Structure and governance convention’s initial focus

Business sessions began Sunday morning for the 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod meeting in Houston, Texas. With the theme One People–Forgiven the convention day began with a prayer service during which the more than 1200 delegates spent time in a series of three-minute prayer periods focused on various Scriptures.

The main item on this convention’s agenda is the Report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance. The task force report recommends a major streamlining similar to that which Lutheran Church–Canada agreed upon in 2002. At the last LCMS convention in 2007, delegates agreed to call a “special convention” to work through the task force’s recommendations. Instead, the synod added two days to the 2010 Regular Convention schedule to accommodate the extra debate and discussion.

This change led to a longer than normal discussion on a resolution to adopt the agenda. Some believed it was important to hold elections earlier on the agenda as in past conventions. Others saw the discussion of the restructuring as primary. When sent to the vote, the acceptance of the agenda as presented passed by a slim majority.

Following a Bible study on forgiveness by Ted Kober of Ambassadors of Reconciliation, delegates spent the balance of the day in Question and Answers sessions with Floor Committee 8 which is responsible for the governance and structure resolutions.

Full debate on the committee’s resolutions and other business begins Monday. Elections begin Tuesday.

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