National LCMS Convention

Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Gard was awarded the Silver St. Martin of Tours medal by LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces (MAF). The medal, which has been awarded only 22 times in the last 80 years, is given for exceptional and longstanding service in support of MAF. https://thelc.ms/3OtISAY

Gard recognized for lifetime of chaplaincy service The Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Gard was awarded the Silver St. Martin of Tours medal by LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces during the 2023 LCMS convention in Milwaukee.

In keeping with the spirit of Resolution 7-03, on Tuesday, Aug. 8, the LCMS BOD reached out to the CTX BOR to request a board-to-board meeting later this month.
https://thelc.ms/3QR1Pk7

LCMS BOD seeks meeting with CTX BOR In keeping with the spirit of 2023 Resolution 7-03, the LCMS Board of Directors has reached out to the Concordia University Texas Board of Regents to request a meeting later this month.

Delegates elected 22 pastors, commissioned ministers and laypeople to fill seats on the Concordia University System Board of Directors, as well as on the boards of regents for the Concordia universities and seminaries.

Delegates elect CUS board members; university and seminary regents The ordained, commissioned and lay members will serve on various boards around the LCMS.

"It’s important that we remember history so that we do not repeat it.” https://thelc.ms/4427lmU

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.

We've "spoken against racism 36 times in convention...Have we conquered it in our midst? No. Have we said all or done that we could? No. Do we have opportunities to do more? Yes. Do we know the forgiveness and power of love in Christ? Yes.” https://thelc.ms/3rTzVJE

Delegates adopt multiple resolutions on church and culture The resolutions covered issues of racism, abortion, vaccines and more.

Before moving to the body of the resolution, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison briefly offered a threefold explanation for the practice of closed Communion. You can read them in the article. https://thelc.ms/45azQzy

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.

This extensive resolution, spanning some 25 pages in the Aug. 1 edition of Today’s Business, is the product of four years of work demanded by 2019 Res. 7-03, passed at the 67th Regular Convention in Tampa. It passed with 88% voting yes. https://thelc.ms/3QGyE39

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.”

“This is good that LCMS makes it possible for us to meet once in a while as brothers... it encourages us. We get to discuss theological issues. We get to discuss challenges that we face as church leaders.” https://thelc.ms/3DDY2P4

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.

They recounted their experience being prosecuted in the Finnish courts for confessing biblical truth. https://thelc.ms/3qfcjP5

‘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.

Our seminary presidents delivered consecutive and congruent essays commending residential seminary education to the Synod as the historical and faithful model for training servants for ministry to the church and world. https://thelc.ms/3OhkaUt

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.

“Thanks to this precious theology, our fathers lived and died in peace, our generation lives and will die in peace, and the next generations will have the same opportunity.” https://thelc.ms/459Is9G

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 final day of Convention begins with Matins. Pastor Joe Hoem preaching. Watch live:
lcms.org/convention/livestream
facebook.com/lcmsconvention/live
youtube.com//streams

A prayer as we conclude Convention business today.

Given the magnitude of the problem of human trafficking, [one] resolution calls for church workers and laypeople to “be proactive in their response.” https://thelc.ms/3rR3bAJ

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.

Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, and Dr. Päivi Räsänen, a member of the Finnish Parliament, discuss religious persecution in Finland. https://thelc.ms/3rSx83o

2023 LCMS convention — A conversation with Bishop Juhana Pohjola and Dr. Päivi Räsänen The Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, and Dr. Päivi Räsänen, a member of the Finnish Parliament, discuss religious persecution in Finland.

In this installment of Convention in Focus, Floor Committee 11 Chairman Rev. Terry Forke and Voting Layperson Melanie Standiford discuss convention resolutions related to racism and social media. https://thelc.ms/44PGw6v

2023 LCMS convention — Focus on church and culture Floor Committee 11 Chairman Rev. Terry Forke and Voting Layperson Melanie Standiford discuss convention resolutions on racism and social media.

“We also have a very unique polity in the Missouri Synod, where every parish has two votes — one pastoral and one lay — and that has been a hallmark of our Synod that makes it stand out in American Lutheranism.” https://thelc.ms/3rSHJLQ

LCMS convention adopts eight resolutions on structure and administration The resolutions clarify multi-parish representation at conventions, fix various glitches in the convention Handbook and clarify Synod Bylaws.

"Our prayer is that these resolutions will support and encourage greater collaboration, all for the sake of God’s mission to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations.” https://thelc.ms/3OmrON8

Convention adopts seven International Witness resolutions The resolutions from Floor Committee 2 address the Alliance Missionary Program, independent international congregations and the FORO model, among other things.

With a uniform set of Lutheran academic standards, Lutheran schools could use them for guidance when purchasing textbooks and other curricular materials...these standards could be used by CPH in future curriculum development. https://thelc.ms/3DGloDD

Synod convention calls for new Lutheran academic standards Delegates also adopted resolutions that commend Lutheran schools, address church worker student debt, encourage family devotions and recommend youth ministry resources.

Full election results from yesterday. https://thelc.ms/45e05W2

Delegates elect 21 members to five Synod boards The ordained, commissioned and lay members will serve on boards of the LCMS and its entities.

Set Apart to Serve video update: church work as a second career. https://thelc.ms/3rMY0Sg

Church Work as a Second Career - Engage The Rev. Jonathan Manor reflects on his decision to enter the pastoral ministry as a second career.

International video update: Greetings from our International Partners. https://thelc.ms/43NJLtX

Greetings from Our International Partners - Engage On the occasion of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s 175th anniversary.

We continue today's convention proceedings with a Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. Pastor Nathan Meador preaching. Watch live at any of these links:
lcms.org/convention/livestream
facebook.com/lcmsconvention/live
youtube.com//streams

Convention Livestream - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Convention Livestream

Motion to adopt RESOLUTION 7-04B To Revise Bylaws to Revisit and Renew Relationship of Colleges and Universities with the Synod carries with 88.02% voting yes.

By necessity, in this world preaching the cross means carrying the cross.

"It is not enough to theoretically explain crucifixion and teach how the congregation is a body of Christ, but rather to call people to live and experience the sacramental and communal life together."