[m-m-online] Convention Update #2 Sunday, July 15

[Minister to Minister online]

63rd Synodical Convention
Sunday, July 15, 2007

The first two major events for the delegates and guests of the 63rd
Convention of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod involved worship and
prayer.

The tone of the Convention was beautifully set with the opening
worship service on Saturday when President Jerry Kieschnick focused on
the theme of the Convention "One Message - Christ!" He illustrated two
God led opportunities given to him on recent travels to share Christ
with fellow travelers. He reminded delegates and guests that those
opportunities are each of ours every day. They can be acted on not
only in words we say, but the actions we take when others are facing
trials of natural and personal disasters. He reminded worshipers that
our response of love can only happen because Christ first loved us.

On Sunday morning Pastor Walt Waiser and Pastor Phil Esala led the
delegates and guests in a special time of worship through prayer and
song. Using scripture as the basis, those in attendance spent several
three minute segments of time in prayer focusing on specific thoughts
from those scriptural verses.

The convention was officially called to order by President Kieschnick
using an historic gavel which has been used at every Convention of the
LCMS since it was formed. The Registration, Credentials and Elections
Committee announced that as of 8:00am, Sunday, July 15, there were a
total of 1584 delegates, advisory delegates, and other guests who had
registered. Of those, 1222 are voting delegates.

Morning business included:

    * An inspiring Bible Study by Rev. Dr. Bill Diekelmann, 1st VP of
Synod using the familiar verses of scripture John 3:16-17.
    * The President' Report Part III. (Can be found on the LCMS web
page www.lcms.org)
    * Recognition of retired missionaries
    * Greetings from President Bush, Texas District President Ken Hennings and
    * An update on Ablaze (Details can be found on the LCMS site

Following the opening devotion led by Dr Robert Roegner, the election
of officers of Synod occupied the first item of business after lunch..

Here are the election results:

    * President - Rev Gerald Kieschnick
    * 1st VP - Rev. Bill Diekelman
    * 2nd VP - Dr. Paul Maier
    * 3rd VP - Rev. John Wohlrabe Jr.
    * 4th VP - Rev. Dean Nadasdy
    * 5th VP - Rev. David Buegler

Afternoon business included:

    * Committee #5 Seminary and University Education passed the
following resolutions
          o Resolution 5-05 To Encourage Commitment to Continuing
Education for Clergy
          o Resolution 5-06 To Clarify Membership on the Board for
Pastoral Education and the Board for University Education.
    * Report from "What a Way" recruitment initiative
    * Recognition of LCEF for 50 years of ministry
    * Floor nominations for Board of Directors
    * Committee #7 Planning and Administration passed the following resolutions
          o Resolution 7-01A To Standardize Candidate Information
          o Resolution 7-02 To Amend Bylaw 2.11.1 (k) re Roster Eligibility
          o Resolution 7-03A To Amend Bylaw 3.2.5
    * Omnibus Resolutions:
          o Many overtures request action that is the responsibility
of various boards, commissions, or individuals to study and implement.
These are placed in the Omnibus resolutions and voted on in a group.
All of the omnibus resolutions passed.
    * The afternoon session closed with a devotion led by Rev. Dean Wenthe.


In addition to the above, Texas District delegates and advisory
delegates began their day with a breakfast at 6:30am. Today's special
guest was President Jerry Kieschnick who provided an overview of the
day's activities and answered questions from the delegates.

Finally a reminder that for the first time, gavel-to-gavel coverage of
the proceedings will be available via Internet streaming on the
Synod's Web site, http:// www.lcms.org/convention/.

For the most timely and complete convention news as the convention is
in progress, go to Reporter Online at http://reporter.lcms.org.

And, for the status of elections and resolutions, as well as for a
daily photo gallery, go to the convention Web site at
www.lcms.org/convention.

John Goeke