Together

The Synodical Council (SC) met last week to begin the task of crafting a long-range, comprehensive plan that will guide the synod in its work during the next 8-10 years. The synod's bylaws assign this responsibility to the SC, and last summer's convention directed that the SC begin the work, present a progress report to the districts next summer, and bring a final plan to the 2011 convention for adoption.

As might be expected, the planning session began with a lengthy study of Scripture and the theological truths in which our synod is grounded. This Word-centered discussion highlighted the unity of faith and belief with which God has blessed our synod and its leaders. From that beginning, the SC discussed the nature and purpose of the synod. While it is true that we can think of the synod as a large family of individual believers, we can also view the synod as an organization established to carry out a specific function. The SC determined that the long-range plan will focus on the latter aspect and adopted the following as a statement of purpose that will guide the planning work:

"The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod exists to give all glory to God by upholding, defending, and proclaiming the truth of the Holy Scriptures as articulated in the Lutheran Confessions, and by providing a means for congregations and their members to extend the reach of their God-given mission of proclaiming the gospel in Word and sacrament through joint mission efforts at home and abroad and through the training of pastors, teachers, and staff ministers."

The SC discussed the many strengths of our synod, areas that need improvement and attention, and the many opportunities that God is placing before us. A committee chaired by the synod's first vice president, and composed of the synod president and the three area of ministry administrators will begin to outline a comprehensive long-term plan which, according to a SC resolution,
a) describes a "future state" for the synod;
b) works with all parties;
c) makes use of existing resources;
d) satisfies the 2009 convention resolution; and
e) flows out of our synodical philosophy of ministry.

The plan is to have a working document ready for the joint Synodical Council and Conference of Presidents meeting in April, which can then be presented to the districts in convention in summer of 2010.

Other SC decisions included:

• Took action to reduce the overall travel and meeting budget of the synod by $400,000, in keeping with the convention's resolution.
• Adopted new guidelines for the budgeting and use of special funds.
• Considered up-to-date financial information and made no change to the Support Forecast.
• Encouraged the Board for Home Missions to continue planning for new mission efforts and to bring proposals for such new efforts to the February meeting of the SC.
• Established a new Human Resources Oversight Committee to assist the Human Resources director in making continuing improvements in the area of Human Resources.
• Accepted an invitation from the Conference of Presidents to meet jointly for one day in April 2010.

Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder