So, it is basically everything that GenX and younger have been saying "we need to settle this, one way or another" for 25 years, and they've been met by the stone wall of the Silents/Boomers saying "we are changing absolutely nothing" for 25 years. The biggest question I'd ask is has the average age of the Synodical Voter changed? Since it is usually around 75+ nothing happens. Has the synod had a generational change in voters? Or do these more strident proposals meet the stone wall one more time?
My sense is that the Boomers realize a new wind is blowing. Harrison has tacked steadily left since 2010 to pick up Liberal votes because he has lost the confidence of the Confessional base, but his position is unique. The older cohort seems to recognize that the old quiescence is over and done with.
It will ultimately be remembered for the most vigorous floor debates and the vote totals spread on critical resolutions.
Maybe, but more likely it will be remembered as a bunch of old men quietly debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, while another 80,000 young people (mostly young women) decide the LCMS is not for them.
I should add that the AALC has serious unresolved theological problems at the highest levels, such as a seminary head who is an Evolutionist, the unresolved fight over online communion, and the current spat over the temptations Jesus endured.
Basically everything on that list other than “mercy” is tethered to money in some fashion. So please tell me again why we care about these things if we aren’t treating the root cause.
Money runs the show and no one wants to admit that the golden calf in our midst is the hamster wheel that the synod is on. “Betta get dat money” ought to be the synods motto.
Yes, the core demographic who are sitting in the pew and contributing their money are 50+.
Their kids have graduated from school, and they are either in their peak earning years, retired, or considering the church as part of their estate planning. Even though the next generation is leaving the church faster than the seniors are dying, the money keeps on increasing... for now. So leadership (and bloggers) are focused on attention and outrage.
ACN: "The mood the workbook surfaces is the end of cordiality. This Convention will be more combative because the overtures underscore how many issues are seen as make-or-break in 2026."
Harrison's longtime infatuation with having "Calm" will evaporate at the convention. His Floor Committees will not be able to sweep all of these overtures under various Omnibus rugs. Attempts to immediately "call the question" also will be met with strong objections. Better cancel any convention fluffery and schedule some 24-hour convention sessions!
In 2023, despite several overtures on Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications (LLCACA) submitted to the convention, President Harrison's Floor Committee withdrew the relevant resolution and an effort was defeated to bring back for (undoubtedly a strong opposing) debate the resolution commending the CTCR / CPH / ChiCom-manufactured LLCACA, which President Harrison had proclaimed in his Foreword, "You have before you one of the greatest resources for Christian faith and living ever produced by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod...."
Ironically, the author of one of LLCACA's heterodox essays denounced by numerous Lutherans (one of whom was excommunicated on bogus charges), is now one of the candidates for Synod President.
The Synod should officially denounce antisemitism and henceforth remove the Gospel of John from the new LCMS philosemite translation with contemporary applications (but not jew talk!). Serious meanspeech in there!
I may be biased on this, but Ov. 5-08 seems to be one of these things of large significance, even though it seems to be a minority opinion. Being a German myself I have to admit that breaking ties with the German SELK is unfortunately necessary, and although I have very little hope that it will pass this year, it is good to see that the issue itself is brought to public attention.
We need to rescind Resolution 3-08A which passed at the 2004 National Convention.
It floored me when I realized we allow for women to be elders and congregational presidents/chairmen. This is absolutely not permitted in Scripture. Paul was very clear that women are not to have authority over men. This obviously includes women not being elders, congregation presidents, delegates to conventions, and other things as well.
Women are also not to teach men. Women are to remain silent in the church. This is all deeper than simply women not being permitted to be pastors or preach.
This is not anti-woman. It is simply honoring the distinct roles God has given to men and women both.
And this is why young women are leaving the LCMS. Mostly elderly people are left with a handful of young men waiting for God to give them a submissive wife.
If the Synod wants to condemn Stone Choir, they need to allow them to face their accusers, be told what specific teachings are in violation, and be given the opportunity to present their case.
That's a pointless resolution. Mahler has been excommunicated and Woe isn't LCMS. They ended their podcast. Condemning them only extends their relavence. Streisand effect.
After the Bible and the Catechism, the hymnal used to be the most important theological book for Lutherans in the pews. Changing hymnals so often is bad for our youth because it takes away tradition and continuity from one generation to the next. Our church still uses TLH, and I love it. It's not perfect, of course, but I much prefer it to LSB.
That won't happen. Why else would the supplemental material be pushed out so slowly other than to artificially extend the lifespan of LSB? Why would they immediately render all that obsolete? The LCMS isn't getting a new hymnal before 2050 at the earliest.
Besides, I do not trust current-year Missouri to get it right.
"It will ultimately be remembered for the most vigorous floor debates"
No it won't. The rostrum won't allow it.
I may be wrong, but my sense is that this is not going to be a sentimental convention.
Well, I certainly hope not. They haven't earned it.
So, it is basically everything that GenX and younger have been saying "we need to settle this, one way or another" for 25 years, and they've been met by the stone wall of the Silents/Boomers saying "we are changing absolutely nothing" for 25 years. The biggest question I'd ask is has the average age of the Synodical Voter changed? Since it is usually around 75+ nothing happens. Has the synod had a generational change in voters? Or do these more strident proposals meet the stone wall one more time?
My sense is that the Boomers realize a new wind is blowing. Harrison has tacked steadily left since 2010 to pick up Liberal votes because he has lost the confidence of the Confessional base, but his position is unique. The older cohort seems to recognize that the old quiescence is over and done with.
Remember when Harrison ran on the slogan vote theologian? Turns out he was a politician first and foremost.
women voters
A damaging source of disorder, enabled by Synod, to the detriment of local congregations, that should be corrected by pastors at convention.
It will ultimately be remembered for the most vigorous floor debates and the vote totals spread on critical resolutions.
Maybe, but more likely it will be remembered as a bunch of old men quietly debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, while another 80,000 young people (mostly young women) decide the LCMS is not for them.
Why are the young women deciding the LCMS is not for them?
Because instead of providing husbands, the LCMS instead provides them "vocations" and "church work" and the vote.
Sure wish I had an AALC church near me.
Your own living room will be your Confessional Lutheran church.
That is where I have landed. I feel sad because my father was an LCMS pastor.
The AALC has the same problems, just on a smaller scale.
I should add that the AALC has serious unresolved theological problems at the highest levels, such as a seminary head who is an Evolutionist, the unresolved fight over online communion, and the current spat over the temptations Jesus endured.
Basically everything on that list other than “mercy” is tethered to money in some fashion. So please tell me again why we care about these things if we aren’t treating the root cause.
Money runs the show and no one wants to admit that the golden calf in our midst is the hamster wheel that the synod is on. “Betta get dat money” ought to be the synods motto.
Yes, the core demographic who are sitting in the pew and contributing their money are 50+.
Their kids have graduated from school, and they are either in their peak earning years, retired, or considering the church as part of their estate planning. Even though the next generation is leaving the church faster than the seniors are dying, the money keeps on increasing... for now. So leadership (and bloggers) are focused on attention and outrage.
I was going to argue, until I realized that I am close enough to 50 to make no difference.
ACN: "The mood the workbook surfaces is the end of cordiality. This Convention will be more combative because the overtures underscore how many issues are seen as make-or-break in 2026."
Harrison's longtime infatuation with having "Calm" will evaporate at the convention. His Floor Committees will not be able to sweep all of these overtures under various Omnibus rugs. Attempts to immediately "call the question" also will be met with strong objections. Better cancel any convention fluffery and schedule some 24-hour convention sessions!
In 2023, despite several overtures on Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications (LLCACA) submitted to the convention, President Harrison's Floor Committee withdrew the relevant resolution and an effort was defeated to bring back for (undoubtedly a strong opposing) debate the resolution commending the CTCR / CPH / ChiCom-manufactured LLCACA, which President Harrison had proclaimed in his Foreword, "You have before you one of the greatest resources for Christian faith and living ever produced by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod...."
Ironically, the author of one of LLCACA's heterodox essays denounced by numerous Lutherans (one of whom was excommunicated on bogus charges), is now one of the candidates for Synod President.
https://trhalvorson.com/when-doctrinal-review-is-like-spell-check/
The Synod should officially denounce antisemitism and henceforth remove the Gospel of John from the new LCMS philosemite translation with contemporary applications (but not jew talk!). Serious meanspeech in there!
I may be biased on this, but Ov. 5-08 seems to be one of these things of large significance, even though it seems to be a minority opinion. Being a German myself I have to admit that breaking ties with the German SELK is unfortunately necessary, and although I have very little hope that it will pass this year, it is good to see that the issue itself is brought to public attention.
Yes, it is time to be honest about SELK.
What is the problem with SELK?
They have been actively considering women's ordination for a long time now. They're already lost.
Please see https://www.adcrucem.news/p/time-for-the-lcms-to-cut-germanys
I am so sorry to hear this.
We need to rescind Resolution 3-08A which passed at the 2004 National Convention.
It floored me when I realized we allow for women to be elders and congregational presidents/chairmen. This is absolutely not permitted in Scripture. Paul was very clear that women are not to have authority over men. This obviously includes women not being elders, congregation presidents, delegates to conventions, and other things as well.
Women are also not to teach men. Women are to remain silent in the church. This is all deeper than simply women not being permitted to be pastors or preach.
This is not anti-woman. It is simply honoring the distinct roles God has given to men and women both.
Much more can be said on this.
And this is why young women are leaving the LCMS. Mostly elderly people are left with a handful of young men waiting for God to give them a submissive wife.
If the Synod wants to condemn Stone Choir, they need to allow them to face their accusers, be told what specific teachings are in violation, and be given the opportunity to present their case.
Ah, but you see, they don't have to extend that courtesy to the excommunicate.
“And thirdly, the bylaws are more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules”.
That's a pointless resolution. Mahler has been excommunicated and Woe isn't LCMS. They ended their podcast. Condemning them only extends their relavence. Streisand effect.
They will be relevant for quite some time, resolution or not.
IIRC, there's also an overture to begin preparations for a new hymnal (now that the supplemental material for LSB is complete).
Please, Lord, not another fight over hymns and arrangements...
To be fair, we are statistically due for a a hymnal supplement, which is also seen as a practice run for a new hymnal.
Statistically, but not financially unless the final hymnals are distributed at cost. We don't need another CPH subsidy project.
After the Bible and the Catechism, the hymnal used to be the most important theological book for Lutherans in the pews. Changing hymnals so often is bad for our youth because it takes away tradition and continuity from one generation to the next. Our church still uses TLH, and I love it. It's not perfect, of course, but I much prefer it to LSB.
That won't happen. Why else would the supplemental material be pushed out so slowly other than to artificially extend the lifespan of LSB? Why would they immediately render all that obsolete? The LCMS isn't getting a new hymnal before 2050 at the earliest.
Besides, I do not trust current-year Missouri to get it right.
And I think everything is fine at my own congregation, and read one of these articles and count myself grateful.