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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 members, 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 limitations. 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 executive 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 advisors 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, synodical, 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 relevance 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 Euthanasia with Guiding Principles, which was appended to Christian Care at Life’ s End. In the intervening years, medical and legal developments, 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 convention. 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 Synod 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 advisory 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 president) 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 President of the Synod, in consultation with the Synod vice-presidents.

The President and First Vice-President of the Synod and the presidents 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 executive 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 pertaining 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 release 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 respective committees were the Rev. Dr. Naomichi Masaki (Committee One), the Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann (Committee Two), and Dr. Andrea 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