Synod 2011

Videos from LCC’s 2011 convention in Hamilton are now available at www.lutheranchurch.ca/videonet or www.lccvideo.net. The programs include three essays by Rev. Dr. Mike Semmler, president of the Lutheran Church of Australia; the President’s Report (2) by LCC president, Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee; an LCC Missions Overview; Sunday Matins service, including the delegate choir, Sudanese choir and sermon by Rev. Michael Keith; and the Matins Sermon. Due to technical problems the Opening Divine Service is not available.

Three members of Resolutions Committee 4 discuss their assignments. (l-r) Rev. Fraser Coltman, Rev. James Vosper, Karl Klatt.

After meeting April 15-16, members of Lutheran Church–Canada’s 2011 Convention Resolutions Committees brought together the themes of 43 overtures and wrote 36 resolutions for delegates to consider in Hamilton from June 3 to 6. Moral issues, doctrine and Lutheran identity, synod governance and structure, and education are the general themes.

“The resolutions committees had their work cut out for them,” commented LCC President Robert Bugbee. “And now that work is passed along to convention delegates to look carefully at the resolutions, discuss them and ask God’s guidance as they prepare for the convention.”

Resolutions regarding moral issues include establishing a “Sanctity of Life Sunday” across LCC, and publicly opposing embryonic stem cell research, while recommending research confined to the use of adult stem cells. It is also recommended that LCC reaffirm its scriptural position against homosexual behaviour, and drawing the consequence that men who engage in such behaviour will not be admitted to the Holy Ministry. In addition, there is a resolution instructing synod to develop policies to guide congregations receiving requests for the use of their facilities from individuals and organizations with views on same-gender relations inconsistent with Biblical teaching.

Recommendations in resolutions regarding doctrine and Lutheran identity include welcoming into LCC two congregations, St. Paul’s in Bergheim, Saskatchewan, and Shepherd of the Hills in Airdrie, Alberta. Another resolution commends the French language hymnal Liturgies et cantiques luthériens published in 2010 for use in LCC. Following on the convention theme which focuses on God’s Word, a resolution asks congregations to be proactive in leading people into studying the Bible and the Lutheran confessions and also in the recruitment of individuals for church work vocations.

As for resolutions regarding synod governance and structure, they include expanding the eligibility for service on synodical boards and commissions to retired pastors; increasing the size of the Worker Benefit Plans (WBP) Board of Managers; reducing the length of the term of office for WBP board members; and developing a national compensation guide for church workers.

Several resolutions deal with education, and include declining overtures suggesting seminary mergers and consolidations as the Boards of Regents at both seminaries are close to a complete Memorandum of Understanding on how to best achieve cost-efficient seminary education.(See story here).

In addition, another resolution requests exploring the development of a program to train men and women as missionary evangelists. There is also a resolution asking LCC’s districts to standardize the Student Aid Program so it is the same throughout the synod and another declining overtures calling for a major restructuring of Synod.

To download the resolutions, go to www.lutheranchurch.ca/synod2011. They are published in Section H of the workbook which also includes corrections and editions. They are also available as PDF documents.

Responses to the resolutions can be emailed to convention@lutheranchurch.ca. The committees will also meet in Hamilton, Friday, June 3 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel.

by James Morgan

When a few hundred Lutherans gather in one city for three days, there’s a great opportunity for outreach. A concert at this year’s Lutheran Church–Canada convention in Hamilton (from June 3 to 6) is designed to do exactly that.

On Sunday, June 5, “At Home with Tara Lyn” is on stage at The Studio at Hamilton Place at 7:30 p.m.

Tara Lyn Hart is a Canadian Country Music Award-winning, Juno-nominated performer with strong ties to LCC. She currently serves as choir director at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catharines, where her husband Perry is a student. Her earliest performances were in church in her hometown of Roblin, Manitoba.

Admission to the June 5 performance is free—but there’s a catch. LCC congregations in the Hamilton area have 30 invitations each and church members are encouraged to invite their unchurched friends and neighbours who will need one of those invitations to attend as seating is limited. Those attending the convention will also have invitations.

“LCC wants the national convention to have an impact on the hosting community, so the concert is designed as an outreach event to which people can invite unchurched friends, family, and neighbours,” says Perry Hart.

“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” says Tara Lyn, adding the concert will have an intimate setting, with accompaniment on piano and guitar, and for the first time, her 14- year-old daughter Teal will provide background vocals. The songs Tara Lyn will perform include a variety of contemporary pieces along with some Lutheran hymns.

The performance at Hamilton place follows the 2010 release of Tara Lyn Hart’s most recent album, a six-song EP for Christmas called Perfect Holiday which was a fundraising project for CLTS.

The 2011 Lutheran Church–Canada Convention Workbook, published online Friday, March 25, outlines the nominees for elected positions for which convention delegates will cast ballots.

More than 100 congregations sent in nominations for President of Synod, meeting the January 31, 2011 deadline. After counting the ballots, Rev. Dennis Putzman, secretary of Synod reported 98 nominations for current president, Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee. Five other pastors received one nomination and all declined to run for the position.

In the vice-presidential nominations, 17 pastors received sufficient nominations to qualify for the ballot and eight agreed to run for election. Twenty-five others received single nominations which did not qualify them for the final slate.

The candidates are:

• ABC: Rev. Karl Keller, Rev. Thomas Kruesel, Rev. Craig Tufts
• Central: Rev. Arron Gust
• East: Rev. Nolan Astley, Rev. Marvin Bublitz, Rev. Mark Hartburg; Rev. Timothy Teuscher

Delegates will elect a single candidate from each district. Following the vice-presidential election, a second ballot will determine placement for first, second and third vice-presidents.

Despite beginning its work early last year, and soliciting names for nominations since June, the 2011 Nominations Committee still came up short to fill the 18 positions open for election. 

The committee received a good response for potential candidates, however when asked, a number of people declined the request to allow their name to stand for election. Therefore, the committee will seek nominations from the convention floor for an East District representative for the Commission on Adjudication and Board of Regents member for Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines, and an ABC District lay representative for the Board of Regents of Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton. In addition, the committee needs a lawyer nominee for the Commission on Adjudication.

Nominations from the floor must be accompanied by the permission of the nominee and biographical information. As terms are staggered on the boards and commissions, not every district required a candidate, lay or clergy for each position.

A complete list of candidates is available at http://www.lutheranchurch.ca/synod2011.php?s=candidates

A document with the title Convention Workbook sounds ominous and perhaps even potentially boring, however the 2011 edition provides a snapshot of what is going on in Lutheran Church–Canada and all its related institutions and organizations.

Prior to each triennial convention LCC publishes a Convention Workbook which provides delegates with all the information they need to participate in the Synodical Convention. The 2011 workbook is 200-plus pages, which includes reports from all parts of synod; candidate profiles for those nominated for elections; suggested areas for resolutions (overtures) from congregations, circuits and various boards; along with copies of reports dealing with topics of interest to the entire church.

“If you want to find out what’s going on in LCC and what’s on peoples’ minds about the church, the workbook is the place to look,” explained Dr. Ian Adnams, convention manager. “It’s one-stop-shopping for those interested in the life of the church.”

Every congregation, pastor and delegate receives a copy of the workbook. Individuals are welcome to download a copy or specific sections from http://www.lutheranchurch.ca/synod2011.php?s=workbook.

2008 Resolutions Committee meeting before the convention

Members of the convention’s Resolutions Committees are responsible for reading the 39 reports and 42 overtures to gain an understanding of the concerns expressed. In mid-April they will gather in Winnipeg and discuss what they have read and write resolutions that capture the essence of the concerns. Sometimes more than one overture deals with the same issue, so the committees are responsible for compiling the sentiments into a single resolution.

Following the Resolutions Committees’ meetings, LCC will publish a new section of the workbook containing the proposed convention resolutions grouped under the headings: Theology and Mission; Parish Services and Higher Education; Constitution and Administrative Matters; and Financial and Miscellaneous Issues. Any member of Lutheran Church–Canada (pastors, deacons, congregations) or lay delegate can send in comments about the reports or resolutions for consideration by the Resolutions Committees. Once the resolutions are drafted, further comment is welcomed including meeting face-to-face with the committees on June 3 in Hamilton prior to the convention.

Dr. Adnams believes LCC has a “very transparent, grassroots-driven process when it comes to conventions. If someone has something to say, there are numerous opportunities along the way.”

Corrections or comments regarding the workbook, reports or overtures can be emailed to convention@lutheranchurch.ca.