Who Should Be Nominated For LCMS Synodical President?

[Dave Benke]

At that level, I just do not think experience in one particular mission arena is superior to experience in another.

FWIW, I'm not saying that one experience is superior to another.  I'm simply saying that they are different, and that the skills learned in one do not necessarily well translate into the other.

Ideally, the head of missions would have 20 years experience in Bongobongo, 20 in mission development in Podunk, NE and 20 years of military chaplaincy (preferably Navy, of course). Then all the bases are covered. Unfortunately, he also would be close to 90 years old.

So, again:

1. Does the individual shares the elected president's vision of what mission should be?
2. Along with that, can he lead?
3. Can he manage complex programs and budgets?
4. Will there people with experience in other mission fields also on the staff?

Frankly, I have no idea why any pastor would want such a job. Unless he went to seminary with the hope of becoming a Synodocrat.

The substantive points here are fine.  And in my opinion the substantive points should be evaluated rigorously.  Parishes care about and are connected to the national body in three prime areas - missions, seminary education and crisis/disaster response. 

Are we proclaiming the Gospel, baptizing and developing communities of faith around the altar nationally and globally as a top priority?

Are we preparing workers for the harvest?

Are we present with mercy and compassion in times of disaster and crisis?

Those involved in answering the first question, which is linked in terms of workers to the second question and in terms of opportunity for Gospel presentation to the third question, must be held accountable to the expansion of the capacity of the denomination to develop communities of faith and to renew communities of faith. 

In this post I do not like
Bongobongo as the descriptor for I guess overseas missions
Synodocrat for those who work for the wider church in developing mission energy and capacity
Both are dismissive terms.

Professors do not like to be called ivory tower academics.
Parish pastors do not like to be called round-collar maintenance men.

All of the above are inept descriptors.  The tasks are great, and the leadership needs are great - missionaries are not Bongobongo guys.  Executives mapping and carrying out the mission strategies are not Synodocrats. 

Dave Benke

[Mike Gehlhausen]

So, again:

1. Does the individual shares the elected president's vision of what mission should be?

Why is this a qualification?  Do we shift mission directors at the whim of the president?  Is this to be a fully politicized position?  Shouldn't he rather share the vision of the synod by being certified for ministry by her and within the bounds of her belief and practice rather than merely by agreeing with the views of a person who happens to be the president of the day?  Further, I thought that he was chosen by a board and not directly by the president, though perhaps I'm mistaken.  But why is this particular criterion important?

Why is it presumed that the elected president's vision of what mission should be is a politicized whim? Yes, sin does affect that vision so some politics are involved.  However, this may simply be a choice in emphasis as President Harrison has more of a mercy and care emphasis whereas other presidents might have more of a catechetical emphasis.  Obviously, both mercy and teaching are important as are any number of other tasks regarding mission work.  But the emphases may differ, and I think it is good if those who work together share the same vision.

As for why it would be important that the individual share the elected president's vision of what mission should be, I remember this from the article which Deaconess Schave linked  [ http://mo.lcms.org/Index.asp?PageID=&Function=News&NewsID=15695&CategoryID=4250 ]:

Williamson was appointed to the position by LCMS President Rev. Matthew C. Harrison after consultation with the Boards for National and International Mission, as well as unanimous concurrence by the LCMS Board of Directors.

I'm no bylaws maven, but if the synodical president normally appoints the chief mission officer after consultation with the Boards for National and International Mission and the LCMS Board of Directors, then it would seem important that the officer share the President's mission.

Mike

[Daniel L. Gard]

In this post I do not like
Bongobongo as the descriptor for I guess overseas missions
Synodocrat for those who work for the wider church in developing mission energy and capacity
Both are dismissive terms.

Professors do not like to be called ivory tower academics.
Parish pastors do not like to be called round-collar maintenance men.

All of the above are inept descriptors.  The tasks are great, and the leadership needs are great - missionaries are not Bongobongo guys.  Executives mapping and carrying out the mission strategies are not Synodocrats. 

Dave Benke

Now I can add "inept" to "unhelpful" and "wrong, even dead wrong". The honorifics just keep piling up!

[Dave Likeness]

The administration of the Notre Dame University
is inept.  Their linebacker Manti Te'o is twisting
in the wind with a fake girlfriend and Coach
Kelly has no comment.  Their Athletic Director
sheds tears on this situation at a press conference.
Yes, Alabama exposed their ineptness on the
football field and their administration exposed
their ineptness in the court of public opinion.

[Mike Gehlhausen]

The administration of the Notre Dame University
is inept.  Their linebacker Manti Te'o is twisting
in the wind with a fake girlfriend and Coach
Kelly has no comment.  Their Athletic Director
sheds tears on this situation at a press conference.
Yes, Alabama exposed their ineptness on the
football field and their administration exposed
their ineptness in the court of public opinion.

Pr. Likeness, I am not certain whether or not this belongs in the Football thread, but it certainly seems out of place here.

Mike

[Daniel L. Gard]

The administration of the Notre Dame University
is inept.  Their linebacker Manti Te'o is twisting
in the wind with a fake girlfriend and Coach
Kelly has no comment.  Their Athletic Director
sheds tears on this situation at a press conference.
Yes, Alabama exposed their ineptness on the
football field and their administration exposed
their ineptness in the court of public opinion.

Before the university would confer my degrees, I had to pass an ineptitude test. I received a "high honors" mark.

[Dave Likeness]

Mike, I was just messing with the Chaplain who
as you know was nominated previously for the
highest office in the LCMS.  Have a good day.
Life is too short to think that the Texas Rangers
will win the World Series.

[Mike Gehlhausen]

Mike, I was just messing with the Chaplain who
as you know was nominated previously for the
highest office in the LCMS.  Have a good day.
Life is too short to think that the Texas Rangers
will win the World Series.

Duh.  OK.  Sorry, I should have caught that. 

And while my life may be too short for me to ever see the Texas Rangers eventually win the World Series, I am hoping that my daughter might actually see it.

I also entertain myself by thinking that there is a parallel dimension where the Rangers got that third strike in Game 6 and won the 2011 World Series.

OK, back to talking the synodical presidential election and mission priorities.  Personally, I'm just glad that we don't ring up contacts like a Jerry Lewis telethon any more.

Mike

[Johan Bergfest]

And while my life may be too short for me to ever see the Texas Rangers eventually win the World Series, I am hoping that my daughter might actually see it.

...or, they play the Cubs and both teams lose. 

[Dave Benke]

In this post I do not like
Bongobongo as the descriptor for I guess overseas missions
Synodocrat for those who work for the wider church in developing mission energy and capacity
Both are dismissive terms.

Professors do not like to be called ivory tower academics.
Parish pastors do not like to be called round-collar maintenance men.

All of the above are inept descriptors.  The tasks are great, and the leadership needs are great - missionaries are not Bongobongo guys.  Executives mapping and carrying out the mission strategies are not Synodocrats. 

Dave Benke

Now I can add "inept" to "unhelpful" and "wrong, even dead wrong". The honorifics just keep piling up!

Thanks for the admission of ineptness, Honorable Chaplain.   

By the way, knowing that there are those who serve our country on the board here, a number of us from the Atlantic District were privileged to be invited to the advancement ceremony for Michael Meese, who retires shortly as the Social Sciences Chair at West Point Military Academy.  His incredibly exemplary service to country (he also serves as the Chair of our country's Joint Task Force on Counter-terrorism and has had many tours while teaching to places like Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan) and family is also augmented by service to Lord and Church.  He has served for years as the president of West Point Lutheran Ministries, Pr. Martin Conkling (LC-MS); and on the Board of Directors of the Atlantic District and Concordia College Bronxville (currently serving). 

Mike was advanced from Colonel to Brigadier General at the ceremony.  Pinning the stars on his shoulders were his wife Ramona and his mom and dad, Ed and Ursula.  Edwin Meese was our country's attorney general during the Reagan era, and just now retires from presidency of the Heritage Foundation in DC. 

At any rate, it is an honor and privilege to serve God and country, and I know you do so with vigor and dedication, Chaplain Gard.

Dave Benke

[Pastor Ted Crandall]

Edwin Meese was our country's attorney general during the Reagan era

And he's still an LCMS Lutheran, too, right? 

[Dave Benke]

Edwin Meese was our country's attorney general during the Reagan era

And he's still an LCMS Lutheran, too, right?

I believe so, although they have moved a couple of times in recent years.  When the children were younger in SoCal they were in an LC-MS parish in the San Diego area.

Dave Benke