“HERE I STAND” The 50th Biennial Convention of the Nebraska District of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Gathered at Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School Waco, Nebraska June 6-8, 2016 - 2 - 2016 Nebraska District Convention Proceedings Table of Contents Nebraska District Convention Roster ............................................................................................................. 5 Report of the Nebraska District President .......................................................................................................... 9 Statistical Report of the Nebraska District President ................................................................................... 12 Report of the Synodical Council ...................................................................................................................... 18 Report of the Board for Home Missions – Colorado Mission District ............................................................ 23 Report of the Board for Home Missions - Nebraska Mission District ............................................................. 30 Report of the Board for World Missions ......................................................................................................... 37 Report of the Ministry of Christian Giving ...................................................................................................... 41 WELS Ministry of Christian Giving (MCG) Director’s Report .................................................................. 46 Report of the Commission on Evangelism ...................................................................................................... 52 Report of the Nebraska District Worship Committee ...................................................................................... 53 WELS Hymnal Project Update .................................................................................................................... 55 Report of the Commission on Youth and Family Ministry.............................................................................. 58 Report of the Commission on Lutheran Schools (CLS) .................................................................................. 59 Report of the Commission on Adult Discipleship ........................................................................................... 61 Report of the Commission on Special Ministries ............................................................................................ 63 Report of the District Constitution Committee ................................................................................................ 65 Report – Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School (NELHS) ................................................................... 66 Report – Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School (RMLHS) .......................................................................... 68 Report of the Technology Committee .............................................................................................................. 70 Report of the Synodical Compensation Review Committee ............................................................................ 74 Proposal – The Nebraska District Fund ........................................................................................................... 79 Floor Committee #1 Report – District President’s Report ............................................................................... 83 Floor Committee #2 Report – Nebraska District Work ................................................................................... 88 Floor Committee #3 Report – Synod President / Conference of Presidents / Synodical Council ................... 93 Floor Committee #4 Report – Ministerial Education ....................................................................................... 95 Floor Committee #5 Report – Home Missions / World Missions / Joint Mission Council ............................. 97 Floor Committee #6 Report – Congregation and Ministry Support Group ................................................... 100 Floor Committee #7 Report – WELS Subsidiaries and Affiliate ................................................................... 101 Floor Committee #8 Report – Finances ......................................................................................................... 102 Floor Committee #9 Report – Next District Convention Planning ................................................................ 104 Floor Committee #10 Report – Elections ...................................................................................................... 106 Floor Committee #12 Report – Compensation Review ................................................................................. 108 Floor Committee #13 Report – Delegate Report ........................................................................................... 111 Non-Reporting Committee Assignments and Convention Guest .................................................................. 113 Minutes of the 50th Biennial Convention of the Nebraska District ................................................................ 114 Opening Sermon – Joshua 4:1-7; 21-24 – Remember! What God Has Done. What God Will Do. ............ 119 Closing Sermon – 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 – “We’ve Already Won!” ........................................................... 123 Lutheranism’s First Identity Crisis: The Struggle to Preserve Luther’s Uncompromising Gospel and Lessons for Today ........................................................................................................................................................ 127 - 3 - - 4 - Nebraska District Convention Roster Home Congregation City State Salutation Last Name First Name Delegate Type Christ Our Redeemer Aurora CO Rev. Voss Mark Pastor Peace Boulder CO Rev. Stern Jesse Pastor Eternal Rock Castle Rock CO Rev. Oldenburg Jared Pastor Fount of Life Colorado Springs CO Mr. Dettmann Matt Lay Delegate Fount of Life Colorado Springs CO Vicar Chartrand Ross Vicar RMLHS Commerce City CO Mr. Brucker Eric Teacher RMLHS Commerce City CO Mr. Lohmiller Rick Teacher RMLHS Commerce City CO Mr. Schaefer Mike Teacher Christ Denver CO Rev. Biedenbender Paul Pastor Zion Denver CO Mr. Tesch Mark Lay Delegate Zion Denver CO Rev. Krause Brett Pastor Zion Denver CO Mr. Adickes Phil Teacher Mountain Valley Eagle CO Rev. Merten Brent Pastor Carbon Valley Firestone CO Rev. Spiegelberg Timothy Pastor St. Peter Fort Collins CO Rev. Spaude Joel Pastor Shepherd of the Plains Fort Morgan CO Rev. Jacobs Troy Pastor St. Paul Grand Junction CO Mr. Grafe Robert Lay Delegate St. Paul Grand Junction CO Rev. Strong Dennis Pastor Shepherd of the Hills Greeley CO Rev. Holtz Matt Pastor Abiding Word Highlands Ranch CO Mr. Schoenbeck Daniel Lay Delegate Abiding Word Highlands Ranch CO Rev. Westendorf Timothy Pastor Living Savior Littleton CO Rev. Koelpin David Pastor Our Savior's Longmount CO Rev. Traudt Michael Pastor Abiding Love Loveland CO Rev. Klug Kevin Pastor Living Word Montrose CO Rev. Frey Matthew Pastor St. John Platteville CO Mr. Smith Richard Lay Delegate St. John Platteville CO Rev. Haberkorn David Pastor Crown of Life Pueblo West CO Rev. Wietzke David Pastor Lord of Life Thornton CO Mr. Schmidt Robert Lay Delegate Lord of Life Thornton CO Rev. Sievert Phillip Pastor Lord of Life Thornton CO Mr. Fax Kyle Teacher Lord of Life Thornton CO Mr. Glowicki Josh Teacher Lord of Life Thornton CO Vicar Zuberbier Luther Vicar Shepherd of the Valley Westminster CO Mr. Wilking Rick Lay Delegate Shepherd of the Valley Westminster CO Rev. Kieselhorst Philip Pastor Shepherd of the Valley Westminster CO Rev. Falck Dan Pastor Emeritus Shepherd of the Valley Westminster CO Vicar Shandor Joshua Vicar Grace Sioux City IA Rev. Allard Tony Pastor Hope Manhattan KS Mr. Waker Paul Lay Delegate Hope Manhattan KS Rev. Hirsch Philip Pastor Hope Manhattan KS Rev. Kronebusch Kerry Pastor Emeritus Redeemer Norton KS Mr. Masske Alton Lay Delegate Redeemer Norton KS Rev. Meyer Timm Pastor Mt. Olive Overland Park KS Mr. Thibaudeau Jon Lay Delegate - 5 - Home Congregation City State Salutation Last Name First Name Delegate Type Mt. Olive Overland Park KS Rev. Krause Shane Pastor Mt. Olive Overland Park KS Rev. Schroeder Joel Pastor Faith Pittsburg KS Rev. Schumann Aaron Pastor St. Mark Salina KS Rev. Laitinen Jeremy Pastor Beautiful Savior Topeka KS Mr. Karst Martin Lay Delegate Beautiful Savior Topeka KS Rev. Esmay Chris Pastor Messiah Wichita KS Mr. Appel Harry Lay Delegate Messiah Wichita KS Rev. Rockhoff Jonathan Pastor Our Savior Harrisonville MO Rev. Stelter John Pastor Rock of Ages Kansas City MO Mr. Tobeck Timothy Lay Delegate Rock of Ages Kansas City MO Rev. Tauscher James Pastor Gethsemane Lee's Summit MO Rev. Frey Dan Pastor First Aurora NE Rev. Oblender Wayne Pastor Christ Beatrice NE Mr. Zimmerman Wayne Lay Delegate Christ Beatrice NE Rev. Hillmann Josh Pastor St. Paul Broken Bow NE Mr. Larson Phil Lay Delegate Zion Clatonia NE Mr. Bergmeier Rodney Lay Delegate Zion Clatonia NE Rev. Kahrs Steven Pastor St. John Cortland NE Mr. Krueger Darin Lay Delegate Grace Geneva NE Mr. Rabenberg Ted Lay Delegate Grace Geneva NE Rev. Kruschel Steve Pastor Grace Geneva NE Mr. Danell Josh Teacher Trinity Grafton NE Mr. Oberlander James Lay Delegate Christ Grand Island NE Mr. Bauer Bill Lay Delegate Christ Grand Island NE Rev. Schneider Thomas Pastor Christ Grand Island NE Rev. Schneider Thomas Pastor Immanuel Hadar