev. Justin Panzer led a study of 1 Timothy 4. “President Panzer’s sound exegesis of 1 Timothy 4 stressed the imperatives St. Paul gave to St. Timothy. Recognizing the divine imperative to do this work helps pastors be reminded of what God has called, authorized and sent them to do,” said LCMS Second Vice-President Rev. Benjamin Ball.

Harrison began a study of Luther’s “On the Councils of the Church,” which includes Luther’s comments on the marks of the church. Wherever the pure Word of God is preached, there we find the church. “Luther never talks about the Word of God as though it’s inert … or as something we must render effective,” Harrison said. “It is the effective thing.”

“A healthy congregation confesses the Word of God before the world,” said LCMS Montana District President Rev. Terry Forke.

The COP continued a study of Office and Ordination in Lutheran and Melanchthon by Hellmut Lieberg. Among other topics, they discussed why Baptism can be performed in an emergency but the consecration and administration of the Lord’s Supper is not an emergency.

LCMS Fifth Vice-President Rev. Christopher Esget led the COP in a discussion of human sexuality. “Today’s gender ideology is an assault on creation,” he told the council. “All that is left, once you remove a Creator, is free-floating, subjective sentiment. This is the seed of today’s moral anarchy, where personal emotional preferences are regarded as absolutely inviolable.”

Esget led the COP through a brief summary of the Created Male and Female task force, established by Resolution 1-04A, adopted by the Synod convention in 2023. The group will recommend strategies for addressing sexual ethics, conduct field research and coordinate with the various LCMS entities who are providing resources on the topic.

COP meetings are not entirely theological. The council also received updates from LCMS programs and departments:

Harrison discussed the launch of the Small Catechism project;

Rev. Dr. Todd Biermann, senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Grand Blanc, Mich., introduced and discussed the Concordia Center for the Family;

Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford, president of the LCMS Minnesota South District, shared resources and best practices for helping congregations close or merge gracefully;

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, managing director of LCMS Human Care and Ministerial Support, updated the COP on the current status of the Worker Wellness alliance;

Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer and Rev. Dr. Richard Serina of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations presented a document on Lutheran theological principles for mission and ministry (Res. 1-02A); and

Rev. Dr. James Baneck, executive director of the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education, provided updates on Set Apart to Serve.

Finally, the COP heard from First Vice-President Rev. Peter Lange about the work of the Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry (CCCM). In fulfillment of Resolution 7-04B, adopted in the Milwaukee Convention (2023), the CCCM has crafted pathways for graduates of discontinued or disaffirmed Concordia University System programs to apply for rostered status in the LCMS.

BOD cautiously optimistic

“That’s why it’s appropriate to begin this meeting with theological reflections,” Harrison said in his opening comments to the BOD. “It’s the very Word of God that sanctifies everything we are and do.”

Reports from Harrison and LCMS Chief Mission Officer Rev. Kevin Robson kicked off the meeting. It was reported that the Rev. Dr. Cory Rajek has accepted the call to serve as the executive director of the LCMS Office of International Mission.

LCMS Church Relations has made great strides in reaching out to international LCMS partners. Furthermore, the European Union has accredited the bachelor’s degree program of Luther Academy, Riga, Latvia, for the next six years. This is the culmination of years of work between LCMS missionaries and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia.

Domestic work has also seen great blessings. School ministry is a particularly bright spot. With recent increases in enrollment, LCMS schools may be seeing a halt to a decades-long enrollment decline.

Robson reported that LCMS Communications has embarked on a wide–ranging reassessment of the LCMS’ digital platforms that will result in a more robust online presence, beginning with an updated website later in the year.

LCMS Chief Financial Officer Nathan Haak’s report was cautiously optimistic. The BOD has spent the better part of a decade reacting to significant financial hurdles and setting the LCMS on a firmer financial foundation.

This year, the Synod has received some large, unexpected bequests and a higher-than-expected return on investments due to higher interest rates relative to last year. Absent these, overall giving to unrestricted funds is only barely keeping pace with the Synod’s draw on those unrestricted dollars, leaving very little breathing room.

In light of past financial difficulties, the Board is moving into a proactive, opportunity-driven approach regarding the Synod’s financial situation. “I look at it this way, the Synod is in better financial shape than we’ve ever been. We want, through savings and income from investments, to assure the work of the Synod well into the future. At the same time, we want to invest in the work of the Gospel right now, particularly church planting, ” Harrison said to the Board.

The BOD also heard updates regarding work with the Concordia University System and Concordia Plans. In addition to reappointing CMO Robson to another three-year term, the BOD took the following actions:

Appointed John L. Powers to fill a vacancy on the Board for International Mission;

Appointed the Rev. Kent R. Schaff to fill a vacancy on the Board for National Mission;

Appointed the Rev. Todd Riordan to fill a vacancy on the LCMS Foundation Board of Trustees;

Appointed Dennis Eickhoff, the Rev. Keith Grimm, Alicia Herman, Maryann Murray and Pat Paavola to fill vacancies on the LCMS Foundation Members-at-Large positions; and

Reauthorized a long-planned transfer of certain Hong Kong properties to the Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod.

Posted Feb. 27, 2024