MINUTES
Issues in WELS Forum #7

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Appleton, Wisconsin, August 13 & 14, 2007

August 13, 2007 - Morning Session

The forum was opened at 9:00 a.m. with a devotion on Luke 9:51-56 by Pastor Paul Schleis from First Ev. Lutheran in Green Bay, WI. We sang hymn #441.

Chairman Free then addressed the forum. He reviewed the purpose of Issues In WELS. He believes that every effort was made to keep the 8th commandment in all our meetings and asked that we continue to strive to keep it at our present meeting. We need to continue to speak the truth in love.

Pastor Larry Ellenberger then read a letter from President Mark Schroeder. The floor was opened to questions and comments. A motion was made and supported that we thank President Schroeder for his letter and assure him of our support as synod president. The motion passed.

At 9:30 a.m. Pastor Michael Jensen from St. Mark in Watertown gave a report on the synod convention. Pastor Jensen served on committee #7. It was a very optimistic convention. He reviewed some of the resolutions passed at the synod convention and talked about his committee. The worship and Bible study was great. He emphasized that we need to be passionate about our work in our synod and our support of our synod. The floor was open for discussion. Discussion followed.

At 10:00 a.m. Pastor Ed Lindemann of Watertown read a report from President Mark Schroeder which will be seen on the WELS Connection in September. There was an enthusiastic response.

Pastor Mark Gass made an announcement concerning the fellowship gathering this evening. The host, Pastor Ken Frey, then welcomed everyone to St. Paul congregation. He gave directions about lunch and how to get around the building. Recess was called by Chairman Free at 10:20.

At 10:40 Chairman Free called the forum back to order. Pastor Bruce McKenney then read a report written by Prof. John Brug of our seminary. This was his report on the recent synod convention. (This report was given to Pres. Schroeder before it was given to us.) The floor was then open to discussion. Those who were delegates were asked to field the questions brought forward. Discussion followed.

Pastor Ellenberger read resolution #2 that was passed at the synod convention. This resolution was about outside speakers used within our WELS fellowship. Discussion concerning this resolution followed.

Discussion then opened up about many different aspects concerning the synod convention. Pastor Gordon Snyder of Milwaukee, another delegate to the synod convention, then addressed the forum. Discussion continued.

At 12:01 Chairman Free called the morning session to an end. We joined in prayer for lunch.

August 13, 2007 - Afternoon Session

The afternoon session was begun at 1:00 p.m. with a devotion by Pastor David Nottling on Luke 10:32. We sang hymns 216 and 219.

Bruce McKenney gave a financial report for Issues In WELS. It was accepted.

The minutes for the morning session were read and accepted.

At 1:25 Professor John Brenner came forward to present his paper entitled The Synod: Theological Basis and Historical Development. Chairman Ellenberger called a recess at 2:59 p.m. At 3:17 Chairman Ellenberger called the forum back into session. Professor Brenner continued the reading of his paper. At 4:23 he finished the reading of the paper. There was appreciative rapping. The floor was open for questions and comments. Discussion was ended at 5:23 with great appreciation for the paper given.

Announcements were made and a closing devotion was given from Isaiah 41:10 by Chairman Ellenberger. We ended by singing hymn #416.

August 14, 2007

The session was begun at 8:30 a.m. with a devotion on Jeremiah 29:11 by Prof. Cyril Spaude. We sang hymns #338 and #566.

The minutes of the afternoon session of August 13th were read and approved.

At 9:02 Chairman Free opened the floor for discussion on where we go from here as Issues In WELS. Discussion followed.

At 10:05 Chairman Free called a recess. At 10:28 the forum was called back into session.

The discussion concerning "...where do we go from here?" continued. The motion was made that Issues In WELS disband at this time. The motion received a second. More discussion followed. The motion was called and the motion failed unanimously.

The discussion continued. A motion was made that we meet once a year in August. There was support for the motion. Discussion followed. An amendment was moved to have the steering committee pick the month. The amendment received support. Discussion followed. The amendment was called and the amendment passed. The motion was then called that we would meet once a year. The motion did not pass.

A motion was made that Issues In WELS meet twice a year. There was support for the motion. Discussion followed. The motion passed by a narrow margin. Everyone was encouraged to become more involved and help with the work where we can.

Appreciation was given for all in attendance. We thank the devotion leaders, the essayist, the synod convention reporters, Mr. Krause for playing the organ, Pastor Frey and the members of St. Paul, and Pastor Gass for organizing the fellowship.

Chairman Free gave a closing devotion and we sang hymn #538 v. 1-3. The forum was adjourned at 11:43 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Pastor Michael Lindemann, recording secretary

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