wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Atlantic re-elects Benke

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	June 17, 2003 ..................... LCMSNews -- No. 51

	Atlantic re-elects Benke

	Dr. David Benke was re-elected to his fifth term as president of
the Atlantic District at the district's 55th convention, June 6-7 in
Bronxville, N.Y. Benke, 57, was elected on the first ballot.

	Also elected were:

	* Rev. Charles Froehlich, Dix Hills, N.Y., first vice president;

	* Rev. Warren Winterhoff, Delmar, N.Y., second vice president;

	* Rev. Robert Hartwell, Bronxville, N.Y., third vice president;
and

	* Rev. Peter Dorn, Queens Village, N.Y., fourth vice president.

	Under the theme, "Engaging the World with the Gospel of Hope,"
delegates voted to:

	* promote reconciliation within The Lutheran Church--Missouri
Synod, which would include a districtwide time of renewal in conjunction
with Lent 2004, and a request that the Synod president, vice presidents
and Council of Presidents "pursue actions that seek to effect
reconciliation on a Synodwide level."

	* thank and commend President Benke for "ministering to the
citizens of Metro New York and the country following the terror attacks
by offering a prayer in the 'Precious Name of Jesus' at the Prayer for
America civic event"; thank God for the leadership of Benke and Synod
President Gerald Kieschnick; and encourage district congregations to
"'engage the world with the Gospel of hope,' proclaiming the message of
Christ and showing the love of Jesus in public forums."

	* affirm the Synod's Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
in its decisions of Jan. 20-21. Among those decisions, the CCM ruled
that "the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod do not allow or
contemplate the expulsion of a member of the Synod on the basis of an
action taken with the full knowledge and approval of the appropriate
ecclesiastical supervisor" and "a member of the Synod who acts contrary
to Article XIII of the Constitution cannot be charged if he or she acted
according to the advice of his or her ecclesiastical supervisor."

	* "encourage the Council of Presidents," which has been charged
with examining and redefining the boundaries of Bylaw 2.27 of the LCMS
Handbook, "to address concerns" that include protecting the rights of
the accused and holding all parties in a dispute accountable for their
actions.

	* explore global mission partnership opportunities with
missionaries and the Synod's Board for Mission Services, and authorize
at least one specific partnership per year for the next triennium.

	* promote mission strategies in urban areas.

	* thank God for growth -- including more gains in confirmed
membership and in new preaching stations than any other LCMS district --
over the past three years.

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