2004 Annual Gathering Minutes

Sunday, October 3rd, 2004

Delegates and visitors participated in opening worship led by Rev. John Fahning, followed by fellowship time.

Monday, October 4th, 2004

Gathering music and opening prayer was led by Chris Elmore, Worship Director of Hosanna! Lutheran Church, Charlotte, NC.

Rev. Perry Toso, pastor of Church of the Good Shepherd, Florence, AL, offered bible study on Isaiah 60, the command, "Arise!"

Rev. Dale Wolf, chairman of LCMC and senior pastor of Atonement Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND, extended greetings and welcome. He introduced Rev. Gene Appel, of the Willow Creek Association, whose first presentation was "Why Change?"

The convention was called to order in business session at 10:30.

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

• 264 registrations
• 64 of 118 member congregations (55% representation)
• 129 delegates registered and authorized to vote.

M/S/P To nominate Deb Lingen as recording secretary of the 2004 convention.

M/S/P To nominate Barry Anderson as temporary convention chair for 2004.

M/P To adopt the proposed convention rules.

M/S/P To authorize the chair to appoint, for the purposes of the convention, planning and operational committees.

The chair appointed the convention committee of Atonement Lutheran Church, Fargo.

The chair appointed Marc Windahl parliamentarian for the convention.

Rev. Dale Wolf, chairman of the LCMC board of trustees, and Rev. Larry Lindstrom, vice-chairman, gave a brief overview of how LCMC functions and discussed the future of the Association.

John Chatelain presented the Treasurer's report. Highlighting the information provided in the convention binder, he noted the report from an independent auditor recommended no change in our financial controls. He then presented the summary budget, also included in the convention packet, with a projected total expense of approximately $240,000. The slight increase reflects the need for two full time employees and anticipates expenses related to the growth of the association. Chatelain 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. It was worth noting that the 2004 convention, annual leadership conference, and youth event all operated in the black.

M/S/P To accept the treasurer's report as presented.

M/S/P To adopt the apportionment of areas for October 2004 as recommended by the board of trustees, with the addition of Immanual Lutheran in Swea City IA in Area 4, for the purposes of electing trustees.

Rev. Gene Appel gave his second keynote address, "How to Change Your Church Without Killing It."

After the lunch break, Rev. Appel spoke on, "How to Change Your Church Without Killing You."

The body recessed to breakout sessions, area caucuses, and district gatherings, followed by a wild game feed, a live taping of the radio show, "Three Guys from North Dakota."

Tuesday, October 5th

The body reconvened at 9:00 A.M.

Bible study was once again led by Rev. Perry Toso on the bible verse theme for the convention, "Arise, Shine!" from Isaiah 60.

Rev. Kip Tyler, senior pastor of Lutheran Church of the Master, Omaha, NE and chairman of the LCMC Ministry Board, presented the proposed "Call Packet for Congregations and Pastoral Candidates." He noted that LCMC's adopted ministry standards originally had language referencing other Lutheran bodies; the ministry board has attempted to clean up that language. He also noted that there is significant flexibility for congregations and districts.

In the introduction to "Ministry Standards and Procedures for Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ" Rev. Tyler highlighted the point that congregations are responsible to call their pastor: with the freedom, comes the responsibility. The document defines different types of call which will be indicated on the LCMC list of clergy, as well as related standards and procedures.

M/S/ To approve the proposed Standard for a Certified Call in LCMC, "Candidates will subscribe to the LCMC Statement of Faith; if related to a district, the district's ministry standards; state and federal laws; and expectations of the endorsing agents."

M/ To amend the language to "in so far as one can do so without sinning" following the phrase "state and federal laws."

M/S/P To amend the language to "provided they do not violate the LCMC Statement of Faith" following the phrase "state and federal laws."

The amended main motion passed, reading:

To approve the proposed Standard for a Certified Call in LCMC, "Candidates willsubscribe to the LCMC Statement of Faith; if related to a district, the district's ministry standards; state and federal laws, provided they do not violate the LCMC Statement of Faith; and expectations of the endorsing agents."

Rev. Tyler highlighted points on the section titled "Inclusion on the List of LCMC Clergy."

Chaplain Major John Rasmussen shared stories of valor, courage, and Christ-like love as he addressed the body on opportunities to serve as chaplains in the United States armed forces. On behalf of the chaplains, he thanked the members of LCMC for their prayers and requested continued prayers and support for our country's armed forces.

M/S/P To adopt the apportionment of areas for October 2005, with the addition of Immanual Lutheran in Swea City IA in Area 6, as recommended by the board of trustees for the purposes of electing trustees.

M/S/P To adopt the recommended by law changes in Section 2.01 (a) as recommended by the LCMC board of trustees, as reflected in the convention packet to read:

"Member churches of this association are authorized to call and ordain ministers pursuant to such standards as member churches may adopt from time to time. Called and ordained pastors of this association may belong to clergy rosters of another association or church. [Member churches are not required to seek or receive approval from this association before calling a specific pastor or pastors and are free to call persons not on any list of pastors maintained by this association and are free to call persons to serve in a pastoral capacity regardless of whether or not such persons are identified on any LCMC list of pastors.]"

M/S/P To adopt the recommended by law changes in Section 2.02 (a) as recommended by the LCMC board of trustees, as reflected in the convention packet to read:

"All ordained ministers of this association shall approve of and subscribe to the statement of faith of this association and ministry standards as established by member churches or districts. Ordained ministers shall be subject to discipline as provided for in a discipline plan adopted by a member church or district. Any discipline plan will contain appropriate rights of appeal."

M/S/P To adopt the recommended by law changes in Section 3.02 (a) as recommended by the LCMC board of trustees, as reflected in the convention packet to read:

"A. To serve and support the member congregations of this association in their mission to proclaim the gospel, this association will, among other things:

a. Be available to assist congregations in calling pastors to the ministry of word and sacrament;"

M/S/P To adopt the recommended by law changes in Section 3.02 (d) as recommended by the LCMC board of trustees, as reflected in the convention packet to read:

"A. To serve and support the member congregations of this association in their mission to proclaim the gospel, this association will, among other things:

d. Assist in placement of chaplains for specialized services, e.g., military, medical, social services or special ministries of the association members;"

Rev. Randy Freund of Faith Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, MN, introduced Rev. K. K. Alavi, keynote speaker and Christian missionary to Muslims in his native India.

Rev. Alavi shared his story of conversion and faith, the story of God's power in his life as told in the books, "In Search of Assurance and its latest edition, "The End of a Search."

Rev. David Drum and Bill Lane of LCMC-Lutheran Men announced a bequest of $1000 to Holy Temple Lutheran Mission in Ft. Worth, TX from the LCMC-LM Gift Fund.

Rev. Dave Christenson of Faith Lutheran in Hutchinson traced the roots of the New Hope Mission Society, a non-profit agency working alongside the Malabar Mission Society, pan-Lutheran mission agencies serving India. Rev. Alavi then continued his story of evangelism to Muslims in his country and answered questions from the body.

Jeff Stephenson, Director of Youth Ministries, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Sandy, UT, invited the youth of LCMC to our 3rd annual rally, to be hosted at the Olympic Village in Salt Lake City, Utah - July 10-13th, 2005.

Rev. Dale Wolf announced that the 5th annual LCMC convention will be hosted by Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona, IA, in October, 2005.

The body adjourned to breakout sessions, followed by dinner.

Results of elections were announced, with the three incumbents, Rev. Larry Lindstrom, Debra Adams Lingen, and Dennis Sandmann, re-elected to 3-year terms. The full board of trustees was introduced, and included those three re-elected trustees as well as G. Barry Anderson, John Chatelain, Rev. Larry Lindstrom, Rev. Lenae Rasmussen, and Rev. Dale Wolf.

Closing worship was led by Rev. K.K. Alavi.

Respectfully submitted,
Debra Adams Lingen, Secretary