The Rev. Timothy J. Scharr, president of the LCMS Southern Illinois District, addresses the district’s 58th Regular Convention. (LCMS/Frank Kohn)
The Rev. Timothy J. Scharr was re-elected to his third full term as president of the LCMS Southern Illinois District on the first ballot at the district’s 58th Regular Convention, Feb. 8–10 in O’Fallon, Ill.
Others elected to leadership positions within the district include the Rev. Mark Nebel of Red Bud, Ill., as first vice-president; the Rev. Benjamin Ball of Hamel, Ill., second vice-president; the Rev. Peter Ill of Millstadt, Ill., secretary; and Julie Johnson of Hamel, treasurer.
All elected officers were installed into their new positions during the convention.
The convention theme was “Confessing Christ Jesus is Lord,” based on the Bible verse: “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Rom.10:9–10).
Delegates adopted resolutions to:
- encourage continued emphasis on prison ministry.
- confess and affirm six 24-hour-day creation and the official position of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
- confess the Scriptural truth regarding marriage and to pray for the Synod, and especially for Concordia University, Portland, Ore., including a “Resolved” that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman, and God designed sexual intercourse within marriage for procreation.
- exhort LCMS partner churches to leave the Lutheran World Federation.
- encourage the district’s congregations to enhance their older adult ministries.
LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison preached at the convention’s opening worship service and gave a report on the state of the Synod.
The Rev. Dr. Daniel Preus, LCMS fifth vice-president, served as theological essayist Feb. 9 and 10. In keeping with the convention’s theme, he called on Lutherans to confess Christ to each other and to the world and to get back to basics such as studying the Bible, the catechisms and the Lutheran Confessions.
The Rev. Heath Curtis, coordinator for LCMS Stewardship Ministry, presented a demographic overview of the nation and state and how it impacts the district locally.
The Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton from Zion Lutheran Church, Mascoutah, Ill., served as the convention chaplain, organizing and providing daily devotions and special prayers throughout.
The mission of the Southern Illinois District convention was to “provide the congregations of the district with the opportunity to seek the will of God in making necessary decisions and to help the delegates grow in faith in Christ and in service in His name.”
Posted Feb. 21, 2018
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