The week of May 17 brought the synod's Assignment Committee to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) in Mequon. The Assignment Committee is composed of the 12 district presidents, the synod president and vice presidents, as well as advisors from synodical schools and areas of ministry.

On Tues., May 18, 33 men received calls to serve as vicars in congregations throughout the synod. The vicar year takes place in the third year of seminary training and provides practical training for the pastoral ministry in a congregational setting. Following the vicar year, ministerial students return to the seminary for one final year of classroom instruction before being assigned to their first call.

On Thurs., May 20, 52 candidates were assigned. Most were assigned to their first calls; seven previous graduates were either re-assigned for a second year of service (usually as tutors) or were assigned permanently to calls in which they had been serving temporarily. Three graduates were assigned to foreign mission fields (Mexico, Russia, and East Asia).

Four traditional candidates and one PSI (Pastoral Studies Institute) candidate were not immediately assigned, although this week Titus Lee, the PSI graduate, was assigned to a shared-time call in Sheboygan and Milwaukee. All 11 candidates from 2009 who were unassigned last year had been assigned prior to the 2010 assignment day. Please keep the four men still to be assigned and their families in your prayers as they wait to learn where God will have them serve.

The complete list of assignments can be seen on the seminary Web site.

Combination of two ministries proposed

Jesus' familiar words, "Whatever you do for the least of these my brothers, you do for me," have guided two synodical entities for many years.

The Committee on Relief has focused on providing assistance to communities, congregations, and individuals in the aftermath of natural disasters and medical emergencies. Using only the gifts provided by generous WELS members, the Committee on Relief has been on the scene with manpower and financial assistance in places like New York after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, New Orleans after Katrina, and Haiti after the earthquake. The Committee on Relief has also provided assistance to dozens of congregations and families affected by tornadoes, floods, and fires.

The Humanitarian Aid Committee has had a slightly different, though related, role. Rather than responding to crises, the Humanitarian Aid Committee has served as an agent of World Missions to provide humanitarian aid for communities in world mission fields. It has provided such things as fresh water wells, water purification systems, medical supplies, and educational programs in remote villages in Africa and Asia. The purpose of these projects is to show Christian love to those in need and to "build bridges" for the spread of the gospel in those communities.

A proposal is now under consideration to combine these two similar but related ministries into a single agency for humanitarian assistance, both in times of crises and in times and places where humanitarian aid projects will help to prepare the soil for the planting of the gospel. A combination of these two agencies will enable greater efficiency, avoid potential duplication of efforts, and provide better visibility to the important efforts now being carried out by both groups. Details of the proposal are to be worked out before the next meeting of the Board for World Missions in October.

District conventions to be held in June

All 12 districts of the synod will be holding their conventions in June. The conventions bring together pastors, male teachers, and lay delegates from each congregation to hear reports on synodical matters and to provide input and direction for the 2011 synod convention.

One major item of business will be the presentation of the draft of the proposed Long-Range Ministry Plan 2017. The Synodical Council was directed to develop this plan by the 2009 synod convention and to present it for approval at the convention in 2011. The presentation of the draft of the plan will enable districts to discuss and provide suggestions to the Synodical Council as it prepares to submit the final proposal in 2011.

Learn more about what the districts will be discussing in the Report to the Twelve Districts.

Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
President