Gospel of Hope Atlantic District 60th Regular Convention Atlantic District Convention Workbook. The Atlantic District

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1 ENGAGING THE WORLD WITH THE Gospel of Hope 2018 Atlantic District 2018 Atlantic District Convention Workbook Friday, June 8 th Saturday June 9 th The Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 171 White Planes Road Bronxville, New York ad-lcms.org i

2 What does Synod mean? The word Synod in The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod comes from Greek words that mean walking together. The term has rich meaning in our church body because congregations voluntarily choose to belong to the Synod. Though diverse in their service, our congregations hold to a shared confession of Jesus Christ as taught in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has 35 districts with more than 6,000 congregations and 2 million members. There are 33 geographical districts representing all 50 United States. Two districts English District and SELC District are non-geographical, and they have member congregations in the U.S. plus the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The Atlantic District is the eastern half of New York State including the Adirondacks, Capital Region, Hudson Valley, Westchester County, the five Burroughs of New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties of Long Island. There are nearly 100 churches, 34 schools, including 4 high schools, Concordia College NY, and a number of other social service ministries. The Gospel is proclaimed in at least 12 languages including: American Sign Language, Bangla, Cantonese, English, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Tamil, and Urdu. The purpose of the synod is defined in Bylaw 1.1 of the 2016 Handbook Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Committed to a common confession and mission, congregations of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod join with one another in the Synod to support one another and to work together in carrying out their commonly adopted objectives. The Synod is organized to work in support of and on behalf of congregations to assist them in carrying out their ministries as they seek to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, the members of His body, and the world which stands in need of the Word and the impact of His redeeming love A district is the Synod itself performing the functions of the Synod in its local area What is a District Convention? District conventions are the principal legislative assemblies of the District as a whole. It is the event at which the entire membership is represented and can speak with one voice. There are always many legislative items that need to be taken care of as we walk together as the body of Christ. A district convention is also a time for all the members of a district to gather together for worship, nurture, inspiration, fellowship and the communication of vital information. Below is the description from Bylaw 4.2 of the 2016 Handbook Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. ii

3 4.2 District Conventions Conventions of the districts shall afford opportunities for worship, nurture, inspiration, fellowship, and the communication of vital information. They are the principal legislative assemblies, which amend the district s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, consider and take action on reports and overtures, and handle appropriate appeals. (a) The conventions of the districts shall be governed by the bylaws adopted by the Synod for its conventions, insofar as these may be applicable. (b) The district convention is the instrument to receive overtures (Bylaw ), including overtures and recommendations for synodwide mission and ministry emphases submitted by member congregations and adopted by a circuit forum. (c) Following in-depth study and discussion, the district convention shall act on the overtures and may, as determined by the convention, submit overtures to the national convention. (d) The district convention shall, through delegate vote, forward to the national convention a list of two or three triennial mission and ministry emphases for consideration by the national convention. (e) Each district may adopt other regulations, provided these are not contrary to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod. (f) The president of the district shall conduct the sessions according to accepted parliamentary rules and shall so arrange the schedule of business that the sessions do not extend beyond six business days. (g) Districts may, at their own discretion, provide their convention workbooks and proceedings to each district congregation, delegate and alternate, officer, board, commission, and council member by a means of electronic communication, provided that any designated recipient shall be provided a printed copy of the workbook and proceedings upon request The delegates of a voting congregation to a district convention shall be accredited. (a) To be entitled to vote, delegates shall return the proper credentials provided by the district secretary and signed by two of the congregation s officers, either by mailing them to the district office at a date determined by the district or by presenting them to the district secretary at the opening of the convention. (b) All duly elected voting delegates shall attend all sessions of the convention regularly until the close of the convention All nonvoting ordained and commissioned ministers who are members of the Synod within the district shall serve as advisory delegates. (a) They are entitled to voice and vote on a floor committee, if appointed, and to voice in the convention. (b) All advisory members are expected to attend all sessions of the convention. (c) Those advisory members whose office in the Synod, district, or other agency imposes professional or service requirements on which full and regular convention attendance makes undue demands, shall nevertheless, in consultation with their supervisory boards, arrange for their own partial or occasional attendance and participation in accordance with policies established by their supervisory boards The President of the Synod or his representative shall report on the condition and affairs of the Synod. He shall also deliver the sermon at the opening or convention service. iii

4 Table of Contents Section One: Convention Organization Parliamentary Procedure and Standing Rules Board of Directors Atlantic District Staff Atlantic District Circuit Visitors Agenda Voting Congregations Comissioned Ministers Section Two: Office of the President President s Report Official Acts Section Three: Statement of Activities Statement of Income & Expenses Section Four: Task Force Reports Missions Task Force Task Force 2:Congregational Reviatlizationand Leadership Development Task Force 4:Education Task Force 5:Youth Ministry Task Force 7:Health and Human Care Task Force 8:District Disaster Task Force Task Force 9:Evangelism Section Five: Vice Presidential Regional Reports Report of the First Vice-President Congregational Reports: Region One Congregational Reports: Region Two Congregational Reports: Region Three Section Six: Additional Reports to the District Convention Report of the Archivist The Lutheran Church Extension Fund Atlantic District Lay Deacon Program iv

5 Report of the Mission Society Properties Committee Report Lutheran Women smissionary League Lutheran Counseling Center The Lutheran Care Network Lutheran Social Servicesof New York Lutheran Services New York Alliance Section Seven: Nominations Section Eight: Overtures Practical Theological v