Districts grapple with issues
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
By the end of this week, meetings will have been held in nearly every district of the synod to discuss the important issues that will be considered at the synod convention later this summer. In some districts, those meetings have been full district conventions involving pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and lay representatives. In other districts, districtwide pastor-teacher conferences have been taking place. In still other districts, regional conferences have been held.
These meetings are an attempt to keep the grassroots members—called workers and lay leaders alike—fully informed and to give them an opportunity to provide additional input and direction for the delegates to the synod convention. The two primary topics of discussion were the recommendations contained in the report of the Ad Hoc Commission and the budget proposed by the Synodical Council.
As the scope and impact of the budget reductions become clearer, questions are being voiced: "What can we do to reduce the scope and impact of these reductions on our mission fields and on our ministerial schools? Are there other options available that can be considered?" Ideas and suggestions were in plentiful supply, and many of these will likely be forwarded to the convention for consideration.
Regardless of what the final convention's decisions may be, any mission program of the synod will be supported primarily by Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO). Congregations have already made commitments for the year, and the proposed budget is built on those commitments. For that reason it is absolutely essential that all congregations meet or exceed the commitments they've made. Since Congregation Mission Offerings are the foundation of our synod's financial support, a shortfall in CMO could result in even more extensive reductions in our mission efforts.
Throughout the synod, prayers have been offered for the faithful missionaries, pastors, professors, and lay workers whose positions have been eliminated. On a positive note, we are happy to report that five world and home missionaries have received calls to congregations. In some home missions, creative ways are being considered to retain pastors whose funding from the synod has been reduced or withdrawn. Commendably, some home mission pastors have indicated they would find a way to stay with their congregations even without full salaries provided by synodical funding. A number of world missionaries have also chosen to remain in their fields of service beyond the time when funding for their positions has ended. Thank God for these faithful and committed workers!
We also continue to pray for the unassigned graduates of Martin Luther College and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. We are pleased that several unassigned candidates from both schools have recently been assigned and that several more assignments are in the process of being made.
It has also been gratifying to see that the district discussions are characterized by sincere concern for the work of the synod and a desire to find solutions to our difficult challenges. There has been anguish and heartache over the painful choices before us, to be sure, but there has been no anger. The people of our synod, it seems, have been led by God to look to him in faith in this difficult time and to work more closely with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. In this time, we are reminded again that God has promised that he will use all things to work for the good of those who love him and that he will allow nothing in this world to prevent his Word from accomplishing his purpose. Those promises, not human resolve or solutions, will continue to be the source of our hope and confidence in the weeks and months ahead.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: Ad Hoc Commission, Budget, congregation mission offerings, districts, finances, giving, Ministerial Education, Missions, Synod Convention
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