wfn.org | [LCMSNews]Pacific Southwest re-elects Stoterau

["LCMS e-News" <LCMSENEWS@lcms.org>]

	 <http://www.lcms.org>
e-News
	LCMS News

	PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE! This message comes
from a "Send Only" Mailbox that does not recognize replies.

	July 10, 2003 ....................... LCMSNews -- No. 74

	Pacific Southwest
	re-elects Stoterau

	Delegates to the LCMS Pacific Southwest District convention
elected Dr. Larry Stoterau on the second ballot to his second term as
district president during the convention June 29-July 1 in Irvine,
Calif.

	They also elected Rev. Roger Sonnenberg of Arcadia, Calif.,
first vice president; Rev. Beryl Droegemueller, Vista, Calif., second
vice president; Rev. Kevin Wyssmann, Gilbert, Ariz., third vice
president; and Rev. Steven Carlson, Manhattan Beach, Calif., fourth vice
president.

	District delegates passed a resolution supporting the 2001 Synod
conventions Resolution 3-07A, which commends for continued use and
guidance two documents on church-fellowship issues.

	The district resolution asks pastors and church leaders, while
remaining faithful to our doctrinal and fellowship concerns, to continue
reaching out into the public square with clear messages of Gods love
in our Lord Jesus. The action also calls for sensitivity concerning
our responsibility to others ... so that we avoid that which divides
rather than unites us.

	Another resolution passed by the district delegates commend[s]
and thank[s] Synod President Gerald Kieschnick for bringing the
wonderful message of Gods love to the members of the LCMS as well as
the communities in the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks. The resolution specifically mentions Kieschnicks use
of letters, speeches and newspaper ads.

	The district-convention delegates also passed a resolution
encouraging emphasis in the LCMS on what we have in common with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America while continuing discussions of
issues that divide the two church bodies. The action supports
theological conferences throughout the Synod, with the goal not only to
identify opposing perspectives on fellowship issues, but also to affirm
.. unifying faith in Jesus Christ.

	Delegates also approved a resolution which notes that LCMS Bylaw
2.27 concerning actions to terminate membership in the Synod has proven
that it enables a process ... that circumvents the clear Biblical
mandates of Matthew 18 in dealing with disputes and disagreements. The
resolution asks the 2004 Synod convention to refer the bylaw to the
Council of Presidents for study and recommendation.

	Other actions that Pacific Southwest delegates took resolve to:

	 ... encourage the Synod to reaffirm its advisory and servant
role in relation to congregations and ask the district to gratefully
support the work of our Synod.

	 increase awareness of and support for deaconesses in the
district and intentionally encourage congregations to consider calling
deaconesses.

	 ask the Synod to conduct an updated and more comprehensive
study of declines in the numbers of professional church workers and to
develop a working model for worker retention.

	 petition the 2004 Synod convention to authorize that the
second through fifth LCMS vice presidents be elected to represent
geographic regions and that delegates from the regions elect their own
vice presidents, who would then be ranked by the Synod convention.

	*********************************

	LCMSNews is published by the News and Information Division,
Board for Communication Services, of The Lutheran Church--Missouri
Synod. If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

	To subscribe, unsubscribe or to change your e-mail address for
LCMSNews, go to the following Web address: www.lcms.org/enews
<http://www.lcms.org/enews>  .

	*********************************

	  This Edition of "LCMS News" e-News is provided by:

	Board for Communication Services
Contact Editor <http://www.lcms.org/enews/contact_editor.asp?title=LCMS
News&editorid=6>

		To subscribe to or unsubscribe from this Newsletter and
many others, please visit LCMS e-News <http://www.lcms.org/enews> .
		Share this Newsletter
<http://www.lcms.org/enews/forward.asp?m=770>  with a friend.

MessageId=770
  _____

Design ) Copyright 2003 The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.
<http://www.lcms.org>
No reproduction without consent. All rights reserved.