The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance final report
Has anyone had a chance to read through the whole report?
Final Report
The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance final report has been delivered to the Office of the President. The 21 recommendations contained in the report represent the consummation of more than four years of study, consultation, feedback, and evaluation, and are being presented for consideration at the 2010 Synod convention.
Lay and clergy voting delegates to the 2010 Synod convention will have the opportunity to discuss the task force proposals, ask questions for clarity and understanding, and make recommendations to the convention floor committee chairman at regional gatherings scheduled for December 2009, January 2010, and February 2010. Also invited to the gatherings are a cross-section of convention advisory delegates, including district presidents and a number of commissioned ministers, plus district vice presidents and five members of each district board of directors. (Click here for more information about the regional gatherings.)
The task force is thankful for the opportunity to commend these recommendations to the people of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. With the completion and delivery of its report, the task force has been disbanded.
Read the report (4MB)
To view the report in smaller sections, use the links to the right.
http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/structure%20and%20governa...
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=15930
Final Report
The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance final report has been delivered to the Office of the President. The 21 recommendations contained in the report represent the consummation of more than four years of study, consultation, feedback, and evaluation, and are being presented for consideration at the 2010 Synod convention.
Lay and clergy voting delegates to the 2010 Synod convention will have the opportunity to discuss the task force proposals, ask questions for clarity and understanding, and make recommendations to the convention floor committee chairman at regional gatherings scheduled for December 2009, January 2010, and February 2010. Also invited to the gatherings are a cross-section of convention advisory delegates, including district presidents and a number of commissioned ministers, plus district vice presidents and five members of each district board of directors. (Click here for more information about the regional gatherings.)
The task force is thankful for the opportunity to commend these recommendations to the people of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. With the completion and delivery of its report, the task force has been disbanded.
Read the report (4MB)
To view the report in smaller sections, use the links to the right.
http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/structure%20and%20governa...
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=15930
Views: 11
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Craig Johansen on -
No one read this?
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Permalink Reply by MTG on -
Actually Craig, I saw this and wanted to read it but it was "too much" for me as I have difficulty with reading unless the material is also recorded. I just can't take it in at this time. I hope others will show an interest. I'm sure it's important!
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Permalink Reply by Pastor Paul Warneke on -
That's the trouble with this whole BRTFSSG thing. If it's going to be debunked, or even recommended, it's got to be studied, and analyzed, and disected. But whose got time for that? I printed off the document and it's like 150 pages. I don't have time to read it, let alone study it. Yet the very future of our synod is (supposedly) riding on its words.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Johansen on
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Sorta' like the Pelosi health care bill. Who has time to read that thing? I tried reading the BRTFSSG report but it is too cumbersome.
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Permalink Reply by Pastor Paul Warneke on
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Here's an idea. What if a group of concerned, intelligent, and level-headed people got together and divided the BRTFSSG report among themselves? Each person of the group takes a section of the report, analyzes it, and submits a critique, not just to bash it, but to fairly point out pros and cons. The critique would also be a summary of the section, so as not to bog down those who might read it. After all the critiques are in, publish them as a whole and provide it for the consideration of those interested, especially delegates. The information could be used by delegates to speak out at the regional meetings, as well as at the convention.
I'll bet there are a number of people on the WT who could be in this group. In fact, maybe something like this has already been done.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Johansen on
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Excellent suggestion, Pr. Warneke. Any takers?
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Permalink Reply by Craig Johansen on
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Permalink Reply by Pastor Paul Warneke on
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I figured there were concerned, level-headed, and intelligent people among us who would take on such a task. Let's pray that the delegates read and heed these documents.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Johansen on
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They [delegates] are already being inundated with materials from all the different groups. One of the lay delegates from our district is a member at my parish, and he told me this morning that he already has a hefty stack of reading on his desk. He also has no access to the online stuff, since he is an experienced Lutheran over four score in years. I told him I would be printing some more material out for him that was very important, but I'm not sure he is pleased that I will be adding to his pile. He is a retired engineer, and a good & faithful Christian who is very fair minded.
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Permalink Reply by Pastor Paul Warneke on
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David,
Here's the problem though: what's being "suggested" are sweeping changes regarding synod, a literal revamping of the consitution. If I'm going to express my opinion about these suggestions I'm going to have to do some intense study, not just read over them. But I'm finding it very difficult to find the time necessary to dedicate to such study. Whenever I sit down to spend time on this task (which I've done several times during the last year or so) I get so engulfed that I find myself neglecting some of my other vocational duties.
I have an idea that there are a lot of people in the same boat as me, who can't dedicate a lot of time to these matters. And when we do, it's very difficult to figure out what the task force is getting at with their proposals. When they ask for responses, we can't say anything because we're still trying to figure it all out. Then they think there's little or no opposition to their proposals, when in reality, there's just too much information to pore over.
I also think there's an element of people who will just say, "Let the experts figure it all out for us."
My suggestion would be to stop the madness! If changes are needed regarding synodical polity, let's look at these issues in bite-size portions, one at a time, or maybe in groups of two or three at a time. Give us adequate time to consider these drastic measures seriously and prayerfully!
There is too much at stake to pass them in one fell swoop.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Johansen on
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Aren't there going to be pre-convention meetings this winter concerning the BRTFSSG report?
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Permalink Reply by Pastor Paul Warneke on
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David wrote: "...one of our local pastors made the comment that if we did that, there might not be a synod three years from now."
I think that's the catalyst behind this whole thing, the fear that if WE don't do something now, our beloved synod will die.
There's no way these suggestions will be tabled. Between the pre-convention regional meetings, and the two extra days of the convention, these "suggestions" are going to pass with flying colors.
Seems to me we're going off the rails on a crazy train!
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