SC wrestles with tough decisions
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
At its meeting last Friday and Saturday, the Synodical Council (SC) began the difficult task of planning for the synod's ministry and budget for the next two years. The Synodical Council heard preliminary reports on how reductions might affect various areas of ministry. After much prayer and discussion, the council provided direction for the areas of ministry as they work together to produce a budget for consideration at the April meeting. Once the Synodical Council adopts a budget to recommend to the convention in July, the information will be made available to the members of the synod.
The planning and budgeting task has been made much more difficult, of course, by recent financial developments that will require significant changes to the scope of our synod's work. The Synodical Council is determined to produce a budget recommendation that will provide for as much ministry as possible with reduced financial support. They have directed the areas of ministry to look at every possible strategy for reducing costs and to outline priorities for the reductions that will need to be made. As one cost-savings measure, the council adopted a one-year freeze on salaries for synodical workers.
The Synodical Council also discussed our synod's finances in the longer term. The council recognized that planning for ministry is currently based on anticipated gifts from congregations, individuals, and organizations. It adopted, in concept, a new approach to planning and budgeting that will assure that our ongoing ministry is set at a level that is sustainable on the basis of anticipated Congregation Mission Offerings, together with other funds that will be spent only in the year after they are received. This plan will be developed in more detail in the coming weeks.
Please remember in your prayers the members of the Synodical Council, together with the various administrators, boards, and commissions as this difficult work continues.
ELCA task force on same-gender clergy
In February the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) released a report and recommendations from its task force on sexuality. The report and recommendations will be considered by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August. The lengthy report recommends that the ELCA allow both men and women in "monogamous, lifelong, same-gendered relationships" to serve as pastors in ELCA congregations. Observing that there is not full agreement on this issue by all members and congregations of the ELCA, the task force recommends that individual congregations be allowed to make their own choice in whether to employ pastors in such same-sex relationships.
This recommendation is yet another step away from clear biblical teaching by a church body that bears the name "Lutheran." WELS continues to maintain and teach that all homosexual behavior is contrary to clear biblical teaching and is in direct opposition to the will of God. Since the practice of homosexuality is inherently sinful, regardless of whether the relationship is "monogamous and lifelong," WELS will continue to maintain that practicing homosexuals will not serve as pastors in our congregations. In Christian love, we will also continue to recognize that, no matter what the sin, God continues to call people to repentance and to offer his full and free forgiveness in Christ.
It is our prayer that the Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA will reject the recommendations of the task force and will return to basing its teachings and practices on the clear Word of God.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: Budget, ELCA, Finance, gifts, homosexuality, Long-term Plan, SC, Synod Finances, Synodical Council
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