Restructuring enters final phase; CCMS partners with Synod’s Board of Directors

WINNIPEG—Lutheran Church-Canada’s Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure (CCMS) has moved the restructuring effort into its final phase in preparation for the Synod’s 11^th Convention, set for October 13-16, 2017, in Kitchener, Ontario.

In a series of decisions, the Commission voted unanimously to participate in a special “Working Group” with representatives of the LCC Board of Directors. Members of the newly-created group include Rev. Nolan Astley, First Vice-president of Synod; Rev. William Ney, chairman of the CCMS; Rev. Paul Schallhorn, BOD secretary; and Cindy Sholdice, BOD member.

In consultation with the Synod’s legal counsel, the group will craft amendments to the current LCC Handbook that reflect the desire for change widely expressed during the past 20 months in a national restructuring survey, circuit presentations and regional convocations. “The schedule is tight,” noted CCMS Chairman, Rev. William Ney, “but we are hopeful going into this phase that we can have final proposals ready for early September.” He added that this would fulfill constitutional requirements for advance notice spelled out in the LCC Handbook, and enable the appropriate resolutions committee to add this proposal to other overtures submitted from various places in the Synod.

In the same meeting, the Commission granted a peaceful release to Dr. Lester Stahlke of Edmonton, who has served the CCMS as its restructuring consultant since November 2015. The Commission’s action expressed that “Dr. Stahlke has given ‘over and above the call of duty’ in his service both to the CCMS and to Lutheran Church-Canada.” Dr. Stahlke was the architect of the restructuring process up to this point, compiling and scheduling a national survey, designing PowerPoint presentations for circuits, church worker conferences, boards and other entities. It was noted that he had offered from the outset to provide these services at a fraction of the regular cost and was tireless in his willingness to travel, interview and provide reporting. “We would never have reached this stage in such a short time without Les’ direction,” Rev. Ney commented.

The present restructuring effort grew out of resolutions passed in the spring of 2015 by all three LCC District conventions. “It rarely happens that all of these grassroots gatherings, representing every local congregation, would express virtually the same feeling about the need for change, and would do so almost unanimously,” reflected LCC President Robert Bugbee. “We knew the timetable was challenging, but the CCMS worked hard with Dr. Stahlke to honour the Districts’ plea that restructuring proposals be presented at this 2017 Synod Convention,” he added.

CCMS leadership had long expressed its goal to have the approval of the Synod’s Board of Directors in this effort. Now the two entities have consented together to entrust the final phase before the Convention to this special Working Group. “We need everyone’s prayer support in these last weeks,” Rev. Ney said. “We’re committed to reaching the goal set for us by all those voting lay delegates and pastors in the District conventions two years ago, and also to honour the voluminous input over these last 20 months from the members of Synod across Canada.”

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