2017 Annual Gathering Minutes

2017 Annual Gathering Minutes

We Confess Our Faith  |  17th Annual Convention  |  October 8-11, 2017  |  Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sean Kelly, Chair of the Board of Trustees, called the convention to order in Business Session at 2:15pm with prayer Monday, October 09, 2017.

M/S/P Motion to appoint Barry Anderson Convention Chair

M/S/P Motion to appoint Joe Leavengood as Parliamentarian

Procedures for the Convention 2017

M/S/P Motion from Chair to appoint Julie Smith as Recording Secretary for 2017.

M/S/P Motion to appointment of Rob Horn as Credentials Committee Chair.

• Total Attendance: 899/903
• Voting Delegates: 486/487
• Members: 250
• Visitors: 129/133
• Seminarians: 35/34
• Board of Trustees/Staff/ Ministry Board: 21

Old Business

Chair directed the body to Section 6 of the Gathering booklet in regard to adopting the official convention rules.

M/S/P Motion to adopt the convention rules as presented.

M/S/P Motion to accept the 2016 Minutes as presented (Located in ‘Delegate’ Section in book)

New Business

Treasurer’s Report- presented by Laurel Swanson which included the following highlights:

• 393 congregations have supported LCMC, down from last year (471)
• Donation Income YTD

Members were directed to the Financial Section of the book which contains current financials as well as the Audit Report as of December 31, 2016.

M/S/P Motion to accept the proposed 2018 Budget

M/S/P Motion to approve the Election Areas for 2017

M/S/P Motion to approve the proposal for 2018 areas

The 2017 Areas holding caucuses for election are:

• Area 2 - Rochester
• Area 4 - Buffalo

Moved Resolution #1 –

Whereas the Constitution of LCMC states at 3.02, “Ministry standards shall be established by the board of trustees or a board of ministry and approved by the national convention of this association; they may be altered or amended only with the ratification and approval of a majority of the member congregations of this association,” and Whereas no provisions for approval of changes in the practice and application of the Ministry Standards exist, therefore, Be It Resolved, as a Continuing Resolution of this Association, that future changes to the practices and application of LCMC’s Ministry Standards shall be submitted to the National Convention / Annual Gathering of LCMC for debate, possible amendment and vote.

Delegates:
Pastor Amber Bergeron, Our Saviors / Badger, MN
Pastor John Hanson, Peace / Baldwin WI
Pastor Keith Mentor, Elkhorn / Elkhorn, IA
Rev Dr Brad Miller, Zion Des Moines, IA
Pastor Sara Parnell, Trinity / Carrington, ND
Pastor Jeremy Pederson, Our Saviors, Nelson, MN
Pastor Mark Schimmel, Zion/ Priddy, TX
Pastor Tony Stoutenburg, Grace / Hayward, WI

Other members of LCMC:
Pastor Jan Gluth King, Bethel / Holdrege, NE
Ms Wendy Poch, Spirit of Hope / Parker, CO

Discussion ensued

Moved Resolution #2 –

Whereas, it is a foundational principle in LCMC that congregations have the right to call any person to the office of pastor, and Whereas many congregations, which do not have the financial wherewithal to support a traditional seminary-trained pastor, use their freedom to call and ordain individuals suited to ministry who do not have a seminary education, and Whereas the individuals who serve in such calls vary in age, family responsibilities, education, life experience, and pastoral skills, and many have used various nontraditional pastoral training programs and courses to augment their knowledge and skills, and Whereas, some number of pastors currently serving in LCMC without formal seminary education have already been examined under earlier colloquy processes and added to the certified clergy list, and Whereas LCMC, like most other church bodies can foresee a coming shortage of seminary trained clergy, and Whereas, LCMC recognizes that the Holy Spirit may have his own ideas as to the use of such a pastor, therefore Be it resolved that the Ministry Board is instructed to establish a process by which pastors without master of divinity degrees who are serving in congregations can, by demonstration of pastoral competence and theological knowledge, become listed as LCMC certified clergy, and present this process to the next annual gathering for debate, possible amendment and vote.

Delegates:
Pastor Amber Bergeron, Our Saviors / Badger, MN
Pastor John Hanson, Peace / Baldwin WI
Pastor Keith Mentor, Elkhorn / Elkhorn, IA
Rev Dr Brad Miller, Zion Des Moines, IA
Pastor Sara Parnell, Trinity / Carrington, ND
Pastor Bruce Rimmereid, Christ / Bloomer, WI
Pastor Mark Schimmel, Zion/ Priddy, TX
Pastor Tony Stoutenburg, Grace / Hayward, WI

Discussion ensued

Business Meeting suspended at 2:45pm

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Chair resumed the Business Meeting at 2:03 p.m.

Credentials Report

• Total Attendance – 903
• Voting Delegates – 487
• Members – 250
• Visitors – 133
• Seminarians – 34
• Board of Trustees/Staff/Ministry Board - 21

Discussion of Resolution #1 resumed

M/S/P Motion to table consideration of resolutions 1 & 2

M/S/P Motion to approve Sending Resolution

A Sending Proclamation: Be it resolved that the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, it’s member Congregations and Delegates give thanks to God for His work through Christ in us, and, for His Word & Sacraments that sustain us as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the reformation and 17th anniversary of our association. So, that we may boldly continue to proclaim and deliver in mission The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Submitted by:
Garry Seefeldt
John Nelson
Martha Uecker Nelson
John Hansen
Cindy White
Tim White
Kip Tyler
Randy Freund

M/S/P Motion to adjourn at 2:54 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Rev. Julie Smith

Addendum to Minutes: Susan Gunderson (Sister Bay, WI) for Area 3 and John Fauerbach (Chester, MT) for Area 2 were elected to the Board.

Minutes in PDF Format

Download PDF

Log in to add a comment

Click Here For Content Archives