Minutes Board for National Mission (BNM) International Center, Kirkwood, MO, February 12, 2016 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bridgeton, MO, February 13, 2016 Members Present: Rev. Steven Briel, Chairman; Ms. Carla Claussen; Rev. Samuel Cosby, Vice Chairman; Rev, Timothy Droegemueller; Rev. Al Espinosa; Mr. Ernest Garbe; Mrs. Julia Habrecht; Teacher Martha Milas; Deaconess Shaina Mitchell; Dr. Gary Quick; Mrs. Linda Stoterau, Secretary. Excused: Dr. Gary Quick (by telephone as available) Staff: Rev. J. Bart Day, Executive Director; Rev. Herb Mueller, LCMS First Vice-President; Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer (CMO) Friday, February 12, 2016, 8:00 a.m. Rev. Droegemueller led Matins. Minutes Motion: Made by Mrs. Habrecht and seconded to approve the minutes of the October 2015 meeting. Motion carried Synod President Report President Matthew Harrison Office is gearing up for Synod Convention in July; Barb Below is the point person. Aside from the issue of Licensed Lay Deacons, the convention will be calm. The Synod is calm. Seventeen floor committees Synod is running in the black; income is down as is spending Reinvigorating the World Relief brand that can be used to raise funds for mercy needs Discussed demographic reports contained in the docket; evangelism efforts International church bodies showing interest in LCMS; LCEF involved in loans to partner churches Nominations for BNM have been received by Secretary of Synod; nominees will be contacted by telephone Vice-President Muller: Koinonia Project expanding to North Dakota in addition to what is happening in Wyoming and Atlantic Districts; Council of Presidents discussing report regarding licensed lay deacons; one Kansas circuit modeled a Koinonia meeting at the Pastors Conference Chief Mission Officer Report Rev. Kevin Robson Continuing the one year on-boarding plan; beginning the annual budget process Work to produce a more sustained effort in mercy activities; the old World Relief Human Care logo is being brought back Task force regarding student loans/debt Fostering good working relationships with Synod International Schools Office of International Mission working hard to double the number of career missionaries; deployed missionaries have been offered return to States due to zika virus Mission Advancement catalog Vacancy in the Office of Pastor Education 1 P a g e
Executive Director Report Rev. Bart Day Targeting visits with newly elected District Presidents; visiting the five salt water districts prior to Synod Convention Must continue giving attention to the purpose of restructuring (collaboration in both thought and deed) LWML asked ONM to assist in preparing women for the convention in Salt Lake City to train over 300 women in evangelism witness to Mormons via eight training sessions across the country Synod must address need to strengthen and support the family Worker wellness: ONM is gathering data from a variety of sources to analyze both needs and services provided The First Rosa is completed and DVDs are in the mail to all churches and schools Rosa Young academies Migrating a new LEAF system and portal to Rosters and Statistics from Concordia Chicago Re: VITALITY is formally launched First two domestic missionaries have been sent; domestic church planting manual is in doctrinal review Discussions with Mill Neck Manor regarding ministry to the deaf Disaster response to floods in Missouri and Illinois; around $500,000 has been raised Life Marches in Washington and San Francisco; next year s conference Life 360 will be pro life of a broader perspective Lutheran Young Adult Core service; postponing until 2017 to flesh out details with Synod Inc. LSB Hymnal Companion and Pastor s Desk Edition are nearing completion Theological Presentation Rev. A. J. Espinosa Rev. Espinosa talked to the BNM regarding Millennials in the church along with changing mores as exhibited on the Internet. Ministry Presentation RSO Update Deaconess Dorothy Krans Some of the RSOs have developed materials to assist congregations in dealing with addictions as indicated in the previous presentation. RSO process: Renewal process for every RSO is every five years o Application including all governing documents o Review of application o o 2 P a g e Must include numbers/percentage of LCMS on Board of Directors Onsite visit for new organization or for those with whom there is no close connection Includes District President or his representative; questioned regarding organization s connection to district? o Renewal may take up to 1.5 years, especially if changes are required Cited current statistics during the past triennium o 64 RSOs received status; 22 were new organizations; 43 renewing o 29 organizations were denied, terminated or asked to withdraw o 152 schools hold RSO status; 30 have renewed; 1 new; 1 independent Shared resources available for specific ministries o Mill Neck Manor o Lutheran Braille Workers large print o For Alzheimer s patients Challenges for social agencies who deal with foster care and/or adoption due to changes in marriage laws Lutheran Services in America (LSA) is a pan Lutheran, dues paying, group that provides services to RSOs: o CEO Academy o Annual conference
o o Understanding of working in non-profit arena Advocacy in Washington, DC Ministry Presentation Rev. Heath Curtis, Stewardship Rev. Curtis presented a paper, Generational Generosity: The Demographic Challenge Facing the Missouri Synod and our Faithful Response. Policy Lengthy discussion regarding methodology for reporting goals, means, and results regarding policies to the BNM. Motion: Made by Mrs. Claussen and seconded to remove 6.1.(a) and 6.1.(b) from the BNM policies. Motion carried. Motion: Made by Mrs. Claussen and seconded to delete and coordinate collaboration among districts as they network with their congregations in ministry and outreach from Policy 1.1.(a). Motion carried. Rev. Robson closed the day s session with Daily Prayer. Saturday, February 13, 2016, 8:00 a.m. Rev. Droegemueller led Daily Prayer. Self-Governance Policy Review Common Consent In 2.3.7.7. o Add to between encouraged and invest o Replace BNM with ONM in two places In 2.3.7.13. o Replace BNM s objectives with ONM In 2.3.7.14. o Add Bylaw 1.5.2 after Bylaws Ms. Habrecht and Deaconess Mitchell will review 2.3.9.1. and bring recommendations back to the Board at the June 2016 meeting. Discussion will begin at 2.4. Officers of the Board Convention Overtures Motion: Made by Mr. Garbe and seconded to submit the Overture titled To Establish Board for National Mission Representation at Synod Conventions to the 2016 Synod Convention Motion carried. (See Appendix A) Motion: Made by Mrs. Claussen and seconded to submit the Overture titled To Make Incumbent Members of the Board for National Mission Eligible for Floor Nominations to the 2016 Synod Convention Motion carried. (See Appendix B) Motion: Made by Mrs. Habrecht and seconded to submit the Overture titled To Create a Task Force for the Study of Issues Relating to Procreation, Fertility, and Care for the Unborn within the Christian Family to the 2016 Synod Convention Motion carried. (See Appendix C) 3 P a g e
Motion: Made by Mrs. Claussen and seconded to submit the Overture titled To Celebrate the Ministry of Rev. Dr. Terry K. Dittmer to the 2016 Synod Convention Motion carried. (See Appendix D) Motion: Made by Mrs. Claussen and seconded to submit the Overture titled To Make Strengthening Lutheran Families a Mission Priority for The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod to the 2016 Synod Convention Motion carried. (See Appendix E) Memo to Synod Board of Directors Rev. Day presented a Memo addressed to the Synod Board of Directors regarding an overture the BOD is considering for presentation to the 2016 Synod Convention concerning the formation of an RSO Task Force. Motion: Made by Teacher Milas and seconded to send the memo to the BOD. Motion carried. (See Appendix F) Boy Scouts of America The Memorandum of Understanding between the Boy Scouts of America and the LCMS (Synod Inc.) has been dissolved. Foundation Report Ernie Garbe No report; the Foundation meeting is upcoming March for Life Julia Habrecht Mrs. Habrecht reported on the March for Life in Washington, DC and the positive comments regarding our Lutheran presence. Policy Review The BNM continued reviewing general and witness policies, making suggestions for goals for the ONM. Motion: Made by Mrs. Habrecht and seconded to remove 12.1.(c) and 12.1.(d) from policy and replace with 12.1.(c) The ONM will coordinate with Synod ministries to the Armed Forces to ensure young adults in the Armed Forces are being served. Motion carried. Motion: Made by Deaconess Mitchell and seconded to remove 12.1.(e) and 12.1.(f) from policy and expand 12.1.(b) The ONM will encourage and support campus ministry and Gospel outreach to both domestic and international students and faculty, and that will lead to the establishment of Word and Sacrament ministry in campus ministry settings. Motion carried. Closing Devotion Pastor Droegemueller led Daily Prayer, closing with the Common Doxology. Adjournment Meeting adjourned. Linda Stoterau, Secretary Date of Approval 4 P a g e
Future Meeting Dates: June 3-4, 2016 (Friday-Saturday) September 8-9, 2016 (Thursday-Friday Joint with BIM) APPENDIX A 5 P a g e To Establish Board for National Mission Representation at Synod Conventions WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 3.1.4.1 (a) states that Each board or commission shall be represented [at Synod conventions] by its chairman or another board or commission member and by its principal staff person ; and WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 3.8.2.4 states that In carrying out its mission responsibilities, the Office of National Mission shall receive its primary focus from the mission and ministry emphases developed triennially by the national Synod in convention and from policies developed and determined by the Board for National Mission. ; and WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 3.8.2.6 states that The staff of the Office of National Mission shall assume a coordinative role for ministry areas in response to directives from Synod in convention or upon the request of two-thirds of the members of the Council of Presidents on behalf of the districts. ; and WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 3.8.2.5 states that All staff [of the Office of National Mission] shall be responsible and accountable for their activities to the President of the Synod (Constitution Art. XI B 1 4) between conventions of the Synod and ultimately to the Synod in convention (Constitution Art. XI A 1 2). ; and WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 1.4.6 states that Each staff [of the Synod] develops procedures, recommends and reviews programs and ministries and manages programs, and recommends policy and program modifications. Staff implements decisions in accordance with approved policy; (a) Staff is responsible to the Synod at the national or district level in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod at the national or district level, resolutions of the respective convention, and the policies of a district or any other agency to which it is responsible; (b) Staffs ordinarily serve as the liaison between the national and district levels. Staffs at the national and district levels consult with one another in developing program proposals; (c) Each chief executive or executive director shall report on staff activities and recommendations to the national Synod, district, agency, or officer to which that executive is responsible and, as requested, to the president of the district or of the Synod. ; and WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 3.4.3.1 states that The Chief Mission Officer shall provide staff and other resource(s) to the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission and serves as an advisory representative at convention as the principal staff person for the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission (Bylaw 3.1.4.1 [a]); and WHEREAS, Both the President and the Board for National Mission recognize the important role played by both the Chief Mission Officer and the executive director of the Office of National Mission at Synod conventions and floor committee meetings and have recommended that the Bylaws be revised to enable the executive director of the Office of National Mission to serve as advisory representative at Synod conventions; and WHEREAS, The Board for National Mission has previously made use of 2013 Bylaw 3.1.4.1 (c) ( Other exceptions must have the approval of the Board of Directors of the Synod prior to each convention ) to request that the executive director of the Office of National Mission be designated as an advisory representative of the Board for National Mission to the 2013 and 2016 Synod conventions; and WHEREAS, The Board of Directors of the Synod has responded to the aforementioned requests and approved the granting of exceptions allowing the Board for National Mission to designate the executive director of the Office of National Mission as an advisory representative of the Board for National Mission at the 2013 and 2016 Synod conventions, in accordance with 2013 Bylaw 3.1.4.1 (c); and WHEREAS, The Secretary of the Synod has indicated that he intends to bring a positive recommendation to the Commission on Handbook concerning the ongoing designation of the executive director of the Office of National Mission as an advisory representative of the Board for National Mission at future Synod conventions, with a view toward a proposed bylaw revision to be considered at the 2016 Synod Convention; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Commission on Handbook be requested to prepare bylaw revision language that establishes the executive director of the Office of National Mission as a regular advisory representative of the Board for National Mission at all Synod conventions; and be it finally Resolved, That the 2016 Synod Convention be encouraged to adopt the aforementioned revision of the Bylaws to be prepared and submitted by the Commission on Handbook. Signature of Chairman Signature of Secretary Submitted by the Board for National Mission St. Louis, MO APPENDIX B To Make Incumbent Members of the Board for National Mission Eligible for Floor Nominations WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 3.8.2.2 states that The Board for National Mission shall be comprised of eleven members, ten of which shall be 1. Five laypersons and five individual members of the Synod (one of each from each region of the Synod) elected in the same manner as are regional members of the Board of Directors of the Synod (Bylaws 3.12.1 and 3.12.2.7). ; and WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 3.12.2.7 accordingly defines the procedure by which, for instance, regional vice- presidents of the Synod, regional members of the Board of Directors of the Synod, and regional members of the Board for National Mission are nominated and elected; and WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 3.12.2.7 states that (c) The names of the five [laypersons or individual members of the Synod being elected to the Board for National Mission] residing within the boundaries of each geographic region who receive the most nominating votes shall form the slate from the Synod convention shall select by majority vote each regional [Board for National Mission member]. (d) No opportunity shall be provided for additional nominations from the floor of the convention. ; and WHEREAS, while the process defined in 2013 Bylaw 3.12.2.7 may result in an election slate that includes incumbent regional vice-president nominees and incumbent regional members of the Board of Directors of the Synod nominees who have garnered a relatively larger total number of nominating votes within their regions, the same might not be anticipated for incumbent members of the Board for National Mission nominees, especially laypersons, whose work on these Boards may be less publicly visible, who have lower name recognition, and who may receive a relatively fewer total number of nominating votes; and WHEREAS, relatively fewer nominating votes for any nominee would give proportionally larger weight to each nominating vote, making it possible that an incumbent member of the Board for National Mission with less public visibility or lower name recognition could be more susceptible to not receiving sufficient nominating votes to be included in the election slate for a subsequent term, even though the incumbent member of the Board for National Mission might be otherwise eligible under the Bylaws and readily willing to stand for re-election, possibly continuing in highly-valued service as a member of the Board for National Mission; and 6 P a g e
WHEREAS, 2013 Bylaw 3.8.2 states that The Board for National Mission is charged with developing and determining policies for the coordination of and in support of district ministries which support congregations and schools (Bylaw 1.2.1 [m]), and that, therefore, the members of the Board for National Mission carry out crucial activities in the development of policy and the oversight of policy implementation for the support, guidance, planning, and execution of core program ministries in the Synod s Witness, Mercy, and Life Together; and WHEREAS, Owing to the crucial nature of the work of the Board for National Mission, continuity of board membership and the possibility of ongoing service of eligible members of the Board for National Mission is a characteristic that appropriately ought to be placed before the Synod in convention and taken into consideration when electing members to the Board for National Mission; and WHEREAS, In regard to the selection of candidates to be included in the report (Bylaw 3.12.3.6 [b]) of the Committee for Convention Nominations, the Synod has historically acknowledged the value of continuity of service in elective offices and on elective boards and commissions requiring non-regional nominations, since Bylaw 3.12.3.4 (d) states that All incumbents eligible for reelection shall be considered to be nominees. ; therefore be it Resolved, That the Commission on Handbook be requested to prepare bylaw revision language that makes incumbent (and only incumbent) members of the Board for National Mission who are not otherwise ineligible for reelection (e.g. under the term limits specified in 2013 Bylaw 3.2.4.2), if they have not otherwise been included in the election slate formed by the procedure defined in 2013 Bylaw 3.12.2.7 (c), eligible for Convention floor nominations to be included in the election slate for the Board for National Mission; and be it finally Resolved, That the 2016 Synod Convention be encouraged to adopt the aforementioned revision of the Bylaws to be prepared and submitted by the Commission on Handbook and accept floor nominations as described above, prior to the election of the members of the Board for National Mission. Signature of Chairman Signature of Secretary Submitted by the Board for National Mission St. Louis, MO APPENDIX C To Create a Task Force for the Study of Issues Relating to Procreation, Fertility, and Care for the Unborn within the Christian Family WHEREAS, LCMS Life and Health Ministries are committed to upholding the sanctity of life and protecting the most vulnerable neighbors in body and spirit; and WHEREAS, The Christian family is the building block of the church; and WHEREAS, Children are a blessing from the Lord; and WHEREAS, Procreation is always a gift given according to the will of God; and WHEREAS, A Christian husband and wife in our current 21 st century context may be confronted with a multiplicity of choices when making decisions regarding procreation, fertility, and care of the unborn (e.g. contraception, procreative alternatives, reproductive assistance, perhaps even abortion and others); and 7 P a g e
WHEREAS, At the least, a partial causal factor of this multiplicity of choices has been continually new and rapidly emerging developments in science and technology; and WHEREAS, A Christian husband and wife who faithfully desire to submit to God s will and thoroughly evaluate these choices from the perspective of the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions may nevertheless be challenged and bewildered by the complexity of the resultant ethical decisions that they face; and WHEREAS, LCMS Life Ministry has recently hosted a series of meetings to discuss such issues among qualified theologians, ethicists, physicians, and lay persons; and WHEREAS, Recently, there have emerged as many or more sincere questions than unequivocal answers regarding the Christian use of contraception, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and other reproductive technologies; and WHEREAS, There is concern for the embryos that often remain in a frozen state following an IVF procedure; and WHEREAS, Questions remain regarding the ethical and theological permissibility of embryo adoption; and WHEREAS, Some Christian couples may even be advised by their physician to consider abortion as a life-saving measure for the mother; and WHEREAS, Over past years various LCMS documents including CTCR reports, such as Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective (1981), Abortion in Perspective (1984), Christians and Procreative Choices: How Do God s Chosen Choose? (1994), Christian Faith and Human Beginnings: Christian Care and Pre-Implantation Human Life (2005) have served in varying degrees of depth and breadth to address some of the aforementioned issues in whole or in part; and WHEREAS, Many of these aforementioned documents are now decades old, and the applicable science and technologies addressed therein have greatly rapidly and considerably changed, even as other new science and technologies have emerged in the same intervening time period, even in the last few years; and WHEREAS, Out of love for the neighbor, the church must ever look afresh at such critical issues and responsibly address them on the basis of God s Word; therefore be it Resolved, That the President of the Synod appoint a task force within the Office of National Mission consisting of the Director of LCMS Life and Health Ministries, and representatives from Lutherans for Life, the CTCR, each of the Synod s seminaries, and rostered LCMS church workers, or lay members of LCMS congregations who are respected for their expertise in the fields of medicine, procreative science, theology, ethics, and the like; and be it further Resolved, That this task force take up the study of issues surrounding fertility and procreation, including but not limited to: abortion in rare or extreme circumstances, the gift of procreation, contraception, reproductive technologies, In Vitro Fertilization, embryo adoption, and adoption; and be it further Resolved, That this task force gather and arrange points for consideration, coordinate discussion and identify actions leading to the production of appropriate LCMS responses to these issues (reports, study documents, essays, other media and the like) with the CTCR and/or other appropriate LCMS entities; and be it finally Resolved, That this task force continue this aforementioned work of leadership, facilitation, and coordination, and summarize its activities in a report to be completed by December 31, 2018, along with accompanying recommendations in the form of appropriate overtures, to the Synod s 2019 National Convention. Signature of President or Chairman Signature of Secretary 8 P a g e The Board for National Mission St. Louis, Missouri
APPENDIX D To Celebrate the Ministry of Rev. Dr. Terry K. Dittmer WHEREAS, the Master commends Well done, good and faithful servant to those who have sought to use His gracious gifts; and WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Terry K Dittmer was brought to the waters of holy baptism on September 5, 1948, and ordained into the office of the holy ministry on June 23, 1974 ; and WHEREAS, the Rev. Dittmer has faithfully and capably served the Lord and LCMS Youth Ministry for 37 years, with the past 15 years of service as Director of Youth Ministry for the LCMS, and will retire from ministry following the 2016 National Youth Gathering; and WHEREAS, the Rev. Dittmer has strengthened the faith of many and brought into the fellowship of our Lord an unknown number through his Christ-centered commitment to the young people of the LCMS; therefore be it Resolved, that the Synod in Convention join in thanks and praise to God for Rev. Dittmer and his years of faithful service and outstanding work for the LCMS; and be it finally Resolved, that the LCMS extend its sincere appreciation to Rev. Dittmer and pray God s richest blessings on him as the Lord guides his walk of faith in his retirement. Signature of Chairman Signature of Secretary The Board for National Mission St. Louis, MO APPENDIX E To Make Strengthening Lutheran Families a Mission Priority for The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod WHEREAS, The foundation of every human society is the family as created and sustained by God (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 12:1-3; Matthew 19:1-9); and 9 P a g e
WHEREAS, The family as created and sustained by God is under constant attack from the devil, the world, and the flesh, especially in our time and place; and WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther's emphasis and teaching on the household estate and the family vocations of husband and wife, father, mother, and child was a key insight of the Reformation; and WHEREAS, The unmarried and widowed also constitute an essential and God-pleasing part of the family (1 Corinthians 7:8); and WHEREAS, Two demographic reports commissioned by the Stewardship Ministry of the Office of National Mission indicate that the rate of marriage, divorce, and child-bearing for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod closely reflects the culture around us rather than the patterns of God's Word; and WHEREAS, These same reports indicate that the decline of the Lutheran family in terms of accepting God's gift of life with generosity is the most important causal factor in the Synod's significant decline in membership over the past four decades; and WHEREAS, The Office of National Mission has begun a Lutheran Family Initiative among its various programmatic ministries to begin looking at ways to strengthen the Lutheran family; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod currently has six mission priorities, to wit, 1. Plant, sustain and revitalize distinctly Lutheran churches. 2. Support and expand theological education. 3. Perform human care in close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministry. 4. Collaborate with the Synod's members and partners to enhance mission effectiveness. 5. Nurture pastors, missionaries and professional church workers to promote spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing. 6. Enhance early childhood, elementary and secondary education and youth ministry; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in Convention amend the mission priorities to include: Strengthen and support the Lutheran family in living out God's design; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod in Convention commend the work of the Office of National Mission's Lutheran Family Initiative. Signature of Chairman Signature of Secretary The Board for National Mission St. Louis, MO From: The Board for National Mission, LCMS To: The Board of Directors, LCMS Date: Saturday, February 13, 2016 APPENDIX F 10 P a g e
The Board for National Mission (BNM), following a presentation from Recognized Service Organization (RSO) director Deaconess Dorothy Krans, concerning the activity of RSOs and the renewal process, had conversation around an overture the Board of Directors (BOD) of the LCMS plans to consider at an upcoming meeting. While the BNM did not have access to the actual overture for consideration, in conversation with the Chief Mission Officer, and the Executive Director of the Office of National Mission, the BNM would encourage the BOD to submit an overture for consideration, specifically noting: 1. Asking the LCMS in convention to create a specially appointed Task Force to review the entire RSO program and recommend changes that will strengthen the mutual benefit to both the Synod and agencies 2. Affirming the need for agencies to foster the mission and ministry of the LCMS, engaging in program activity that is in harmony with the programs of the Synod, and respect and not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of the Synod (Bylaw 6.2.1) 3. Completing their report and recommendations for the President of Synod and the BOD a year prior to the 2019 Synod convention so that a final report and recommendations can be presented to the 2019 Synod convention. The Board for National Mission Saturday, February 13, 2016 Rev. Steve Briel, Chairman Linda Stoterau, Secretary 11 P a g e