2005 Annual Gathering Minutes

Sunday, October 2nd, 2005

Delegates and visitors participated in opening worship led by Rev. Mark Vander Tuig, followed by fellowship time.

Monday, October 3rd, 2005

Gathering music and opening prayer was led by the worship team of Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona, IA.

Rev. Mark Richardson, pastor of Bethesda Lutheran Church, Dresser, WI, led the bible study on John 1:35 -39.

Rev. Dale Wolf, chairman of LCMC, and Rev. Mark Vander Tuig, senior pastor of our host congregation, Lutheran Church of the Cross, extended greetings and welcome. Rev. Wolf and Rev. Larry Lindstrom, vice chair of LCMC then gave "state of the Association" addresses, after which the LCMC board of trustees were introduced and the floor was opened for a question and answer session with delegates and other attendees.

The Honorable G. Barry Anderson called the convention to order in business session at 10:20 A.M.

M/S/P To nominate Barry Anderson as temporary convention chair for 2005.

M/S/P To close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Barry Anderson as temporary convention chair for 2005.

M/S/P To nominate Deb Lingen to serve as temporary recording secretary for the 2005 convention.

M/S/P To close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Deb Lingen as temporary recording secretary for the 2005 convention.

M/S/P To authorize the convention committee of Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona for the purposes of the convention, planning and operational committees.

M/S/P To authorize the chair to appoint tellers, sergeants at arms, and parliamentarians.

The chair appointed Gene Lutz as Parliamentarian for the convention.

The chair pointed out modifications to the proposed rules of the convention this year:

• a change in area voting that allows for the nomination process on Monday evening; in the case of more than one candidate the voting is to take place on Tuesday evening;
• the appointment of moderators for the purposes of elections in areas.

M/S/P To approve the preliminary credentials committee report as delivered:

• 314 registrations
• 83 of 162 member congregations represented
• 133 delegates and seated alternates

M/S/P To make the temporary organization permanent for the purposes of this convention.

M/S/P To adopt, as a whole, the 2005 proposed convention rules.

John Chatelain presented the Treasurer's report, highlighting the information provided in the convention binder. John urged congregations to continue to conduct benevolence activities at the church and district level, but also to remember the needs of the association in their annual budget process. He commended to the body the two LCMC restricted funds, for seminarian and mission support, as well as the general fund, noting that we have two full time employees and growing expenses in getting the word out to congregations interested in LCMC. John also pointed out that approximately half of our member congregations have not yet contributed to our general fund and he urged them to consider doing so, because as of the end of August we are running slightly behind on income to budget. He then presented the summary budget, also included in the convention packet, with a projected total expense of approximately $240,000. In closing, John drew attention to the report from an independent auditor that recommended no change in our financial controls.

M/S/P To accept the financial and treasurer's reports as presented.

M/S/P To accept the secretary's minutes of the LCMC annual convention in Fargo, held October 3-5, 2004, as written.

M/P To adopt the proposed bylaw change 7.08:

To insert a new bylaw section 7.08 and renumber subsequent paragraphs as follows:

"7.08 A member of the board of trustees may be removed for cause by a two-thirds vote of the remaining board of trustees, following written notice to the board member of the grounds for removal. The national convention may, by resolution, further define cause permitting board member removal and may also specify additional procedures to be followed in connection with a motion to remove a board member."

M/P To adopt the proposed bylaw change 8.05 as follows:

To amend the last sentence of 8.05 as follows:

"The treasurer may be removed by the board of trustees only by a two-thirds majority vote of the remaining board of trustees and only for cause following written notice of the grounds for removal. The national convention may, by resolution, further define cause permitting removal and may also specify additional procedures to be followed in connection with the removal of the treasurer."

Rev. Bill Sullivan, LCMC Service Coordinator, introduced the first keynote speaker, Rev. Bill Moberly of the Eastern European Missions Network.

Rev. Tony Stoutenburg read a letter from Rev. Michael Bonham updating the convention on needs for hurricane relief.

(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)

The LCMC board of trustees hosted an additional question and answer session with delegates and other attendees.

M/S/P To approve the apportionment of voting areas for October 2005 as recommended by the board of trustees.

M/S/P To approve the apportionment of voting areas for October 2006 as recommended by the board of trustees, subject to recommendations of the board for congregations added after this date.

The body recessed so Area elections could take place.

Convention attendees were transported to the Iowa State Fairgrounds for a celebration including the evening meal, fellowship, and entertainment "Unity," the LCC Drama Group, Rachel Scott, and the Regimental Brass form the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Tuesday, October 4th

The body reconvened at 8:00 A.M.

Gathering music was led by the worship team of Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona, IA.

Rev. Edith Bickford, pastor of Tecumseh Lutheran Community Church and Peru Community Church in Nebraska led the bible study on John 1: 40 - 42.

Janina Gazda of the Center for Mission & Evangelism of the Polish Lutheran Church, Dziegelow, Poland, addressed the body, and then held a Q& A session along with Rev. Bill Moberly of East European Missions Network (EEMN).

(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)

John Chatelain announced that the free will offering taken at the Monday evening celebration was $1,453, which will go toward the expenses of sending Rev. Curt Rosen to meet with our LCMC member congregations in India.

Rev. Bob Nordvall, Charity Lutheran Church in Bismarck, ND spoke to the gathering about his mission trip to Latvia coming up in January.

District leaders introduced themselves. Rev. Wolf thanked Rev. Lenae Rasmussen for her service on the LCMC board of trustees. Representatives of LCMC congregations who have joined the association within the past year were invited to come forward and introduce themselves, and then newly ordained LCMC pastors and pastors new to the association within the past year were asked to stand and be recognized.

Rev. Kip Tyler, senior pastor of Lutheran Church of the Master, Omaha, NE and chairman of the LCMC Ministry Board, spoke about plans for the Leadership Conference in April 2006. He then directed attention to the Call Packet, available from the LCMC office and on the LCMC web site. Rev. Tyler also discussed highlights of the "Discipline Philosophy" document presented in the convention packet, including sections about discipline, consultation, mediation. These documents are works in progress and are presented to the association for comment and feedback. Rev. Tyler also suggested the desirability of a task force to network ideas on theological education in LCMC.

M/S/P To receive the report of the Ministry Board.

Dr. Kent Hunter of "Church Doctor Ministries" addressed the gathering as our third keynote speaker.

Rev. Dale Wolf announced that the 6th annual LCMC convention will be hosted by Faith Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 1-4, 2006.

TJ Anderson invited the young people of LCMC to participate in a 2006 national event sponsored by Youth Encounter, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee. There will be an "event within an event" allowing time for LCMC youth to spend time and network with each other. There is also a work camp opportunity in partnership with Youth Works, for youth groups can do a work event on their way to the Youth Encounter gathering.

(BREAKOUT SESSIONS)

The gathering recessed to allow attendees to participate in District gatherings.

Wednesday, October 5th

Gathering music was led by the worship team of Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona, IA.

Rev. Randy Upgren, associate pastor of Charity Lutheran Church, Bismarck, ND led the bible study on John 1: 43 - 46.

Keynote speaker Dr. Kent Hunter once again addressed the assembly.

Results of the elections were announced. The two incumbents, The Honorable G. Barry Anderson and Rev. Dale Wolf were re-elected to 3-year terms, and Rev. David Chancellor was elected to fulfill a one-year term.

The gathering expressed its thanks to the people of LCC for their wonderful hospitality with a round of applause.

Closing worship was led by Rev. Becky Lee of Atonement Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND.

Respectfully submitted,
Debra Adams Lingen, Secretary