Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 93

2026 Convention Workbook
58 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
ex officio member of the commission, while Saunders was elected 
to succeed him as chair. All other members of the commission are as 
noted in the Workbook directory.
The CTCR is currently served by three executive staff mem-
bers, two full-time and one part-time. From 1991 through 2007, the 
CTCR was served by three full-time executive staff members. Since 
2008, however, one of those full-time executive staff positions had 
been continuously vacant, primarily due to Synod budgetary limita-
tions. The Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, who has served on the CTCR 
executive staff since 1991, has been executive director since 2008. 
At its April 2023 meeting, the commission took action to reappoint 
Lehenbauer for a fourth five-year term (Bylaw 3.9.5.3.1[a][3–4]). 
The Rev. Dr. Richard Serina Jr. is associate executive director 
(2020–present) and the Rev. Dr. Larry V ogel is assistant to the ex-
ecutive director (2009–present; part-time deployed since 2020). In 
addition to facilitating the work of the commission detailed below 
in this report, the executive staff also responds to emails, letters, and 
telephone calls requesting further information about or clarification 
of the Synod’s view of various topics and teachings, and regularly 
presents to members, agencies, and other groups and meetings of 
the Synod on its responsibilities and work, past or present. Staff also 
represented the CTCR on the Created Male and Female Task Force 
and the Concordia University System Board of Directors this past 
triennium, coordinated and contributed to numerous intra-church 
and interchurch relations meetings, and served as theological advi-
sors for the LCMS Youth Gathering.
I. Theology
A. Completed Assignments (Reports, Responses, 
Special Studies, and Study Documents)
The CTCR organizes its work using a variety of categories, as 
described in its duly adopted policy guidelines. The primary form 
that the completion of assignments takes is in reports, which are 
ordinarily convention-requested documents that set forth what the 
commission regards as a soundly biblical and Lutheran exposition 
of a particular issue of importance to the church. Study documents 
include study guides of existing reports, Bible studies, or more 
preliminary studies intended to stimulate discussion. Additionally, 
special studies and responses to various theological, ethical, syn-
odical, or ecumenical matters may be produced. In certain cases, 
the commission receives requests for opinions which require more 
explanation than a customary opinion and/or may be of broader rel-
evance to the Synod, so those opinions would be included in this 
section. Completed assignments are listed below in chronological 
order of completion. Since 2014, due to budgetary constraints, the 
commission has been unable to print and disseminate its documents 
to the Synod, with limited exceptions. All completed assignments, 
once published, are available online at lcms.org/ctcr.
1. Christian Decision-Making and the End of Life: An 
Update and Supplement to 1993’s Christian Care at Life’s 
End (1977 Res. 03-26)
In compliance with the standing assignment to provide direction 
in matters of bioethics, the commission reviewed its 1993 report, 
Christian Care at Life’ s End, and concluded that an update to that 
document was needed. The 1993 report had attempted to provide 
more practical case studies that built on 1979’s Report on Eutha-
nasia with Guiding Principles, which was appended to Christian 
Care at Life’ s End. In the intervening years, medical and legal de-
velopments, particularly physician-assisted suicide, have changed 
The commission has met 12 times, so far, between the Synod’s 
2023 and 2026 conventions, all via electronic means. It also took 
two electronic actions without a meeting and plans to meet in per -
son in conjunction with floor committee weekend and the conven-
tion. Its minutes are available at lcms.org/coh.
Ken Ray Schurb, Chairman
R12
Commission on Theology and Church 
Relations
The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) 
has three primary functions: (1) to “assist the President of the Syn-
od at his request in discharging his constitutional responsibilities 
for maintaining doctrinal unity within the Synod” and “for main -
taining doctrinal integrity as he relates to other church bodies”; 
(2) to “provide guidance to the Synod in matters of theology and 
church relations”; and (3) to assist the members of the Synod in 
their witness regarding “societies, lodges, cults, or any organiza -
tions of an unchristian or anti-Christian character” (Bylaws 3.9.5.2 
to 3.9.5.4). Further CTCR responsibilities include responding to 
expressions of dissent (Bylaw section 1.8) and approving church 
body requests for altar and pulpit fellowship (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2). It 
also renders official theological opinions as requested or mandated 
by Synod bylaws. 
The CTCR consists of sixteen voting members and four adviso-
ry members. V oting members elected by the synodical convention 
include two parish pastors, one parish teacher, and two laypersons. 
Other voting members include four Council of Presidents (COP) 
appointees, including two pastors (one of whom is a district presi-
dent) and two laypersons; four seminary professors (two from each 
seminary faculty); and three additional members (one of whom is 
a Concordia University System professor) appointed by the Presi-
dent of the Synod, in consultation with the Synod vice-presidents. 
The President and First Vice-President of the Synod and the pres-
idents of the two seminaries are advisory members, with no term 
limits on their service. CTCR members elected in convention serve 
a six-year term and may be reelected once. Members appointed by 
the president or elected by a seminary or the COP serve three-year 
terms and may be reappointed twice.
For the sake of efficiency, the commission operates with an ex-
ecutive committee and three working committees. The executive 
committee includes the CTCR’s officers, the chairmen of the three 
committees, and the executive staff (see below). While not rigidly 
defined, one of the working committees focuses on matters pertain-
ing to church and ministry (including church relations matters), the 
second on other doctrinal issues, and the third on social and ethical 
matters of concern to Christians and the church. All official reports, 
opinions, or documents of the CTCR are approved before their re-
lease or publication by the entire commission meeting in plenary. 
CTCR officers during the past triennium were the Rev. Dr. Brian 
Saunders, chairman; the Rev. Dr. Roland Ziegler, vice-chairman; 
and the Rev. Dr. Gerhard Bode Jr., secretary. Chairs of the respec-
tive committees were the Rev. Dr. Naomichi Masaki (Committee 
One), the Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann (Committee Two), and Dr. An-
drea Pitkus (Committee Three). The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast began 
the triennium as CTCR chairman but relinquished his position upon 
retirement from the presidency of Concordia Theological Seminary, 
Fort Wayne. His successor, the Rev. Dr. Jon Bruss, replaced him as