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	June 27, 2003 ..................... LCMSNews -- No. 62

	English re-elects Ritt by acclamation

	Dr. David H. Ritt of Livonia, Mich., was re-elected, by
acclamation, to his third term as president of the English District
during the district's 51st convention, June 19-22 at Concordia
University, River Forest, Ill.

	Also elected were:

	* Rev. Larry M. Vogel, Pennsauken, N.J., first vice president;

	* Rev. Roger C. Ellis, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, second vice
president;

	* Rev. Arnold W. Frank, Phoenix, Ariz., third vice president;
and

	* Rev. Martin W. Bangert, Muskego, Wis., fourth vice president.

	Three hours of convention time were spent in theological
conversation in small groups in an effort to try to understand the
church's role in today's world.

	Under the theme "One Gospel, Many People, Share the Joy,"
delegates resolved to:

	* increase the percentage of offerings given to Synod and the
percentage of offerings used to plant new missions and to the
revitalization of declining congregations in North America.

	* ask the 2004 Synod convention to establish three additional
model Hindu ministries by 2007.

	* support the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology at
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and to affirm the Distance Education
Leading To Ordination and Theological Education by Extension programs
and ask the Synod in convention to do the same.

	* affirm lay involvement in worship leadership through reading
of Scripture, assisting with the distribution of communion and in
additional ways that are "right and proper."

	* ask the 2004 Synod convention to revise portions of the LCMS
Constitution that describe the work of the Synod president and district
presidents so that it reflects 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9.

	* ask the 2004 Synod convention to encourage the seminaries to
affirm the role of women within the Synod, as described in the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations report of 1985.

	* affirm and encourage Christian fellowship with respect, as
people of the Synod discuss issues surrounding the practices of ministry
that involve an "informed conscience."

	The convention essay, "A Journey with Jonah," was delivered by
Dr. Reed Lessing, professor of exegetical theology at Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis.

	Special greetings were brought by Rev. Samuel Vrbovsky, newly
elected bishop of the Slovak Evangelical Augsburg Orthodox Church.

	Honored for their years of elective service to the district were
Dr. Paul Bacon of Skokie, Ill. (27 years) and Ralph Thiel of Oro Valley,
Ariz. (30 years).

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