2001 Annual Gathering Minutes

Barry Anderson called the convention to order at 10:30 AM, October 26, 2001. First order of business was to extend a thank you to Westwood Lutheran Church and its head pastor, Dave Valens, for their gracious hospitality.

Credentials Report submitted by Pastor Tony Stoutenberg, chair of the credentials committee:

• Delegates registered: 75
• Delegates present: 70
• Associates: 10
• Guests: 52
• Total Participants: 132

34 of 42 member congregations were represented, with 100% participation of those congregations present. A quorum was certified as of 10:45am, October 26, 2001.

Nominated, seconded, and elected, G. Barry Anderson to serve as convention chair.

Nominated, seconded, and elected,-Debra Adams Lingen to serve as convention secretary.

M/S/P -- Authorization by the body for the chair to appoint convention committees.

Chair appointed to the LCMC convention planning committee those members of the LCMC board previously introduced during the pre convention panel discussion: Pastor Bill Sullivan, Robin Lake, Debra Lingen, Pastor Dale Wolf, Barry Anderson, Dr. Meg Madsen, John Chatelain, and Pastor Tony Stoutenberg.

Chair appointed to the Constitution Committee Jeffrey Mansour from Michigan, Mark Windahl from North Dakota, and himself, G. Barry Anderson, as chair.

Chair appointed Tony Stoutenburg chairman of the Credentials Committee.

As provided for in the governing documents, on the basis of geographic proximity and with the intent to have relatively even distribution for purposes of representation, the interim board of trustees recommends the following Areas to provide for nomination to the permanent board:

• Area 1 - Washington & Idaho (6 congregations)
• Area 2 - North Dakota & Montana (6 congregations)
• Area 3 - Minnesota "A" (8 congregations)
• Area 4 - Wisconsin (4 congregations) & Minnesota "B" (3 congregations)
• Area 5 - Michigan, Ohio & Pennsylvania (6 congregations)
• Area 6 - Iowa & Nebraska (6 congregations)
• Area 7 - Arizona, California, Kansas, Alabama, & North Carolina (6 congregations)

M/S/P -- RESOLVED at the national convention of LCMC, we hereby authorize a seven (7) member board of trustees to be elected pursuant to the constitution and by-laws of this association and pursuant to the rules of this convention.

M/S/P -- Whereas pastors who seek to utilize the pension plan and reciprocity agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America must be a member of a clergy roster of a Lutheran church body, and whereas churches looking for a pastor to call desire a list of pastors available to serve under call to the public Ministry of Word and Sacrament, and whereas certification of credentials or membership on a list of pastors is also required by regulatory agencies except in certain specialized ministries, RESOLVED that Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ adopt the proposed ministry standards and accept clergy who meet these standards to their official list of affiliated pastors (clergy under call or available to serve under call), as called for under Article 3 of the Constitution of LCMC.

M/S/P -- RESOLVED that the board of trustees of the LCMC is authorized to appoint representatives from LCMC congregations to serve on a Membership and Discipline committee, the purpose of which is to consider what rules and regulations should be approved by the national convention governing membership in LCMC, with the goal of making a full report to the next national convention of that body, as called for under Article 4.03 of the LCMC constitution.

By unanimous consent of the assembled, the chair moved to the Rules of the Convention in order to deal with the issue of the method by which the convention would nominate and elect a board of trustees.

M/S/P -- The convention approves Rule 1 through Rule 6 of the Convention Rules as proposed by the Constitution Committee.

M/S/P -- The convention approves Rule 7 and Rule 8 of the Convention Rules proposed by the Constitution Committee and amended as follows:

7. Area Caucuses
Congregations shall caucus within areas as provided by these rules. Each area shall be responsible for election to the board one individual qualified and willing to serve on the board of trustees of LCMC.

8. Election of LCMC Board of Trustee Members
All candidates nominated by LCMC areas shall be entitled to address the caucus and shall be permitted, but not required, to distribute biographical and other material encouraging delegates to support that particular candidate. All such material shall be distributed in accordance with the materials distribution rule set forth above. All delegates and seated alternates to the convention shall be entitled to vote at their area caucus for one candidate for election to the board of trustees. All voting shall be by secret ballot. A majority of those present and voting in the caucus shall be required for election to the board of trustees. Following certification by the chair of the board of trustees of election to the board, the seven duly elected board members shall caucus and by random draw or unanimous agreement of the newly elected board assign particular board members to staggered terms of office with two board members serving until the 2002 national convention of LCMC, two board members serving until the 2003 national convention of LCMC and three board members serving until the 2004 national convention of LCMC.

M/P -- The convention approves Rule 9 of the Convention Rules as proposed by the Constitution Committee.

M/S/P -- The convention approves Rule 10 of the Convention Rules proposed by the Constitution Committee and amended as follows:

10. Rules of Debate
Debate on any motion or subject shall be limited to three minutes by each speaker. A call for the previous question shall be in order only after one speaker on each side of the question has been afforded the opportunity to address the issue. Debate on any motion or subject cannot be postponed or set aside for another time due to adoption of an agenda or constraints of time, until action on the particular motion or subject has been taken.

The assembly chair moved back to the report of the Constitution Committee.

M/S/P -- The convention accepts the recommendation of the Constitution Committee to amend Section 7.02 of the LCMC By-Laws to read;

"There shall be seven (7) to twelve (12) members of the board of trustees and each trustee shall hold office until the election of a successor trustee. Any person who is a member of an LCMC congregation shall be eligible for election to the board of trustees. Trustees shall be elected by a majority of those delegates to the national convention who are then present and voting and shall be elected by area as provided in Section 7.09. The number of trustees to be elected shall be determined by the national convention of this association upon the advice of the board of trustees. Trustees shall serve three-year terms. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 7.07 of this constitution, no trustee shall serve more than two consecutive terms of office."

Financial update provided by John Chatelain, particularly noting the need for individuals and congregations to contribute to the general fund to provide for operating expenses. When contributing, checks can be made directly to LCMC. If contributions are to be made to a designated fund it should be so designated. It was also noted that individuals and congregations may send mission support directly to the person(s)/agencies they wish to support rather than using LCMC as a clearinghouse for mission support funds. John called for individuals and congregations to support the Word Alone Youth Fund for the purpose of providing quality youth events. Pastor Larry Lindstrom and representatives of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Farmersville, Ohio presented a check for $10,343.50 for the general fund of LCMC.

M/S/P -- Treasurer's report as prepared and presented by John Chatelain, Treasurer.

Credentials report amended as follows:

• Total registered: 160
• Delegates registered: 75
• Delegates present: 72
• Associates: 13
• Guests: 57
• Total: 142

34 of 42 member congregations were represented. A quorum was re-certified by Tony Stoutenberg, chair of the Credentials Committee, as of 1:00pm, October 26, 2001.

M/P -- As recommended by the LCMC Constitution Committee, By-law Section 7.07. Board of Trustees shall read:

"Vacancies on the board of trustees resulting from the death, resignation, or removal of a trustee may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining trustees, even though less than a quorum. Each trustee elected under this section to fill a vacancy holds office until a qualified successor is elected by the delegates at the next regular or special meeting of the association. Any trustee elected to fill a vacancy of less than two (2) years shall be entitled to election to two (2) full, three-year terms as a member of the board of trustees of this association. In no event shall a member of the board of trustees serve more than eight (8) consecutive years as a member of the board of trustees of the association."

M/P -- As recommended by the LCMC Constitution Committee, By-law Section 7.09. Election by Area shall read as follows:

"Election of members of the board of trustees shall be by areas determined by the board of trustees and approved by the national convention. The number of areas shall correspond to the number of trustees. Areas shall have approximately the same number of congregations; for purposes of determining areas from which elections to the board of trustees are to occur, the size of individual congregations is irrelevant. Areas may be reapportioned at any time by the national convention but shall be reapportioned whenever any area is more than fifteen percent (15%) larger or smaller than the average number of congregations in all areas. Areas shall serve no other function except for the purpose of providing geographic balance in the election of members of the board of trustees."

M/P -- As recommended by the LCMC Constitution Committee, By-law Section 10.Transition Provisions shall read as follows:

"10.1. All members of the present board of trustees, otherwise eligible for election to the board of trustees of LCMC, shall not be disqualified from election to two 3-year consecutive terms on the board of directors of LCMC as a result of interim service as a member of the board of trustees."

"10.2. Members of the board of trustees elected at the October 2001 convention of LCMC shall serve staggered terms of office as determined by unanimous agreement of those elected or, failing unanimous agreement, by random draw. Any member of the board of trustees elected under this provision serving a two-year term or less shall be eligible to serve two consecutive, full, three-year terms on the board of trustees." M/P -- As recommended by the LCMC Constitution Committee, By-law Section 10.3 dealing with transition provisions shall be deleted because it is no longer necessary.

M/P -- As recommended by the LCMC Constitution Committee, Constitution Section 3.04. Ministry shall read as follows:

"God's call to a particular man or woman to the office of public ministry is confirmed by the call of a congregation. For the sake of good order, no one shall "publicly teach or preach or administer the sacraments without a proper call." (CA 14). All calls to the public ministry will be issued by a congregation. Chaplains, missionaries, and pastors employed in other types of specialized ministries will be called by their congregation, or a congregation that chooses to sponsor them, and listed as deployed. Candidates for these ministries must meet the credential standards of the agencies they are endorsed to serve in addition to the credential requirements of LCMC."

M/P -- As recommended by the LCMC Constitution Committee, By-law Section 6.03.National Convention shall read as follows:

"6.03. The national convention is authorized to adopt continuing resolutions, rules and regulations to assist in governing the affairs of the association, and the national convention of the association, that do not otherwise conflict with or are not prohibited by the constitution or by-laws of this association."

M/S/P -- RESOLVED , this convention adopts the following as a continuing resolution, a revision to Article 5, Statement of Purpose, in accordance with request of the Augsburg Lutheran District. The Augsburg Lutheran District has requested that the national convention of LCMC adopt the following language as part of Article 5 of the LCMC Constitution, enumerated as appropriate:

FROM THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE (Article 5)

5.03. In accordance with our mission and objectives, this district shall adopt organizational principles to guide and shape its corporate life.

5.03.01. Our Organizational Principles:

5.03.11. Life Together vs. Guerilla Warfare-Our most important battle will be for the viability of our "life together" as a faith community (treating one another as brothers and sisters in Christ), and against the temptation to turn in upon ourselves, splitting into factions that use "guerilla warfare" tactics to "bite and devour one another" (Galatians 5:15).

5.03.21. Confessional Faithfulness vs. Political Expediency-Faithfulness to our witness is more important than political expediency. We ought to "fly our confessional colors" openly and proudly without regard to considerations of what will be to our political advantage or what will make us popular. "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus . preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season . be steady, endure suffering . fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5).

5.03.31. Transparency vs. Secrecy-The transparency of open discussion and open operation is vital to our life together as a district. Secrecy (e.g., "private" strategy sessions, closed list serves, fear of open discussion, "informal" decision making groups-within-groups) should be unacceptable to us. "For every one who does evil hates the light . but he who does what is true comes to the light ." (John 3:20-21).

5.03.41. Serving in Freedom vs. Obligated Servitude-Our individual and especially our corporate relationships (i.e., ALD/LCMC) ought to be free of any hint of paternalism, coercion, or legalism. We are set free to serve each other in Christ. We are under no one's dominion. "Owe no one anything, except to love one another" (Romans 13:8, Cf. Matthew 22:37-40)."

M/S/P -- RESOLVED, the executive committee that produces the post-convention report has the authority to make necessary editorial and grammatical changes in the final report so the correct meaning is conveyed.

M/S/P -- RESOLVED, an agenda shall be posted by e-mail to member congregations 15 days in advance of a meeting of the LCMC board of trustees. FURTHER, the board of trustees is strongly encouraged to post an e-mail summary of board meetings to member congregations within seven business days so as to provide for immediate communication of all board actions taken.

M/S/P -- RESOLVED, Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ shall adopt the proposed constitution as amended.

M/S/P -- RESOLVED that the delegates present hereby form Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ and that this new association of congregations be officially constituted on this 26th day of October in the year of our Lord, 2001.

M/S/P -- Whereas the board of trustees has drafted a church pension plan, selected Larson-Allen to be the plan administrator, and selected Fredrik Jensen of Edward Jones as its registered representative to enroll participants in a slate of mutual funds it has selected to offer, and Whereas the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has honored the request to draft and sign a reciprocity agreement between its church pension plan and the church pension plan of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), and Whereas some pastors under call and church workers employed by members of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ seek to participate in the LCMC church pension plan, and some seek to roll-over their ELCA church pension plan to the LCMC church pension plan, RESOLVED that Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ implement its church pension plan on or before January 1, 2002, and execute upon written request the provisions of the reciprocity agreement with The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Board of Pensions beginning January 1, 2002. Pastor Dale Wolf led the body in prayer, asking God's guidance for the delegates as they tried to discern His will regarding the adoption of a statement addressing the sanctity of marriage.

M/S/P -- RESOLVED, that LCMC adopt a statement addressing the sanctity of marriage.

Body recessed at 5:45pm, October 26th, 2001.

Body reconvened at 8:30am, Saturday October 27th, 2001.

Certification there has been no change in the census of delegates and a quorum is still present by Tony Stoutenberg, credentials chair.

Certification of election results by Tony Stoutenberg, alternate election chair. The newly elected board of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ:

• Area 1 - Washington & Idaho: Robin Lake - Kellogg, ID
• Area 2 - North Dakota & Montana: Kevin Cramer - Bismarck, ND
• Area 3 - Minnesota "A": Dennis Sandmann - Springfield, MN
• Area 4 - Wisconsin & Minnesota "B": G. Barry Anderson - Hutchinson, MN
• Area 5 - Michigan, Ohio & Pennsylvania: Pastor Bill Sullivan - Ottawa Lake, MI
• Area 6 - Iowa & Nebraska: Debra Adams Lingen - Omaha, NE
• Area 7 - Arizona, California, Kansas, Alabama, & North Carolina: Pastor David Drum, Tucson, AZ

The entire body extended hands in blessing and prayer for the endeavors of the board of trustees, asking God's guidance and support for each member as well as for the congregations they represent.

Presentation of a certificate of appreciation to Governor Al Quie, Mark Chavez, and Anne Gleason recognizing the support, guidance, and leadership provided by the Word Alone board and the Word Alone office staff. The chair also thanked Toni Freer for her contributions in preparing the documents for the convention.

M/S/P -- RESOLVED that LCMC will title the statement on the sanctity of marriage a "Pastoral Admonition" to our individual congregations.

M/S -- RESOLVED, the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ adopt the following as a Pastoral Admonition on the Sanctity of Marriage:

"We affirm that God created us male and female, and that it is God's will and intention that human sexual expression and fulfillment take place only within the boundaries of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; and Mark 10:2-9). And, we confess as individuals and as congregations that we have not fulfilled God's will in our decisions, modeling, and teaching."

MOTION TO AMEND the language, removing the first words "We affirm" and replacing it with "This convention of LCMC affirms" and, in the final sentence of the statement, to strike the words "as individuals and congregations."

Motion seconded. The chair divided the question. Both segments of the amendment on substitute language failed.

Pastor Dale Wolf once again led the body in prayer, asking God's guidance for the delegates as they tried to discern His will regarding a statement addressing the sanctity of marriage.

PASSED -- Main motion as proposed.

MOVED -- By action of both the LCMC interim board and the Word Alone board, the LCMC interim board recommends a 4-person committee to control dissemination of the Seminary Debt Relief Fund; and further that the committee be comprised of 2 members appointed by the Word Alone board, and 2 members elected by the LCMC convention.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION OFFERED/SECONDED/PASSED:

RESOLVED, the LCMC convention recommend to the Word Alone board that the distribution of funds in the Seminary Debt Reduction Fund be to seminarians called by an LCMC congregation, or a seminarian called by a Word Alone congregation and not ordained by a bishop who was installed in the historic episcopate.

MOTION TO AMEND BY ADDITION/SECONDED/PASSED

We direct the LCMC board to dialogue with the Word Alone board to clarify the status and ownership of this fund and bring a recommendation to the April 2002 convention and further move that, in the meantime, a 4-member committee, with 2 members named by the Word Alone board and 2 by this convention, administer the fund.

M/S/P -- This body directs that the board of trustees, or its appropriate subcommittee, consider for adoption when the body next convenes in April, 2002, the language of Article 4, The Nature of the Church, as proposed by the Augsburg Lutheran District.

M/S/P -- This LCMC convention memorializes the Word Alone Network to support its WAN regional organizers legally, spiritually, and emotionally, against the attacks of the ELCA.

M/S/P -- RESOLVED that this convention recognize the Augsburg Lutheran District as an official district of the LCMC and provide a hyperlink from the LCMC web site to the Augsburg Lutheran District website.

As recommended by the LCMC interim board of trustees, names placed in nomination for the two members to represent LCMC on the LCMC/WA Joint Seminary Debt Reduction Fund Committee: Pastor Paul Tjostem (Trinity Dawson-Steele, ND), Pastor Tim Baglien (New Hope Lutheran- Comfrey, MN), and Lenae Rasmussen (Peace Lutheran-Orange Beach, AL/Hilo, Hawaii).

M/S/P -- This body suspends its rules to allow for a plurality to elect two members to the Seminary Debt Reduction oversight committee.

M/S/P -- Resolved, the LCMC board is empowered to create a task force on Ministry, Implementation of Pension and Insurance Benefits and other special needs, and appoint chairs and task force members to serve on these task forces until the objective is obtained or until the next convention, whichever comes first.

M/S/P -- Whereas as members of the priesthood of all believers we are all called to participate in the setting of policy and judging doctrine, whereas Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ faces many issues of theological, biblical and confessional nature, and whereas dealing with these issues will require a firm theological understanding of scripture and confessions, now therefore be it resolved that the 2001 national convention of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ shall recommend that the board establish a Theological Advisory Group to examine, study, and provide teaching on issues that face this body. This Advisory Group is not to dictate policy; rather it is to provide the theological insight to guide Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, its national board, and national conventions in decision making. Membership of this advisory group shall be open to pastors and laity.

M/S/P -- Ratification of results of election by plurality of Pastor Paul Tjostem and Pastor Tim Baglien to the Seminary Debt Reduction oversight committee.

Announcement by the Chair that, as directed by the constitution of this body, the LCMC Interim Board of Directors has voted to hold the 2nd Annual National Convention of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ coincident and contemporaneously with the Word Alone national convention to be held at North Heights Lutheran Church, Roseville, Minnesota, April 28 - 30, 2002. The chair invited direction and input from the membership as to when LCMC meets: whether before, during, or after the WA convention.

M/S/P -- RESOLVED, this body deems it appropriate to recognize the service of the Interim Board Members and to express appreciation for said service to the body.

M/S/P -- A motion to adjourn at 12:40pm. October 27, 2002.

Respectfully submitted,
Debra Adams Lingen, Convention Secretary